Poodle Joins Animal Therapy Programme

Therapy Beyond Medicine

A friendly Poodle named Ruby has become a regular visitor at London's mental health facilities, bringing joy to patients. She is part of an expanding animal-assisted therapy service across 16 sites operated by the Central and North West London NHS.

The therapy programme, which Ruby is a part of, aims to provide comfort and emotional support to patients. The service is growing in popularity, with Ruby being one of the most well-received visitors.

Ruby's visits are designed to help patients cope with their mental health struggles. The presence of animals like Ruby has been shown to have a positive impact on patients' well-being. Staff at the facilities have reported that patients are more relaxed and open during therapy sessions with animals.

Can Animals Really Help Mental Health?

The success of the programme is evident in the positive reactions from patients. As the programme expands, more animals are being trained to participate in therapy sessions.

The expansion of the animal-assisted therapy service is expected to bring more benefits to patients across the NHS sites. With more animals like Ruby joining the programme, patients can look forward to continued support and comfort.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is animal-assisted therapy? Animal-assisted therapy involves trained animals visiting patients to provide comfort and emotional support. It's used to help patients cope with mental health issues.

How do animals help patients? Animals help patients by providing a calming presence and emotional support. This can make patients feel more at ease during therapy sessions.

Are the animals specially trained? Yes, animals participating in the therapy programme are specially trained to interact with patients in a safe and comforting manner.