Download or read book Animal assisted Therapy for United States Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder written by Alicia Moore and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 292 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Although many programs promote the use of animal-assisted therapy for military veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), no published scientific studies have been conducted to research this approach for this population. The present study builds on past research indicating animal-assisted therapy may be an effective treatment for persons who have experienced trauma by exploring its use specifically with the combat veteran population. Utilizing an interpretive phenomenological analysis approach, this study examines the impacts of psychiatric service dogs on the lives and mental health of United States military veterans diagnosed with PTSD. Careful analysis of interviews yielded the following twelve primary themes: PTSD symptoms the veteran has experienced; the negative impacts PTSD has had on the veteran's life; how and why the veteran sought out a psychiatric service dog; the specific PTSD symptoms the psychiatric service dog has ameliorated; how and why the psychiatric service dog has been helpful; the evolving relationship between the veteran and the psychiatric service dog over time; the ways in which the psychiatric service dog has not been helpful; the ways the veteran's involvement in the psychiatric service dog organization itself has been helpful; the ways the veteran has felt unsupported by the military and/or Department of Veterans Affairs; other treatments the veteran has tried; ways the use of psychiatric service dogs might be a uniquely good fit for veterans; and the importance of raising awareness of the treatment modality. This research explores and lends credibility to a previously unstudied treatment modality; one that may have wide-ranging implications given the large number of combat veterans diagnosed with PTSD.
Download or read book Animal assisted Therapy for Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder written by Dawn Vigil and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Supporting documentation suggests that as many as 30 and– 40% of Veterans of the US Military have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) subsequently after returning home from combat. Various studies indicate that there are many treatment options available for returning Veterans, but few with reasonable success rates. Animal assisted therapy has proven over time to be highly effective in helping individuals with mental illness develop coping mechanisms that aides in the relief of their PTSD symptoms. Implementing screening surveys and trial periods for service dogs, can facilitate evidence-based research to continue to be bring much needed attention to the current and new service dogs for Veterans diagnosed with PTSD. Animal assisted therapy seeks to decrease PTSD symptoms/episodes.
Download or read book The Efficacy of Animal Assisted Therapy for Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder written by Jessica L. Jean and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 172 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Canine Assisted Therapy in Military Medicine written by Department of Defense (DoD) and published by . This book was released on 2017-04-23 with total page 127 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This important military document focuses on the expanding role of dogs in the military healthcare system. Sixteen chapters explore the recognition and acceptance of the value of therapy dogs by both military and civilian healthcare professionals. The articles examine the various capacities in which dogs work among patients in medical facilities. There are also detailed discussions of the fairly recent initiative of deploying specially trained dogs overseas with combat and operational stress control teams to assist in their vitally important work in the mitigation of stress and anxiety among deployed personnel. Interestingly, as described in one article, this role of canine therapy has been applied repeatedly to disasters and tragic events in the United States, beginning with September 11, 2001, to address the confusion, stress, and anxiety of both victims and rescue/recovery workers in dealing with the feelings of futility, frustration, and loss. Many readers who have pets or other involvement with animals in their lives will probably not be particularly surprised at the descriptions of human reactions to the presence of the dogs depicted in these articles. However, all readers should find the extent of the situations and conditions to which dogs are successfully lending assistance to be intriguing, and perhaps a bit surprising. Although attempts to systematically quantify and scientifically evaluate the results of animal-assisted therapy have been and will continue to be made, for now the anecdotal evidence of its overwhelmingly positive impact is not only encouraging, but also substantial enough to support its continuation. Contents: 1 - Perspectives * 2 - The Early Years * 3 - Policy Initiatives for the Use of Canines in Army Medicine * 4 - Definitions of Animals Used in Healthcare Settings * 5 - Historical Perspectives of the Human-Animal Bond Within the Department of Defense * 6 - Dogs and Human Health/Mental Health: From the Pleasure of Their Company To the Benefits of Their Assistance * 7 - Research on Benefits of Canine-Assisted Therapy for Adults in Nonmilitary Settings * 8 - The Effects of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Wounded Warriors in an Occupational Therapy Life Skills Program * 9 - Training the Combat and Operational Stress Control Dog: An Innovative Modality for Behavioral Health * 10 - Occupational Therapists as Dog Handlers: The Collective Experience with Animal-Assisted Therapy in Iraq * 11 - Crossing the Berm: An Occupational Therapist's Perspective on Animal-Assisted Therapy in a Deployed Environment * 12 - Rehabilitative Canine Interactions at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center * 13 - Canines for Combat Veterans: The National Education for Assistance Dog Services * 14 - Service Dog Training Program for Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress in Service Members * 15 - Reclaiming Identity Through Service to Dogs in Need * 16 - Therapy Dogs and Stress Management Assistance During Disasters. Humans have domesticated animals for assistance and companionship since before the beginning of recorded history. Beasts of burden permitted the development of civilization by breaking land for agriculture with plows, and carrying crops, products, and people in larger quantities and over longer distances than human backs and feet could ever achieve. The longest recognized domesticated animal, the canine, provided humans with assistance in hunting and security, as well as companionship, throughout history, and continues to serve in those and other capacities today. Everyone is, of course, familiar with the "police dog," a fixture of law enforcement agencies for most of the last century. Police have also used dogs for tracking offenders and finding victims and lost individuals for many decades. Less well-known, but with a legacy of use that precedes that of law enforcement, is the military working dog.
