EMDR and the human animal bond: Ways our four-legged friends help us heal

Animals have the unique ability to help us access our internal worlds, explore our belief systems, and increase healing both psychologically and physiologically. Research over the last years has shown an increase understanding of how and why integrating animals into the therapeutic experience can enhance outcomes for those who have experienced trauma throughout their lives. This presentation will describe ways the Human Animal Bond and Animal Assisted Psychotherapy can benefit clients across the 8-phase protocol including in history taking, preparation phase, desensitization, closure, and re-evaluation, whether in person or telehealth. Including a familiar pet or therapy animal into the clinical framework can offer new areas of expansion, grounding, and adaptive information to support even our most difficult clients in their readiness for EMDR and along their healing process.

Conference

English

Alison Leslie

Leslie, A. (2023, August). EMDR and the human animal bond: Ways our four-legged friends help us heal. Presentation at the at the 28th EMDR International Association Conference, Arlington, VA