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VETERANS WITH PTSD AND SERVICE DOGS: THE THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP

VETERANS WITH PTSD AND SERVICE DOGS: THE THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP. Cynthia Sontag, MSWAC, LISW Auzadeh Bartholf, MS Stephanie Barger. Presentation Mission.

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VETERANS WITH PTSD AND SERVICE DOGS: THE THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP

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  1. VETERANS WITH PTSD AND SERVICE DOGS: THE THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP Cynthia Sontag, MSWAC, LISW Auzadeh Bartholf, MS Stephanie Barger

  2. Presentation Mission To create awareness regarding the use of service dogs with war-time related PTSD as we create a shared understanding of how and what a service dog does for a veteran with PTSD

  3. Different types of jobs dogs are trained to perform. • Assistance (require extensive training) • Therapy (informal training, but must meet certain criteria of behaviors) • Military or law enforcement (extensive training for specific jobs)

  4. Types of jobs dogs perform • Companion Pets for emotional support (Do not need special training) • Service (require extensive training) • Pets for emotional support (Do not need special training) .

  5. Dogs and their jobs • They are not trained to perform “tricks” • This is their work or purpose. • Working dogs, like humans need down time.

  6. How do we define Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? A person experienced, or witnessed, or was confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others. The person’s response involved intense fear, helplessness, or horror.

  7. Signs and Symptoms of PTSD • Feeling upset by things that remind you of what happened (re-experiencing) • Having nightmares, vivid memories, or flashbacks of the event that make you feel like it’s happening all over again. (flashbacks) • Feeling emotionally cut off from others or wanting to be cut off. (isolation)

  8. Signs and Symptoms cont. • Feeling numb or losing interest in things you used to care about (disengagement) • Becoming depressed • Thinking that you are always in danger (hyper-alert) • Feeling anxious, jittery, or irritated a lot (hyper-arousal)

  9. Signs and Symptoms cont. • Experiencing a sense of panic that something bad is about to happen and staying away from events that might trigger an anxiety or panic attack (avoidance) • Having difficulty with sleep

  10. Signs and Symptoms cont. • Having trouble keeping your mind on one thing (poor concentration) • Having a hard time relating to and getting along with your spouse, family, or friends

  11. Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA) • 1990 ADA went into effect to protect the rights of the disabled • Dogs had to be trained to do task to qualify as service dogs • 2010 PTSD was added to the list of disabilities to qualify as a service dog • 2011 only dogs are recognized as service animals under Title II and Title III and entities must permit service animals to accompany people with disabilities anywhere the public is allowed

  12. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) • 2012 The VA will only pay service dog benefits to service connected veterans with vision, hearing, or mobility related injuries • Therapies have to be evidenced based to be approved • There are 3 long term research project underway at this time to determine efficacy of service dogs for people with PTSD

  13. Therapeutic Enhancement • Attachment and relationship building • Emotional regulation • Sensory integration • Ability to be responsible and enjoy a sense of purpose • Lowered stress level • Prevention of PTSD symptoms

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