Download or read book Efficacy of Animal Assisted Therapy Verses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Veterans with PTSD written by Ryan Fullenwiley-Jones and published by . This book was released on 2021 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: On average, 22 military veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) commit suicide daily (Kemp, Department of Veterans Affairs [V.A.], 2012). In 2018, the V.A. released a new National Suicide Data Report revealing that little had changed. This report highlighted that active-duty members were among those who successfully suicided as well. The number was not entirely representative of only veterans. Military personnel do not always have the opportunity to process their feelings and experiences for various reasons. For example, they may be in the midst of conflict and on high alert. There may not be resources at the time of experience; grief may not be immediate for losses they experience during battle, or attitudes around strength prevent supportive interventions. Due to lack of ability to process these traumatic events, post-traumatic stress can occur with subsequent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD symptoms can vary in intensity over time and increase the risk of other mental health problems, such as adjustment disorders, depression, anxiety disorders, alcohol abuse, prescription and illicit drug abuse, and suicidal thoughts and actions. For more than 50 years, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), even brief treatment, has been therapeutic for individuals with stress disorders. More recently, mental health providers have implemented animal-assisted therapy (AAT) with dogs to treat veterans with PTSD. This proposed study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of service dogs versus CBT to treat veterans with PTSD.
Download or read book Reporting for Duty Wounded Warriors and Their Canine Heroes written by Tracy Libby and published by i5 Publishing. This book was released on 2015-11-17 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hundreds of thousands of military veterans seek treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) each year. Service dogs have been used for many years in the civilian sector to help their disabled owners perform necessary tasks in daily life; likewise, the organized use of therapy dogs to bring comfort and companionship to hospital and nursing-home patients dates back more than four decades. Reporting for Duty explores the unique and special bond between wounded warriors—especially those suffering from PTSD—and their service dogs and discusses the vital work of therapy dogs who visit VA hospitals and military rehabilitation facilities. Author Tracy Libby tells the true stories of disabled veterans who have been touched, assisted, and enriched by the dogs in their lives, and the new lease on life is reciprocal: many of these service and therapy dogs have been rescued from shelters and specially trained for their jobs. A portion of proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit a veterans’ service-dog organization. INSIDE REPORTING FOR DUTY: •True stories of physically and mentally disabled veterans who count on service dogs for assistance with daily tasks. •An explanation of PTSD and how it affects military veterans. •How therapy dogs and service dogs are selected and trained for their jobs. •Rescuing shelter dogs to train for therapy and service work. •How the military is training dogs to accompany soldiers on deployments. •A look at the bond between people and dogs and the positive effects it has on both
Download or read book Animal Assisted Therapy Use Application by Condition written by Eric Altschuler and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2022-11-30 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Animal Assisted Therapy Use Application by Condition provides the most updated and comprehensive data knowledge on animal-assisted therapy. The book synthesizes historical information, theory, clinical practice, and data from recent clinical studies on animal-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other diseases. Written by international experts drawn from the fields of medicine, clinical psychology and therapy, speech therapy, clinical research, and animal training and welfare, this book employs a hypothesis driven, data rich approach to inform readers on current research and serve as a reference for clinical practice and use of animal-assisted therapy. This is an important resource for clinicians, researchers, animal trainers and handlers and students who want to understand and utilize animal-assisted therapy in theory and practice. Includes essential information on animal-assisted therapy for clinicians, researchers, students, and animal training and handling organizations Examines PTSD in history, literature and arts, along with theories of the mechanism of clinical action of animal-assisted therapy Features contributions by war combat veterans who use animal-assisted therapy for the treatment of PTSD
