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getting ready | De-stress with AATDe-stress with AnimalAssisted Therapy at theAl Tamimi Stables!provide compassionate and stimulating therapydesigned to facilitate a person’s recovery.mother, baby & child october 2013What is Animal Assisted Therapy(AAT)?Animal Assisted therapy is a uniquerehabilitative therapy that will be conductedat SENSE, the winner of the Big Start 2013competition. This new initiative is aimedat using animals for human wellness andimproving the quality of life of people in theUAE by providing enriching interaction withanimals and nature, as natural environmenthas a positive influence on an individual’soverall health and animals provideunconditional love and acceptance to people.SENSE is the first enterprise in the MiddleEast to offer animal assisted therapy,provided by highly qualified experts.How does it work?Animal Assisted Therapy is used to promotesocialisation, provide distraction, enhancetrust and improve overall well-being. Itallows planned inclusion of a therapy animal(such as horse, rabbit, fish, dog and cat) ina therapeutic process by an experiencedhealth professional. The therapy animal actsas a co-therapist and works in partnershipwith an experienced health professional to32Animal Assisted Therapy can be applied indifferent settings and with different formsof therapy. Animals can be used in thefollowing treatment settings: psychotherapy,occupational and physical therapy, recreationaltherapy, speech and language therapy, as wellas in hospitals, prisons, rehabilitation centres,mental health clinics, private practice andnursing/assisted living facilities.What are the benefits?The goal of Animal Assisted Therapy is toimprove the physical, social, emotional andcognitive functioning of individuals. Thistherapy provides a support system for thoserecovering from conditions such as trauma,depression, anxiety, eating disorders, abuse,loss and suicidal tendencies. Unconditionalpositive regard and companionship instils afeeling of belonging and acceptance in people.Spending time amidst nature and animalscan dramatically reduce stress, decreasemental fatigue, restore mental clarity andboost stamina. Access to nature helps balancecircadian rhythms, improves ambulation skillsand increases the absorption of Vitamin D.AAT is especially beneficial for children,especially those with disorders such as Autismand Attention Deficit-HyperactivityFor more information, contact Al TamimiStables on 06 743 1122