Mumbai experts share tips to navigate animal-assisted therapy

The next time someone says things have gone to the dogs breathe easy and rest assured that things are in great hands and paws If you donrsquot believe us ask USA gymnastics icon Simone Biles and her compatriots Following Bilesrsquo unfortunate withdrawal from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics the USA team introduced a welcome change to their rigorous preOlympics training plan mdash quality time with Beacon a Californiabased golden retriever and the USA Gymnastics teamrsquos official therapy dog who went on to play a vital role by helping the team calm their nerves before the big sporting spectacleA staff ID card created for the golden retriever mentions his designation as the lsquogoodest boyrsquo Pics CourtesyX InstagramThe gymnastics team went on to win a rich haul of 10 medals at the ongoing Paris Olympiad As Beacon takes the Internet by storm for his contribution from the wings animalassisted therapy experts give us a lowdown of the concept and how you can access it here in the cityA friend in meExperts suggest getting a therapy pet may help senior citizens with neurological conditions like dementia Representation picPradnya Hattiangadi a certified dog trainer introduces us to another longform approach to the concept Having worked with children on the autism spectrum in schools and privately at their homes Hattiangadi believes the demographic stands to benefit from the assisted therapy the most ldquoI usually take up small batches of children over the course of six to seven months The first few months are reserved for the children to warm up to the idea Once they are comfortable the improvement is evident Nonverbal children for instance usually start verbalising a few words amidst interacting with the petsrdquo she elaboratesPradnya Hattiangadirsquos weimaraner Roohi at previous sessionsFor senior citizens at home and in old age homes who might be battling neurological conditions like dementia Hattiangadi has a different approach ldquoHaving a pet around you brings a sense of responsibility with it You are forced to remember what the pet likes when and what you need to feed them This is a great exercise for those battling neurological conditionsrdquo she concludesPradnya HattiangadiAT Services available across MumbaiCALL 9820345507Getting to workEmployees interact with Luna seated and EliWhile probably not as stressful as aiming for an Olympic gold working a desk job can come in as a close second we think Priyanka Shelat a lawyer by profession and a therapy dog trainer by passion agrees ldquoCorporate workers love the concept of having a pet in the room During one of our sessions an employee sat down and had a long chat with our therapy dog I feel like we all need it sometimesrdquo she laughs A usual session would involve the dogs walking around greeting employees with a wide smile and lounging in a cosy spot for a good belly rub we learn ldquoBasic rules like keeping food off bounds and not making loud movements ensures a smooth sessionrdquo she reveals Mitali Parekh at a session for childrenMitali Parekh canine and feline behaviourist creative director at Shirin Dhabhar Academy and Shelatrsquos collaborator assures us that the furry friendsrsquo comfort is always held paramount ldquoThe pets are trained to deal with the attention and frequent socialising that the job entails It helps them stay calm in the face of repeated stimuli Additionally we keep an eye out for signs of exhaustion and discomfort in case of which we immediately remove them from the situation at handrdquo she explainsAT Services available across MumbaiCALL 9820480903Childrsquos playGayatri AyyerldquoPets attract children and young adults like magnetsrdquo shares Gayatri Ayyer psychologist and founder Pawsitive Synergies Putting the natural match to good use Ayyer recently collaborated with IIT Bombay to provide petassisted support during the crucial placement season at the premier institute ldquoSuch phases can be tough on young minds When you pet a dog or a cat it naturally releases happy chemicals like oxytocin serotonin and dopamine providing a muchneeded distraction from the stressrdquoshe revealsThe Thanebased expert also conducts personal sessions for all ages where therapy dogs assist the intricate process ldquoA child who has been taught not to trust strangers all their life will naturally not open up to a therapist at first But when the child sees that an animal is comfortable around a new person they tend to open up and look at the therapist as a trustworthy friendrdquo she addsAT Pawsitive Synergies Ghodbunder Road Anu Nagar Waghbil Naka Thane WestCALL 9594968980Tworsquos a pawrtyAnushree LokhandePrabhadevibased psychotherapist Anushree Lokhande informs us that contrary to popular belief therapy is not only for those diagnosed with a mental health condition ldquoInteracting with a dog for just an hour can have its own benefits Beyond therapy sessions you can opt for petassisted activities where the setting is more relaxed For individuals who are afraid they might not be ready to commit to being a pet parent especially senior citizens this can be a great choice where they come in for an hour and leave with an improved moodrdquo she points outIntroducing children to the dogs Lokhande believes can inculcate values such as drawing boundaries being empathetic and reading body language at a young age She adds ldquoWhile those diagnosed with conditions require a more structured approach any individual can avail of the benefitsrdquoAT Evolving Together Merchant House Old Prabhadevi Road PrabhadeviCALL 8693894508