Download or read book Horses Healing the Wounded Warrior written by Rebecca R. Wara-Goss and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a major concern for military veterans in the United States and current research on women's experiences in the military and the effects of their postmilitary PTSD are limited. Currently, there are a variety of evidence-based and alternative treatment options for veterans with PTSD, and one alternative treatment option includes equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFP). EFP is a form of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) that integrates the human–animal bond as part of treatment and recovery. The purpose of this exploratory study was to explore in-depth experiences of the horse–human relationship in EFP with female veterans to elucidate how the horse–human relationship may assist in reducing impacts of PTSD. The research question was, "What is the lived experience of EFP in female veterans with PTSD?" The research was designed as an exploratory qualitative inquiry study that utilized semi-structured interviews with 10 female veterans. The findings from this study included six theme groupings with a total of thirty-three themes found. The most significant themes common to five or more participants included: Emotional discomfort with the horse, Spiritual experience with the horse, Experience of safety with the horse, Visual contact with the horse, Emotional connection with the horse, Beneficial impact of therapy, Increased connection with others, Reduced anxiety, Reduced withdrawal, EFP advocacy for others, and Delayed awareness of PTSD. Through exploring the nature of the human–animal bond in EFP, this research revealed invaluable insights into the potential healing power of horses and alternative mental health treatment options and served to honor women's experiences in the military. In addition, this qualitative study provided an opportunity to gather rich detail and general information as to the effects of EFP for sufferers of PTSD.
Download or read book Equine Assisted Psychotherapy for United States Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder written by Caroline Vetter and published by . This book was released on 2019 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Field Exercises written by Stephanie Westlund and published by New Society Publishers. This book was released on 2014-06-01 with total page 243 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How connecting with nature is helping veterans reintegrate into civilian life and recover from PTSD. There are nearly twenty-five million veterans and active-duty soldiers in North America. Some experts estimate that more than one quarter of these men and women suffer from post-traumatic distress, and many other military persons experience difficulty reintegrating into civilian life. While conventionally prescribed treatments primarily involve medication and therapy, many people are discovering additional ways to manage their injuries and reduce their suffering. Field Exercises: How Veterans Are Healing Themselves through Farming and Outdoor Activities shares the compelling stories of men and women who are finding relief from stressful and traumatic military experiences, while also establishing community networks and other peer support initiatives. Stephanie Westlund examines: The deep and far-reaching connections between nature and human health The tremendous impact of stress and trauma on survivors' lives Resources and groups providing opportunities in the emerging field of “Green Care”. Field Exercises offers hope for veterans searching for methods to ease the transition to civilian life and recover from military stress and trauma. This book will appeal to millions of North American soldiers, veterans, and their loved ones, doctors, psychiatrists, social workers and other caregivers, other groups struggling with high rates of stress and post-traumatic experience, and all those interested in the relationship between nature and human health. Stephanie Westlund holds a PhD in peace and conflict studies. She has been conducting research with veterans since 2009, and continues to be inspired by their courage and personal resolve to move through pain toward recovery, and their unrelenting desire to serve their communities.
