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How The Human-Animal Bond Heals

Melanie G. Jones & Naomi Rossthorn PAWS Conference

Psychology & Animal Welfare: Starting the Conversation

Melanie G Jones Psychologist & Professional Dog Trainer Naomi Rossthorn Equine Psychotherapist & Provisional Psychologist What is the Human-Animal Bond? Well, that depends…

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Permission was given verbally and in writing by the client’s (their parents and or guardian’s if they were underage) for their images, and participation in the video, be used in this presentation. The Horses and

Dogs also gave their permission.

Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy (AAP) AAP is a form of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) or Animal-Assisted Counselling that places the relationship with the animal(s) at the heart of the change process. Rather than the traditional dyadic relationship, however, AAP involves at least a triadic, and often poly- and multi-directional relationships.

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Why work with Animals?

• Pets have been shown to have a significant role in families (Boat 2010; Walsh 2009).

• They play a significant role in child and adolescent development, having an influence on the development of empathy, non-gendered care-giving skills, and attachment. Children bond quickly and closely to animals, and have a tendency to confide in them (CIAS 2004; Malon, 1992; Malon 1994; Melson & Fine, 2010; Menzies 2003).

• Many of the qualities of the Human-Animal Bond are in line with the qualities of Human-Human attachment (Green, Mathews & Foster 2009; Zilcha-Mano, Mikulincer & Shaver, 2011)

• Biophilia and nature hypotheses – a genetic pre-disposition to be drawn to animals and nature (for mutual benefit)

Why bring an animal to therapy?

•  Pets have been implicated in a myriad of health, social, behavioural and emotional benefits, and may have positive impacts on wellbeing and operate as psychological ‘assets’. Key areas of efficacy are;

o  Engagement, rapport & social lubricant effect

o  Physiological and health outcomes

o  Behavioural disorders

o  Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

o  Emotional wellbeing

(Bennett, 2012; Julius, Beetz, Kotrschal, Turner, Uvnas-Moberg, 2013; Nimer & Lundahl, 2007; Schneider & Pilchak-Harley, 2006)

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How the Human-Animal Bond (HAB) heals: Neurobiology & the Oxytocin Hypothesis

Impact on Humans •  Reduction in stress physiology – Cortisol, BP

•  Reduction in feelings of stress and anxiety •  Increases in ‘bonding’ & ‘affiliative’ responses including Oxytocin,

Dopamine, Prolactin

•  Autonomic down-regulation & co-regulation

•  Bonding and the oxytocin hypothesis – opens up the relational space

How the Human-Animal Bond (HAB) heals: Neurobiology & the Oxytocin Hypothesis

Impact on Animals •  Dogs and horses may co-regulate with handler’s or owner’s cortisol

•  Cortisol responses in dogs are mediated by a strong bond with their owner

•  Dogs will produce oxytocin when bonding with their owner •  Dogs & horses have been known to display negative or stress-related

behaviours in interactions with humans (e.g. AAT), but this is not always correlated with BP or Cortisol

•  Freedom (e.g. no lead) and breaks improve dog’s stress responses to AAT

•  Know your animal, know their behaviour (Glenk, 2013; Haubenhofer & Kirchengast, 2006; Haubenhofer & Kirchengast, 2007;Odendaal, 2000; Schoberl, et. al. 2012)

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Animals as co-facilitators Horses as co-therapists •  The power of the Herd ( Hempfling, 1993) •  Embody Mindfulness (Vidrine, Owen-Smith, &

Faulkner, 2002).

Animals as co-facilitators Horses as co-therapists “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” ― Winston Churchill

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Animals as co-facilitators Dogs as co-therapists •  Honest and open in their interactions (although NOT

unconditional) •  Provide opportunities for touch and closeness •  Reflect interpersonal processes •  Live in the moment

Animals as co-facilitators Dogs as co-therapists •  8 year old girl ‘Mary’ from a background of family violence •  Questions (unsubstantiated) about sexual abuse •  Created a chasing game with large Therapy Dog,

encouraging the dog to run behind her, right at her heels. After varying time periods she would turn suddenly and put her palm out towards the dog, yelling “stop!”. The dog would stop as instructed, and Mary would laugh with surprise before beginning the game again. This continued every session for weeks, and ended at a time when Mary’s self efficacy and sense of control had improved significantly.

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Tails & Manes TM

The meaningful inclusion of both horses and dogs into therapy. Broaden out the relational dynamics further to include multi-species – using the two most popularly used AAT animals

Tails & ManesTM

Case Study – Attachment Trauma •  ‘Jane’ 17yo female diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder

in the context of significant childhood sexual, emotional and physical abuse

•  Her behaviour was considered high risk (to self and others) and difficult to manage.

•  Jane had a tendency to dissociate when distressed, and would typically become non-verbal

•  Jane was able to manage a ‘rupture’ in the relationship with one of the Therapy Horses, aided by the support of the Therapy Dogs. With support, Jane ‘repaired’ the relationship with the Horse and was able to continue with therapy

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Tails & ManesTM

Therapy-Animal Welfare •  Balance the needs of the human client and respect for the

