The Healing Power of an Emotional Comfort Animal
In a world where stress, anxiety, and depression are increasingly common, emotional comfort animals (also known as emotional support animals or ESAs) have become a valuable ally for mental health. Emotional comfort animals are more than just pets; they offer therapeutic benefits that promote emotional stability, reduce feelings of loneliness, and improve overall quality of […]
National Service Dog Month: Understanding PSAs and Their Mental Health Benefits
When you think of service animals, you may think of dogs that help people with physical disabilities, such as seeing eye dogs, or dogs that help people who are wheelchair bound. But service animals can also aid people with physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disabilities. These Psychiatric Service Animals play a crucial role […]
Empowering Lives: The Role of a Psychiatric Assistance Dog
Psychiatric assistance dogs are important helpers for people with mental health challenges. You might more commonly hear them called psychiatric service dogs. They do a lot to help their owners feel better and manage different types of mental health issues. In this post, we’ll discuss what makes these dogs so special. And we’ll explain how […]
Can a Service Dog Help with Dermatillomania?
Dermatillomania, also known as excoriation disorder or skin picking disorder, is a psychological condition characterized by compulsive picking, scratching, or pulling at the skin. It affects approximately 2-3% of the population (estimates vary) and causes distress and potential physical harm. Dermatillomania is typically treated through a variety of therapeutic approaches. Considering Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) […]
Can Cats Sense Their Human Companions’ Feelings of Anxiety?
Cats make great companions. They’re independent, yet affectionate, and they have a relaxed air about them that can be soothing. But what happens when our feline friends sense that we’re stressed out or anxious? Can cats sense anxiety too? Let’s take a look at what the experts say. Table of Contents Scientific Findings About Cats […]
Do Golden Retrievers Make Good Service Dogs?
*Estimated Read Time: 5 min
Considering training a Service Dog to aid in your mental health treatment plan? One of the most important decisions is which breed would best serve you. While many common breeds have the potential for effective task training, some breeds have characteristics that will pair better with psychiatric disabilities. So do Golden Retrievers make the cut? Read here to find out!
Did You Know You Can Self-Train a Service Animal?
*Estimated Read Time: 13 min 20 sec
Service Animal ownership has been widely accepted as part of physical disability treatment plans. In recent years, there has been an increase in the use of Psychiatric Service Animals as a viable option for Mental Health Disabilities as well! If you think that sounds expensive, you aren’t wrong. So the questions remain: What is a PSA? How can I get one? And can you self-train a Service Animal?
Service Dogs and Suicide Prevention
*Estimated Read Time: 9 min 39 sec
Mental health and wellness are part of the human condition. It can sometimes be challenging to gauge which of our emotions are proportional, and which are of greater cause for alarm. The conversation surrounding mental health is an important one, and we would like to openly share about Service Dogs and suicide prevention.
Help! My Doctor Won’t Write A Service Dog Letter
*Estimated Read Time: 8 min 46 sec
Evidence shows that individuals frequently grappling with mental intensity or destructive feelings greatly benefit from the use of a Psychiatric Service Dog. So then, why are so many physicians hesitant to recommend them? That’s an important question! Many are finding themselves stuck when their doctor won’t write a Service Dog letter.
Can You Train Your Own Service Dog?
*Estimated Read Time: 6 min 17 sec
Service Dogs can be a lifeline for those with physical or mental health limitations. A Service Dog is specifically trained to perform work for an individual with a disability which helps them to regain some freedom without limitations. Traditional Service Dog training can be very costly, but what if there was another way? Can you train your own Service Dog?