Therapeutic service animals for addiction treatment
Certified therapy dogs to aid addiction treatment
Leaving your home, family, and friends to enter addiction treatment can be jarring.
To help ease the pressure of the unknown, Recovery Centers of America uses certified therapy dogs to provide emotional support during their stay in our inpatient drug and alcohol treatment program. Therapy with dogs provides an emotional outlet for many mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, and improves patients’ overall mood as they go through inpatient treatment.
What you’ll love about
our furry friends
Therapy dogs give you an opportunity to practice alternative coping skills and handle uncomfortable emotions. Often patients experience a multitude of mixed emotions about being in treatment and being away from home and family, all while learning to identify and address emotions they have hidden for a long period of time. It’s courageous work that can also be extremely difficult. Visits with therapy dogs offer an excellent outlet, providing a comforting connection and a reduction in anxiety.
Therapy dogs respond to human emotions and being around animals can help you learn to control your external responses and adjust to a pet’s emotional needs. Studies show that interacting with therapy dogs results in an increase in neurochemicals, which initiates a decrease in blood pressure and induces relaxation. The relationship is beneficial for changing agitated behavior and psychological symptoms among patients.
Recovery Centers of America is here for you
If you or someone you know needs help with a drug or alcohol addiction, Recovery Centers of America is standing by 24/7 to answer questions and help you with the decisions that can change your or their life for the better.
