TRC Connections

Do you spend a lot of time by yourself, not out of choice, but because you don’t have a circle of friends to interact with?  Do you say to yourself, “I am feeling empty”?  There are many types of groups that you can join to meet people who have similar interests and that will give you a full cup feeling.   Doing a little online or library research will help you get on your way to expanding your social circle.…

 

There are different types of counseling to choose from.  One type of counseling that is not always thought of is nutritional counseling.  It does make sense to participate in nutritional counseling if you have trouble with your eating routine.  You go to a talk therapy counselor when you are having issues with feelings and mental health, so why not go to a nutritional counselor when you have been having issues with food and eating patterns?…

Spirituality and religion are two different things.  While religion is organized worship of a higher power usually God or gods, spirituality is more of a way of life, including values and morals that encompass love, compassion, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, contentment, responsibility, harmony and empathy.  A religious person is most likely spiritual, but a spiritual person isn’t always religious.  If you need someone to talk to, you make seek out a spiritual mentor.…

 

 

If you are the type of person who feels more comfortable writing about your feelings and issues instead of talking face to face with another, then, you may feel comfortable joining online chat rooms.  You may want to interact in any of the following, just to name a few:

• a depression chat room
• an anxiety chat room
• an introvert chat room
• a meditation chat room

While you may feel a level of comfort in these online discussions, there are steps you need to take to protect your privacy and safety.…

 

Do you ever feel like no one cares about what you do, how you feel, or what you say, and that there are reasons why people don’t like you?  It may be the way you feel, but your interpretation of situations may not be grounded in what is truly happening.  If you are feeling those feelings, then, they are real to you and you need to do something to change those feelings. You have to feel better about yourself and others around you.  Helping others is one way to change these feelings.…

 

Therapy, as in psychological or psychiatric, is generally covered by health insurance.  Mental illness and other psychological issues can have a huge impact on a person’s life and the lives of those around that individual.  It is definitely a need for many people and not a luxury.  If health insurance is not an option that you have access to and you say to yourself, “I need to find a therapist near me”, then, there are other affordable choices.…

 

If you feel that you need to talk to someone about issues or feelings that are coming up, but aren’t sure if talk therapy is right for you, what can you do?  Fortunately, in this age of technology, you can do a lot of research online to find out answers to many questions.  If you aren’t someone who likes to talk, what do you do?  If you can’t make time in your busy schedule, what do you do?  If you don’t have a method of transportation to get to appointments, what do you do?…

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Most therapists use domestic animals, such as dogs, cats, rabbits, and birds, as therapy pets. Individuals accept these animals well because they have been proven to provide emotional support countless times. However, these house pets sometimes are not able to deliver. Some may not have the training to be an emotional support animal. Some may be too loud and playful for the patient. Some may require a lot of your time and money.

What can a therapist alternatively suggest? A lot of people are unaware that snakes can also be a viable option for animal therapy.

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Others might be hesitant to engage with these animals since they see them as poisonous and dangerous, but various types of snakes do not possess these qualities. With that, here are reasons why you should not overlook a snake as a therapy pet.

They Cater To The Specific Needs Of People With Autism

In some cases, the hyperactivity of cats and dogs might overwhelm those with autism. Therefore, the best way to address this is to pair them up with idle, relaxed, and slow-moving animals like the snake. Their movements and scales are fascinating to observe, and these characteristics also calm the mind. No need to worry about them disrupting you at times that you have to focus.

They Are Easy To Take Care Of

Most therapy snakes can dwell in the four corners of their glass cage. All you have to do is build a comfortable environment where they can still regulate the correct body temperature for its lifestyle. Its cage also does not need much space compared to that of a cat or a dog. For reference, a boa constrictor which is 8 feet in length, can comfortably live in a 30-cubic-feet area.

They Contribute To Lower Blood Pressure

This pet is also beneficial for someone with high blood pressure. Watching them crawl smoothly and elegantly inside its tank can be both soothing and meditative. Several studies revealed that it is as calming and relaxing as yoga. From here, there is a significant possibility that the heart rate and blood pressure of the patient will lower.

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They Do Not Set Off Allergies

Compare to other household animals, these types of reptiles are known as hypoallergenic animals. They do not produce dander since they have scales instead of soft skin—no dander, no allergies. Therefore, snakes are more suitable therapy animals for people who have a sensitive immune system.

They Do Not Stress Out Owners

Admit it or not, dogs become angry, frustrated, or depressed whenever their owners do not give them their desired attention. This situation sometimes stresses out the owners. Snakes, however, do not display this kind of behavior. They are low-maintenance, and they do not immediately resort to these stressful behaviors, given that they are solitary creatures.

Although they have a negative reputation among many people, snakes are still considered one of the prime candidates for therapy animals. They are unique, and they provide services that no other domestic animal can.…

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Many pet owners want companion animals to make their lives more joyful and enjoyable than ever. What most of them might not be aware of are the physical and mental health benefits owning a pet can bring into their households. Some studies found that caring for pets can help your loving family members cope with various health issues.

Pets, especially dogs, can reduce stress, anxiety, loneliness, and even depression. Because they can understand many of the words we use and interpret our tone and body language, dogs can gauge our emotional state. They can also encourage physical exercise and improve our cardiovascular health. Teresa Paterson, LPC, LCPC, RPT, CCTP explains that “Therapy Dogs are a type of service dog, although Therapy Dogs training is specific to meet the needs of multiple people in an intimate setting.”

