Literature Review
As Masini (2010) shows, animal-assisted therapy can be quite useful in helping patients engaging in substance abuse treatment. Masini (2010) highlights the benefits of equine-assisted psychotherapy in particular, as do Hauge, Kvalem, Berget, Enders-Slegers & Braastad (2014), who note that engaging clients with horses can facilitate the perception of having a stronger social support. As social support is a necessary part to overcoming or battling substance abuse, the animal-assisted intervention can be seen as a positive influence (Birtel, Wood & Kempa, 2017; Muela, Balluerka, Amiano, Caldentey & Aliri, 2017).
Animal-assisted therapy can have a positive effect on engagement and retention of individuals in substance abuse treatment. Kelly and Cozzolino (2015), for example, have shown that at-risk youth have been aided by animal-assisted therapy in their attempts to overcome issues of substance abuse. Animal-assisted therapy represents a “goal-oriented adjunct to traditional therapy programs” (Kelly & Cozzolino, 2015, p. 421). The way in which it works is this: the individuals struggling with substance abuse issues, such as self-control, “work through a structured, goal-oriented curriculum with certified therapy dogs and volunteer handlers…[to] complete progressively advanced tasks in which the youths transfer skills learned about dog handling to understanding and modifying their own behavior” (Kelly & Cozzolino, 2015, p. 421). In other words, animal-assisted therapy first focuses the individual’s attention on how to care for and control an animal—and the lessons learned are then applied to the person to help the person how to see to care for him or herself. The idea is that by learning to care for an animal, the person can learn life skills that will allow for a better understanding of...…their therapy but also help them to gain a better control over their own lives, by taking the lessons they learn from the goal-oriented animal-assisted therapy and applying them to their own lives. They learn how to care for animals and how to control them, and this gives them both a sense of empowerment and a sense of knowledge of what it takes to be disciplined not only with animals but also with themselves. By taking a share of ownership over another living thing, they assume an air of responsibility that translates into how they see themselves as dictators of their own experience rather than as passive receivers of unconscious whims and desires. From an Adlerian perspective, animal-assisted therapy makes sense as a practical co-intervention to support overcoming substance abuse.
References
Birtel, M. D., Wood, L., & Kempa, N.…
Evidence-Based Programs and Practices Part 1: Define and Refine Evidence-Based Theories Evidence-based programs are defined as a prevention or treatment practice, that is based on consistent scientific evidence providing proof that the practice improves client/patient outcomes. The practice should be supported by sufficient documentation and peer-reviewed research that shows its effectiveness (Operational Definition for Evidence-Based Practices Addictions and Mental Health Division, 2017). Programs draw from theory in that the theoretical framework developed by researchers
Poor Children, the Problem of Drug Therapy and Possible Alternatives Introduction Foster children are more likely than children in the general population to have mental health issues (Polihronakis, 2008). Part of the reason for this is that foster children are in foster care because they have been neglected in their own homes, their parents are incapable of providing food, love, shelter and nourishment, and they are in need of a nurturing environment.
Clinical Psychology Dissertation - Dream Content as a Therapeutic Approach: Ego Gratification vs. Repressed Feelings An Abstract of a Dissertation Dream Content as a Therapeutic Approach: Ego Gratification vs. Repressed Feelings This study sets out to determine how dreams can be used in a therapeutic environment to discuss feelings from a dream, and how the therapist should engage the patient to discuss them to reveal the relevance of those feelings, in their present,
The Social Issue Depression is a significant social issue of interest to me as I have seen it affect numerous people in my own life and have even struggled with it at times myself. Depression has caused people to take their lives: Chester Bennington, lead singer of the group Linkin Park took his life following the suicide of his friend, and numerous other people who are less famous end up in
Jesus' Teachings, Prayer, & Christian Life "He (Jesus) Took the Bread. Giving Thanks Broke it. And gave it to his Disciples, saying, 'This is my Body, which is given to you.'" At Elevation time, during Catholic Mass, the priest establishes a mandate for Christian Living. Historically, at the Last Supper, Christ used bread and wine as a supreme metaphor for the rest of our lives. Jesus was in turmoil. He was
Market Orientation of Medical Diagnostic Units Dissertation for Master of Health Administration i. Introduction ii. Objectives iii. Description iv Administrative Internship v. Scope and Approach vi. Growth vii. Methodology viii. Hypothesis ix. Survey Questionnaire x. Research Design xi. Observation and Data Presentation xii. Test provided xiii. Analysis of findings Marketability of Patient Satisfaction Importance of Employee Satisfaction xiv. Conclusions and Recommendations xv. Bibliography xvi. Notes xvii. Appendices Market Orientation of Medical Diagnostic Units
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now