PET FRIENDLY MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HAVING PETS IN MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES?

Having pets in mental health facilities can offer several benefits, both for patients and the therapeutic environment as a whole:

1. Stress Reduction: Interaction with pets has been shown to decrease cortisol, a stress hormone, and increase serotonin, a feel-good chemical in the brain. This can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression in patients.
2. Nonjudgmental Support: Animals offer unconditional love and acceptance. They do not judge by a person’s past or their mental health condition, which can be incredibly comforting to patients who may feel stigmatized by their mental health struggles.
3. Increased Social Interaction: Pets can help facilitate social interactions among patients and between patients and staff. They can act as social lubricants, easing conversations and fostering community within the facility.
4. Physical Activity: Physical activity, such as walking or playing, is encouraged, especially with dogs. This can be beneficial for mental health, as regular physical activity is known to help reduce depressive symptoms and improve mood.
5. Routine and Responsibility: Caring for a pet requires a certain level of responsibility and routine, which can benefit people with mental health issues. It helps bring structure to their day and can make them feel needed and valuable.
6. Emotional Comfort: Pets can provide emotional comfort. Simply petting an animal can help soothe and relax individuals. They can also help reduce feelings of loneliness by providing companionship.
7. Increased Engagement: Pets can increase patient engagement with therapeutic activities. They can be incorporated into therapy sessions to encourage participation and make them more appealing and less intimidating.
8. Therapeutic Tool: Therapists can use animals in their sessions as therapeutic tools. For example, observing a patient’s interaction with an animal can provide insights into their behavior and emotional state. Pets can also be used in specific therapeutic approaches, like animal-assisted therapy (AAT).

These benefits can contribute significantly to the healing and comfort of individuals in mental health facilities, enhancing the overall therapeutic environment.

For pet owners seeking mental health treatment, pet-friendly mental health facilities provide a unique option that allows them to receive the care they need without sacrificing the comfort and support of their furry friends. 

If you or a loved one are searching for pet-friendly mental health facilities near me, Gratitude Lodge offers a substance abuse and mental health treatment program that welcomes you and your pet. 

Visit our pet-friendly rehab page or call (800) 994-2184 to learn more. 

DOES ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY WORK?

Many mental health and substance abuse treatment programs offer alternative or holistic therapies to supplement traditional treatment methods. While animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is not a “cure” for substance abuse or mental health issues, you can benefit from including pet therapy as a part of your comprehensive treatment program.

According to Heart Views, “Animals make people feel good – and a pet can improve health, studies show. Pets can ease loneliness, reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, promote social interaction, encourage exercise and playfulness, and provide unconditional love and affection.”

Whether you have a pet of your own or engage with animals as part of your mental health or substance abuse treatment program, many studies have shown that animals and pets can help with your mental health.

THE IMPORTANCE OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE IN RECOVERY

Sometimes, mental health and substance abuse problems can create issues with the essential people in your life. You might experience disruptions in friendships or family relationships if your addiction or mental illnesses caused problems in those crucial relationships.

As you repair those essential relationships, you can still receive unconditional love from your pet. Pets are often happy to see their owners despite any of their flaws or issues. As you build your self-esteem during recovery, your pet can provide you with unconditional love and acceptance — even if your friends and family aren’t quite “there yet.”