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The Health Benefits For Adults And The Elderly

Being a pet owner plays a vital role in healthy aging. It can help the older adults in our family boost their morale, optimism, self-worth, and sense of fulfillment even after retirement. Caring for a pet also lets our elders maintain a social network. Anyone can spark up a conversation about a favorite animal, which can be a great start in meeting new people.

Meanwhile, facing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia is inevitable as we age. Patients with the said disease may exhibit various behavioral problems, with many related to their inability to deal with stress. In line with this, a University of California at Davis research concluded patients who own a pet at home become less stressed and deal with fewer anxious outbursts.

The Health Benefits For Children

Studies suggest that children who grow up with pets have less risk of having health issues such as allergies and asthma. They also learn how to be responsible and compassionate at a young age. The mere presence of pets at home can contribute to children having a sense of security, especially when their parents are not around.

Melissa Burns, LCPC, LLC said: “Animals offer support and nonjudgmental healing opportunities and can serve as a bridge for patients to bond with their healthcare providers.” Research has also shown that kids who are emotionally attached to their pets can better build relationships with other people. They can also help calm overly aggressive children. Playing with their cats or dogs can serve as a source of relaxation and stimulation for the brain and body.

It has also been found that some children with autism or other learning difficulties can interact with pets better than they do with people. Now it is yet to be determined whether learning to connect with a pet first may help children on the spectrum interact better with other people.

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The Right Pets

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found the following to more likely get communicable zoonotic diseases from animals:

• Children aged five and below
• People with weak immune systems
• Elderly

Pregnant women also face a higher risk of suffering from animal-related diseases. Here are some essential things to remember in choosing your family pet:

• Households with children aged five and below should not own pet reptiles and amphibians such as turtles, lizards, snakes, and frogs. We also do not recommend backyard poultry, which can pose a risk of serious illness from harmful germs.
• Pregnant women should avoid owning a new cat or touching stray cats, especially kittens. Cats can carry a parasite that causes a disease which can lead to congenital disabilities. If you are pregnant and already own a cat, you do not need to give it up. However, you should refrain from changing cat litter. You must also avoid direct contact with a pet rodent.

According to Phyllis Laughlin, LCPC, “Some people benefit from anti-depressants for symptom relief. Pet therapy is often beneficial, whether it’s an animal at home or a therapy service dog.” However, it is best to talk to a veterinarian before making pet ownership decisions for your family’s healthier and stress-free life.…

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When you explore care facilities and nursing homes nowadays, you’ll notice the presence of several animals there. You might see a person petting a dog, a cat doing its rounds, or a parrot entertaining some patients. There are hundreds of published researches stating how useful these pets are to those who have dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Here are some of their benefits.

They Keep People Calm

A study from Ohio State University stated that whenever these patients visit farms, they display a more active physical presence. Their energy increases even more whenever they are asked to groom, feed, and bathe horses. The nonjudgmental behavior of horses, the tranquility of the farm, and its smells trigger their peaceful childhood memories, according to experts. Melissa Burns, LCPC, LLC agrees to the statement by saying “It is noted that the Ancient Greeks used horse-assisted therapy as early as 600BC to raise the spirits of the incurably ill.”

They Improve Nutrition

An experiment by a couple of Purdue University researchers started by placing fish aquariums in the rooms of 60 patients with Alzheimer’s. They use these fish aquariums every day for two weeks and then once a week for six weeks to analyze the effects of the presence of these fishes on the nutritional status of the patients.

The researchers saw that their food intake increased slowly in the first two to three weeks and continued doing so in the succeeding weeks. For those six weeks, the patients gained approximately 1.6 pounds, and some were given the green light by their doctors to let go of several of their nutritional supplementations.

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They Help With Behavioral Problems

Another research studied the effects of the presence of a resident dog rather than relying on a visiting dog. The researchers started the experiment by measuring the resident’s behavior weeks before the resident dog arrived (the visiting dog still visits the place two to three times a week). The next observation happens four weeks after placing the dog on the unit. Peg Shippert, MA, LPC said “A therapy dog can bring both physical and emotional benefits. The less physical and emotional stress you are experiencing, the more present and receptive you are to therapy, both immediately and over the longer term.” And that what entirely happens.

The results found a significant positive change in behavior in the patients during the four weeks of conducting the study. This claim was backed up by other research studies which stated that their aggression and agitation declined whenever they lived with these pets.

They Improve Memory

The improvement of the memory of those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia has a direct correlation with the presence of service animals. Those with memory loss often find themselves more engaged with these pets, and they do remember them most of the time. Their memory loss even improves more significantly if they are also pet owners in the past.

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They Improve Social Interaction

A group of women with dementia was recently studied while they were living in a nursing home. The researchers observed that their ability to spark and sustain meaningful conversations increases after spending 10 to 20 minutes of their time with cats.

Annie Zenn, MS, LPC explain that “numerous research studies have been undertaken to validate the benefits of animal-assisted activity and in particular the contribution of therapy dogs.” Animals provide large doses of laughter, love, and light to people’s lives every day. However, these pets mean so much more for those people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia since their therapeutic aura improves their condition significantly. These adorable critters can make a difference in the lives of both the patients and their loved ones.…