Animal-Assisted Therapy

Every person impacted by addiction experiences the process differently. Therefore, many different therapeutic approaches are used to address substance abuse problems today. One treatment tool that can offer many benefits is animal-assisted therapy.

At San Antonio Recovery Center, our animal-assisted therapy program gives people the chance to heal in recovery while experiencing the joy of working with animals. Our team truly believes that this type of therapy is often an effective component in addiction treatment. If you or a loved one is stuck in the endless cycle of addiction, our San Antonio Recovery Center team can help. Contact us today by calling 866.957.7885 or completing our convenient online form.

Understanding Recreational Therapies

Recreational therapy involves the use of various leisure activities in a way that promotes healing and growth. Recreational therapies include a variety of indoor and outdoor activities.

Common examples of recreational therapies include:

• Horseback riding
• Art
• Music
• Dance or movement
• Hiking

One such subset of recreational therapy is known as animal-assisted therapy. An animal-assisted therapy program can be a successful part of a well-balanced drug abuse treatment program at San Antonio Recovery Center.

What Is Animal-Assisted Therapy?

Animal-assisted therapy involves the use of animals to provide healing therapies for those undergoing particular issues. It's no surprise that interacting with animals can have powerful effects on a person's physical and emotional health. With the use of animal-assisted addiction recovery, a person may be able to achieve the deep introspection required for healing from a severe addiction. An addiction recovery support dog will be well-trained for the specific healing tasks at hand. Therefore, these animals have the right disposition to provide a number of benefits for those facing severe life challenges.

Benefits of Animal-Assisted Therapy

Many of the people who have used animal-assisted therapy as part of their treatment at San Antonio Recovery Center find it to be very beneficial. A well-balanced animal-assisted therapy program produces benefits such as:

• Increased Physical Activity Levels - Dogs are very active animals by nature. Part of the therapeutic use of these animals may involve taking them for walks. As a result, the individual seeking treatment will also see an increase in healthy physical activities that promote overall well-being.
• Lower Levels of Anxiety and Depression - Physical activity itself can help reduce anxiety and depression. However, the process of interacting with an animal can also produce specific chemicals in the body that lead to feelings of happiness and inner peace.
• Decreased Levels of Pain - Many of those seeking addiction treatment suffer from chronic pain. The same chemicals produced by interacting with animals can also help decrease the sensation of physical pain.
• Improved Social Skills - Interacting with therapy animals can help people build important trust and communication skills. These skills will allow these individuals to have healthy relationships with others.

Discovering a Comprehensive Treatment Plan

An animal-assisted therapy program is only part of a balanced addiction treatment plan at San Antonio Recovery Center. Other helpful tools can include:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Counseling
• Community support
• Family therapy

At San Antonio Recovery Center, the key to effective addiction treatment is personalized care. Once you make the brave decision to enter into addiction treatment with us, our team performs a comprehensive assessment of your physical and mental health. We then use this information to create a treatment plan that is suited to your specific needs in recovery. Our San Antonio Recovery Center team understands that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to addiction treatment. We want you to feel valued as a person throughout your recovery, so we treat each person with the respect and dignity they deserve. Learn more about our programs and therapy options today.

Start to Heal with San Antonio Recovery Center's Animal-Assisted Therapy Program

Finding the right animal-assisted therapy program does not have to overwhelm or frustrate you. San Antonio Recovery Center is an esteemed addiction treatment facility in the San Antonio, Texas, area. By focusing on providing holistic rehab tools in a peaceful setting, the San Antonio Recovery Center's philosophy allows each person to focus on healing. Don't let an existing addiction prevent you from living the life of your dreams. You can get the help you need to overcome these issues. Contact San Antonio Recovery Center at 866.957.7885 to find out more about the innovative treatment options provided here.