The Therapeutic Wisdom of Talking to Animals

“If we could talk to the animals, learn their languages…
Think of all the things we could discuss”
– Leslie Bricusse 
I sat to edit this column at 6:30 a.m. There was no sunrise on bright green marsh grasses on this misty morning.
To my left, Oakley and Bliss have other ideas than editing. Both stand at attention, powerful black tails swinging with gusto.
Bliss, half a head taller than her daughter, focuses soulful eyes on mine as I turn to see what they intend to tell me to do next. “Please open the door to where John is sleeping.”
Huge brown Bliss eyes beg me to obey so she can curl on the floor next to the man she calls “Dad.” Oakley, full of mischief and unadulterated devotion, eyes me with a smile, imploring me to stop my work and cuddle with her on the couch.
“Cuddle time!” Both tails wag harder. They beat me to the sectional where one dog jumps to each side of my lap as I relax into the corner and watch the sun get brighter over a palette of tall, green grasses.
Oakley flips over on her back and waves her legs as she snuggles into my lap. Bliss puts her head on my left knee and presents the softest head of black curls.
I massage Oakley’s smooth black stomach with my right hand as I stroke her mother’s curls with my left hand. “This is why I have two hands,” I say to my buddies, who understand completely. Their brilliance is obvious; they know exactly how to love me. 
If you have been to The Coche Center, LLC, you most likely know Oakley, who took over for canine good citizen Whitby after he served us for 14 years. For two decades our clients have been greeted by wagging tails.
Pet therapy is a guided interaction between a person and a trained animal managed by a trained handler with the goal of helping someone recover from or cope with a health or mental disorder. Dogs and cats are most commonly used in pet therapy, but many other animals can be used.
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) consists of a formal, structured set of sessions that helps people reach specific goals in their treatment by building on the pre-existing human-animal bond. Interacting with a friendly pet can reduce blood pressure, improving overall cardiovascular health.
It also releases endorphins that produce a calming effect, helping to reduce stress and discomfort. Done skillfully, it creates joy where pain existed.
I began talking to animals because my best adolescent friend, Maria, owned a stable. I helped her muck out the stalls and rode her horses with great delight. 
The deep wisdom in the horse’s eyes calmed me and I welcomed their pleasure in eating carrots from my hand. I still get lost in the eyes of a gentle horse.
So, I was delighted to meet a colleague who is a licensed clinical social worker who invited us on a private tour of an equine-assisted learning facility. The facility is an approved provider of services by the state Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities.
Beau, a stunning palomino, and Tigger, a small pony, are both skilled in helping to treat addictions, autism, cerebral palsy, self-esteem, anxiety, and other emotional and physical disorders.
“Would you like to feed the horses?” Granddaughters Sara and Ava were ready.
Sara held her hand flat to say hello, then held the entire bag of hay to the horse’s mouth. The horse pushed her nose into the bag for dinner. Sara beamed.
Like my early training in play therapy with children, where dolls are used to work out concerns, horses are used as part of therapy for anxiety or insecurity. As the client becomes aware of the capacity of the horse to intuit human needs, the client relaxes into trusting the horse and its trainer.
Pet therapy can be useful for people undergoing chemotherapy, residents in long-term care facilities, children, and adults with emotional disorders.  It can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and increase positivity and socialization. Who says therapy is limited to two-legged helpers?
To consider: What might deeper knowledge of and love for an animal add to your life? Would you like to find out? How?
To explore: You can visit one of many local equine-assisted learning facilities.
 
Find Dr. Judith Coche talking to her therapy companion Oakley Anderson as part of their work doing therapy with children and adults at Rittenhouse Square and Stone Harbor. Contact her through www.cochecenter.com. For a free pamphlet on living an optimal life, email Coche at drjudithcoche@gmail.com. Coche welcomes readers’ comments.