Therapy Animals •  Follow best-practice guidelines for each species, for example 5

freedoms •  Thoroughly assess animals for temperament, training and

behaviour •  Maintain physical and emotional wellbeing of animals and

handlers, for example work-life balance •  Ensure species – specific and individual knowledge of each

animal by their handler

References Australian Childhood Foundation (2010) Making Space for Learning, Trauma Informed Practise in Schools. Downloaded www.acf.org.au Beetz, A., Uvas-Morberg, K., Julius, H. & Kotrschal, K. (2012) Psychosocial and psychophysiological effects of human-animal interactions: the possible role of oxytocin. Front Psychology. 3: 234. Bennett (2012) Companion dogs act as psychological assets for successful professionals. In International Society for Anthrozoology Conference Proceedings. ISAZ 2012. The Arts & Sciences of Human–Animal Interaction. Retrieved February 7th, 2013 from http://www.isaz.net/conferences/Arts%20and%20Sciences%20of%20Human-Animal%20Interactions.html CIAS (2004) Centre for the Interaction of Animals and Society Conference Proceedings. Can Animal Help Humans Heal? Animal-Assisted Interventions in Adolescent Mental Health. Retrieved January 18th, 2007 from www2.vet.upenn.edu/research/centres/cias/pastconferences.html

Effective strategies and interventions for adolescents in a child protection context: Literature review (2009) Downloaded. http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/docswr/_assets/main/documents/effective_adolescent_strategies.pdf

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References Glenk, L., Kothgassner, O., Stetina, B., Palme, R., Kepplinger, B., & Baran, H., (2013) Assessing Therapy Dogs’ welfare in animal-assisted interventions. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 8, p.e30 Green, J., Mathews, M., & Foster, C., (2009) Another kind of ‘interpersonal’ relationship: Humans, companion animals, and attachment theory. In Cuyler, E., & Ackhart, M., (Eds) Psychology of Relationships, pp. 87-109. Greenwald, R. & Rubin, A.,(1999) Assessment of Posttraumatic Symptoms in Children: Development of Preliminary Validation of Parent and Child Scales. Research on Social Work Practice. 9(1) 61-75. Haubenhofer, D., & Sylvia, K., (2006) Physiological arousal for companion dogs working with their owners in animal-assisted activities and animal-assisted therapy. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 9 (2), 165-172 Haubenhofer, D., & Sylvia, K., (2007) Dog Handlers; and dogs emotional and cortisol secretion responses associated with animal-assisted therapy sessions. Society & Animals p. 127-150

References Hempling, K.,F. (1993) Dancing with Horses . Trafalgar Square, Vermont Julius, Beetz, Kotrschal, Turner, Uvnas-Moberg (2013) Effects of human-animal interaction on health, social interaction, mood, autonomous nervous system, hormones. In Julius, et. al. Attachment to Pets. An Integrative View of Human-Animal Relationships with Implications for Therapeutic Practice (pp35-59). Massachusetts: Hogrefe Publishing Klontz, B.T., Bivens, A., Leinart, D., & Klontz, T. (2007) The effectiveness of Equine Assisted Experiential therapy : results of an open clinical trial. Society and Animals, 15, 257-267 Malon (1992) Utilization of animals as therapeutic adjuncts with children and youth: A review of the literature. Child and Youth Care Forum, 21, 53-67. Malon (1994) Some of the best therapists are dogs. Child and Youth Care Forum, 23, 89-101.

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References Margolin, G., Vickerman,. K.A. (2007) Post-traumatic Stress in Children and Adolescents Exposed to Family Violence: I. Overview and Issues.Professional Psychological Research 38(6),613–619. Melson & Fine (2010). Animals in the lives of children. In Fine, A. (Ed). Animal-Assisted Therapy: Theoretical Foundations and Guidelines for Practice 3e (pp 223-246). California: Academic Press Menzies (2003) Animal assisted therapy and young people – A review of selected literature. Retrieved April 1, 2006 from www.menzies.org.au/_publications/Animal-Assisted-Therapy-Report.pdf National Child Protection Clearing House Issues for the safety and wellbeing of children and families with multiple and complex problems. Downloaded http://www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/issues/issues33/issues33.pdf Nimer & Lundahl (2007) Animal-assisted therapy: A meta-analysis. Anthrozoos, 20, 225-238

References Schultz, P., Remick-Barlow, G. & Robbins, L. (2007) Equine Assisted Psychotherapy : A mental Health Promotion/intervention modality for children who have experienced family violence. Health & Social Care in the Community 15 (3), 265-271.��� Schneider, M., & Pilchak-Harley, L., (2006) How dogs influence the evaluation of psychotherapists. Anthrozoos, 19 (2), 128-142 Schoberl, I., Wedl, M., Bauer, B., Day, J., Mostl, E., & Kotrschal, K., (2012) Effects of owner-dog relationship and owner personality on cortisol modulation in human-dog dyads. Anthrozoos, 25 (2) 199-214 Shultz, B (2005).The effects of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy on the psychosocial functioning of at-risk adolescents ages 12-18.  Masters Thesis. Denver Seminary. Denver CO Streek-Fisher, A., & Van der Kolk , B. A. ( 2000) Down will come baby cradle and all: diagnostic and therapeutic implications of chronic trauma on child development. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 34(6):903-918

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References Trotter, K., Chandler,C., Goodwin-Bond, D., & Casey, J .(2008) A Comparative study of the efficacy of group equine assisted counselling with at-risk children and adolescents. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 3 (3), 254-284.

Vidrine, M., Owen-Smith, P., & Faulkner, P. (2002). Equine-facilitated group psychotherapy: Applications for therapeutic vaulting. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 23, 587-603. Zilcha-Mano, S., Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P., (2011) Pet in the therapy room: An attachment perspective on Animal-Assisted Therapy. Attachment & Human Development, 13 (6), pp. 541-561 Zugich, M., Klontz, T., & Leinart, D. (2002). The miracle of equine therapy. Counselor Magazine,3 (6), 22-27.

Questions? Melanie G. Jones Naomi Rossthorn

www.leadtheway.com.au

Special thanks to our Tails & Manes Equine Specialist Tama Green