What are the benefits of AAT versus traditional modalities?
AAT offers numerous benefits beyond those available through traditional therapies. In this era of managed care and cost reduction, AAT allows therapists to use one treatment tool, an animal, to target a variety of goals. These include, but are not limited to, improving patients’ range of motion, strength and endurance, balance and mobility and sensation. During the same session, using the animal, cognitive and perceptual deficits can be addressed. The patient also receives psychosocial benefits such as building rapport, increasing self-esteem and motivation and stress reduction. What other modality offers such a variety of benefits in such a delightful package? What is the difference between temperament and training? Temperament is an animal’s natural or instinctive behavior. This is the innate way an animal will respond when stressed. Training is teaching an animal to follow commands while under the control of a human. Successful therapy and visitation animals must have sound temperam
