Poppy James is Willow Creek’s new Therapy Dog in Training (puppy). She is a Golden Retriever who was born in January 2021, and she came from the Green Bay, Wisconsin area. Poppy will be utilized as a therapy intervention for clients that will benefit from Animal Assisted Therapy. 

Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) in counseling is a specific therapy approach that Julie Rylatt, LCSW, may utilize on a case by case basis depending upon an analysis of the risks and benefit for each specific client. AAT should only be used with a certified therapy animal and trained/certified mental health professional. AAT, when appropriate, is used in conjunction with other therapy methods such as traditional talk therapy. Poppy has completed her puppy class and she will continue to be engaged in trainings prior to becoming certified and following certification. Julie is also attending trainings to become certified as an Animal Assisted Therapist through Animal Assisted Therapy Programs of Colorado.

Once both Poppy and Julie have completed respective trainings, Poppy will have to pass the AKC Good Citizen test in order to graduate from being a “therapy dog in training” to an official “therapy dog.”

There are many benefits associated with working with therapy animals in training and AAT. Some benefits that have been found in animal assisted therapy include:

• Animals help improve motivation and engagement in therapy, perhaps resulting in shorter recovery process.
• Animals provide a sense of security and emotional support. Dogs in particular offer unconditional acceptance and positive regard.
• Animals can promote relaxation. Research has demonstrated that petting an animal can help lower blood pressure, heart rate and increase oxytocin. 
• Animals can help clients learn frustration tolerance and other anger management techniques.
• Animals can help with focus and attention.
• Animals can be instruments of learning, which can increase confidence and self-esteem.
• Animals offer humor and fun due to their playful nature.
• Animals in therapy ask for clients to develop empathy, nurturance and responsibility, and model skills like forgiveness and patience.
• Through the use of positive reinforcement-based dog training, clients can learn the importance of rewarding good behaviors in themselves, their partners and their children. 

If you are interested in Animal Assisted Therapy for yourself or your child/ren, please let us know.