Download or read book Canine Assisted Therapy written by Katherine Ankenbauer and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 57 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This literature review will seek to review and analyze the efficacy of Canine-Assisted Therapy as a complementary method for combat veterans suffering symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress .Disorder (PTSD), with a particular focus on those who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and/or Operation New Dawn (ONO). In recent years, many programs, agencies and therapists have more frequently incorporated the use of service dogs into therapy for post-deployment veterans. In past decades, some studies' results were deemed inconclusive by accredited authorities due to their low level of generalizability and lack of quantitative methodology and analysis. However, more recent studies have exposed data that suggests Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) utilizing dogs, horses and cats, when used in a complementary manner in conjunction with other more conventional, evidence-based psychotherapies, present the potential for substantially improving the results of therapy, increasing participation and shortening recovery time through impacting the above mentioned areas of physical, psychological, emotional PTSD symptoms, social experiences and levels of support. Therefore, this newer approach holds the promise of bettering PTSD treatment and increasing effectivity by filling in the gaps of traditional therapies currently used by the Veteran Health Administration (VHA) within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) such as Cognitive Behavioral
Download or read book A Supplementary Intervention Utilizing Service Dogs with Veterans Diagnosed with PTSD written by Jacqueline Dillon and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 126 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Abstract: The purpose of this project was to write a grant proposal seeking funds for a program that utilizes service dogs as a supplementary intervention for veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The literature review addressed the prevalence of PTSD in the United States and among our veterans. In addition, PTSD challenges, risk factors, and direct consequences were explored. Pet therapy, service animals, and animal companionship were researched and reviewed to further analyze the effectiveness of their support with humans. The service dog program will be implemented at The Veterans Affair (VA) Health Care System in Long Beach, California. The program seeks to provide additional support to veterans who are utilizing mental health services at the VA. The intervention is projected to have the following outcomes, decreased PTSD symptoms, increased community integration, and decreased feelings of suicidal ideation. The actual submission and/or funding of this grant were not a requirement for the successful completion of this project.
Download or read book Post traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD and War related Stress written by Canada. Veterans Affairs Canada and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 36 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This document provides information on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and war-related stress for veterans & their families. It begins with background on PTSD and traumatic events, then describes common symptoms of PTSD and why they develop. The next section reviews problems associated with PTSD, such as depression, anxiety, and impacts on work & family. The final sections provide suggestions on coping with the disorder and describe treatment methods.
Download or read book Paws for veterans written by Samantha Louise Cole and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 60 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Canine Therapy for Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder written by Julie Suzanne Griffin-Smith and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent mental condition among current military troops. This project seeks to address the prevalence within the military populations, create a greater awareness of the difficult challenges soldiers' encounter, and highlight symptoms. This paper analyzes PTSD on a person's emotional, psychological and physical health as well as how it is interrelated and influenced by the therapeutic relationship. This paper also emphasizes that humans can benefit through positive interaction with an animal. The research gathered suggests a combination of relational theory and canine assisted therapy with the treatment environment based heavily on the therapeutic alliance as an effective treatment for veterans with PTSD. The proposed individual therapy sessions are based in a relational therapy context in order to support and facilitate the client as an individual in the framework of his or her experiences. The therapy canine serves as a non threatening bridge for communication, and empathic connection inside the environment of relational theory. " -- Abstract, p. 1.
Download or read book The Clinical Practice of Equine Assisted Therapy written by Leif Hallberg and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-12-06 with total page 222 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Clinical Practice of Equine-Assisted Therapy bridges theory, research, and practical methods to fill a rapidly developing gap for physical, occupational, speech, and mental health professionals interested in incorporating horses in therapy. Extensively researched and citing over 300 peer-reviewed journal articles, it examines core issues such as terminology, scope of practice, competency recommendations, horse care ethics, and clinical practice considerations. This book is an essential resource for professionals who wish to use a best-practices approach to equine-assisted therapy.
Download or read book Handbook on Animal Assisted Therapy written by Aubrey H. Fine and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2019-06-27 with total page 548 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy: Foundations and Guidelines for Animal-Assisted Interventions, Fifth Edition highlights advances in the field, with seven new chapters and revisions to over 75% of the material. This book will help therapists discover the benefits of incorporating animal assisted therapy into their practice, how to design and implement animal assisted interventions, and the efficacy of animal assisted therapy with different disorders and patient populations. Coverage includes the use of AAT with children, families and the elderly, in counseling and psychotherapy settings, and for treating a variety of specific disorders. Contains seven new chapters in addition to 75% new or revised material Includes guidelines and best practices for using animals as therapeutic companions Addresses specific types of patients and environmental situations Includes AAI working with cats, dogs, birds, and horses Discusses why animals are used in therapy, as well as how
