As if play therapy weren’t already fun enough, now imagine the addition of a furry little friend! There is a reason that animal-assisted play therapy programs are becoming more and more popular everywhere you look these days.

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“Science has officially weighed in on the human-animal bond, and the evidence is clear. Research demonstrates that human-animal interaction benefits physical, emotional and psychological wellness…"

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 Research has found that when animals are included in counseling sessions, children feel less anxiety, are less depressed, and have an enhanced sense of well-being and acceptance, become more empathetic, learn social skills, among many other health and emotional benefits. The benefits of including therapy animals are endless. Most importantly, children are put at ease and are often able to relax into their sessions much more quickly—speeding up their progress—when a furry therapeutic partner is part of the process.