Therapy Dogs: The Power of Animals

I recently got my dog licensed as a therapy dog and it has been a very exciting new journey for the both of us. Even though it has only been a few short months, I have already been able to experience the true power that animals (specifically dogs) can have on people. Working with children and adolescents who struggle with a wide range of issues each day has given me the opportunity to utilize animal assisted therapy with my own dog.

Animal assisted therapy (AAT) is a type of therapy that involves animals as a form of treatment. The goal of AAT is to improve a patient's social, emotional, or cognitive functioning.

Sometimes just the sight of a dog can lift someone’s mood. Recent studies have shown that a correlation was acknowledged between the human /dog bond and the emotional health of humans.

Studies have shown that a person holding or petting an animal will cause a lowering of blood pressure, the release of strain and tension, and can draw out a person from loneliness and depression. 

Other emotional disorders that can greatly benefit from therapy dogs include: 

• PTSD, 
• ADHD, 
• Autism, 
• Anxiety
• Depression 

Working with grief / loss and improving communication skills are also added benefits.

In my own experience, my dog serves just a few simple purposes. He doesn’t have to jump through hoops or weave in and out of cones. He simply has to be present and ready to give and receive love from others. It is the magic of conducting therapy with dogs. Their simple presence can calm someone, give comfort and even a sense of peace. 

It can allow a child (or any client) to express emotions through the dog, increase endorphins and provide a feeling of unconditional love. 

It has truly been an eye-opening experience for me already. The amount of smiles that my dog brings to people’s faces on a daily basis is priceless and I look forward to the many more opportunities that come our way as we continue this journey together.

Shawna Paplaski, LCPC

Young Adults with Autism Entering the Work Force

Therapist's Editorial: Young Adults with Autism Entering the Work Force

I recently came across a very interesting article while on vacation.  Well, actually my husband did when reading his INC. Magazine.  Normally those types of articles are not “up my alley” as I prefer Better Homes & Gardens, but this was something that sparked my interest as well as a passion of mine.  The article was called “Making It Work” and it was about the growing population of people with Asperger’s (those on the Autism Spectrum Disorder) now transitioning into adulthood, entering the work force, and the struggles that are faced. Knowing this is not only in my career field but a strong interest of mine, my husband chose to pass the magazine over to me.  Despite it being more from a “business model” standpoint, I was able to relate as a therapist on different levels (my husband, the accountant, interestingly pulled very different points from it, which I always find amusing).  I thought I would share my “take-aways” as it is such a crucial part in our society that we must be able to grow with, or as the article title said, “make it work”.

Connecting with Kids with Special Needs through Toys and Play

Toys Can Build Connections Between Kids with Special Needs and their Peers

 By Child Therapy Chicago's guest blogger from Lekotek

“Inclusion” is a popular word used around children with special needs. It reflects the emotional need of every human being to be included and the desire to share experiences, and there is, perhaps, no better place to put the concept of inclusion to work than through toys and play. Hot categories of toys this year are electronics, plush, arts and crafts and sports, so let’s explore what’s new in these areas and how they can bring kids together.

Helping Children with Special Needs Cope with Stress through Play

Stress Busters

By Child Therapy Chicago's guest blogger from Lekotek

The pressures of school can be tough on kids, especially those with special needs. Play can help children relax, recharge their batteries and take on new challenges.

It’s hard to remember a time when kids had more stress in their lives. Schools are forced to pressure children more and more to pass tests to keep their stream of funding. Our educational system is also under mounting pressure as the global ranking for America’s schools continues to trend downward. Homework has trended upward with little impact.

What research has proven again and again is that kids learn best through play. Guided play advances cognitive skills like language, as well as social skills such as emotional regulation. Group play experiences also greatly impact a child’s coping abilities, empathy, mood and resiliency. Despite evidence linking play to development, parents, educators and policy makers have allowed children’s play time to drastically erode in the last two decades.

Play functions as an antidote to the pressures of life, including school anxiety. Here are some product ideas to help kids defuse stress and refresh their bodies. These suggestions are especially beneficial for children with special needs who have their share of school struggles:

Overview of Greenspan's DIR/Floortime Model

There are many treatment methods available to support learning, appropriate behaviors, social and emotional growth, and relationships with children on the autistic spectrum. Many of these techniques are behaviorally based, which can provide some structure and containment for children. However, to fully develop a child's long-term capacity to interact in the world, relate to others, problem solve, tolerate frustrations, and enjoy engaging, relationally based approaches to treatment are the way to go.