"Researchers at MIRI have completed a pilot study that used guinea pigs and rabbits as therapists to teach children who have experienced domestic violence situations empathy and coping skills....
"WAYSS, a registered not-for-profit community based agency in Southern Metropolitan Melbourne region provides family violence and homelessness support services and transitional housing for women and children. Since 2005, they have been providing the Animal Assisted Therapy group run by Empathy Educations & Training (EE&T)....
"Children are assessed and prepared for entry into the program by a WAYSS Children's Case Worker and they are transported to the program by WAYSS. The group program is managed by EE&T. The guinea pigs and rabbits, used in the program are carefully chosen and their temperament and health are managed by EE&T. The group caters for up to 10 children, who attend weekly sessions of 1-1.5 hours. The children engage in a series of activities which include animal handling (grooming, comforting), animal care (feeding and observing) and art and photography that complement the activities....
"According to Dr Mudaly, children who come to the program often do not trust adults. They do not respond to traditional counselling as they are often filled with persistent fear. They may be sad, withdrawn or acting out in aggressive ways....
"Dr Mudaly talks of one five-year-old girl who witnessed terrible violence towards her mother when the child was injured during one of these episodes. "When she came into the program she was mute, did not speak for months and would not leave her mother's side," Dr Mudaly said. The first words she spoke were to a guinea pig in the animal therapy program: "what's your name?" A year later Dr Mudaly saw the child again. "She was flicking her long hair, talking about how she might work with animals when she grew up. She had so much to say and would not stop talking," Dr Mudaly said."
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-05-homeless-abused-children-benefit-animal-assisted.html
A preliminary evaluation of an Animal Assisted Education and Therapy group - Australian Govt.
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