Animal Assisted Therapy

This therapeutic intervention incorporates a variety of animals, such as guinea pigs, dogs, cats, and reptiles, into a treatment plan. There are so many social emotional benefits to adding these new opportunities into our school therapeutic programming.  It is used to enhance and complement the benefits of traditional therapy.  Our students can listen to the heartbeats of an animal and connect the negative physical responses to stress and the positive physical responses to a calm, safe touch.  Our students discuss how the care of each animal differs and how this relates to the many ways, we as people need care too.   Exposure to a variety of animals also is an excellent opportunity for our students to explore new things and have fun while developing their own personal interests and passions.