Exploring the effect of a therapy dog in a group for young people experiencing anxiety

Abstract

Research suggests that the inclusion of dogs in the delivery of psychotherapy for adolescents might have a positive effect on outcomes. This evaluation explores the impact of introducing a dog to CBT based anxiety management groups for young people aged 11 to 14. 35 young people attended these groups which ran either with or without a dog present. The results suggest that the presence of a therapy dog significantly reduced young peoples' anxiety ratings in 5 out of 6 sessions and contributed to a higher discharge rate after completing the group therapy (44% with vs 28% without the dog). Qualitative feedback indicates that the presence of a therapy dog improved the young people's experiences by reporting feeling more relaxed and more confident in the group. Findings suggest that a therapy dog can enhance young people's experiences in group therapy, especially at early stages, and increase discharge rates.