Canine Assisted Therapy

About Tallulah – Canine Assisted Therapy

Tallulah is a highly trained service dog who works with Dr. Holland to provide assistance to clients in a variety of ways. She is warm, friendly, and very intuitive. This Labrador Retriever provides a connection that goes beyond words and straight to the heart.  Depending on your needs, Tallulah can be merely a quiet presence in the room or be actively involved in therapy.

Canine Assisted Therapy brings the power of touch and affection into the therapy setting. Petting a dog and receiving affection in return allows for the appropriate expression and reciprocity of affection in a therapy session. For someone who feels socially isolated and disconnected, this kind of connection can help facilitate deep emotional healing.

Canine Assisted Therapy Adds a New Level of Comfort

Connecting with a dog can be powerfully healing and comforting for individuals of all ages and walks of life. In some cases, it can help an otherwise “stuck” patient overcome hurdles in treatment and begin making progress again. The friendly, accepting nature of these beautiful animals makes them ideal “co-therapists”. Canine-assisted therapy has been around for several decades, and will continue to be used for years to come due to its many benefits. The use of dogs as part of therapy and other forms of treatment can be beneficial for a wide range of disorders, issues, and conditions. They include:

  • Trauma
  • Grief
  • Attachment issues
  • Dementia
  • Recovery from addiction
  • Depression
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Behavioral problems
  • Autistic spectrum disorders
  • Developmental disorders
  • Social skill deficits
  • ADHD
  • Psychotic disorders
  • Low self-esteem
  • Social isolation
  • Agoraphobia
  • Eating disorders

Dogs often have a calming presence for patients. Their relaxing impact has been shown to be beneficial to adolescents, adults and seniors alike. Therapy dogs have been used in nursing homes, veterans’ hospitals, psychiatric wards, mental health clinics, private therapist’s offices and a variety of settings where they help to facilitate the emotional and physical healing of patients.

Many people find that they can connect much more easily with an animal than a human. Stroking an animal has been shown to lower blood pressure and trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s natural mood-enhancing chemicals. The use of dogs in therapy helps patients feel less anxious and more optimistic. Individuals who have a difficult time accessing or expressing their emotions often find it easier to open up in the presence of a friendly, unconditionally accepting, and non-judgmental canine like Talullah.