There are new things to be concerned about as a student, since in some cases, it is your first taste of responsibility. You may have to worry about things that you haven’t had to consider before, such as finances, meeting goals, so you can pass your classes and graduate, and keeping an eye on your mental health. If you are concerned about your mental health as a college student, one thing to think about is a therapy dog. Here is information on how to get one.
Therapy Dogs
In case you aren’t aware of what a therapy dog is, it refers to a dog that is specially trained to offer love and support to those that need it. This may be in a nursing home setting, at a school, or even at a hospital. There are a number of places where a therapy dog can be utilised, or you can have one that is specifically suited to help you. If you own a therapy dog, they will act like a support system for you and be able to comfort you whenever you need it. This may be able to lessen stress, help you feel less anxious, and even cheer you up, when you are also pairing a therapy dog with the proper mental health treatment.
If you are experiencing symptoms of depression or another type of mood disorder, you should speak with a therapist. They will be able to work with you on a treatment program and might be able to recommend a therapy dog. Check out this article about therapy dogs to learn more.
How to Get A Therapy Dog
There are a couple of different ways that you can get a therapy dog if you are a college student. One is to contact an organisation that works with therapy dogs and explain your situation. The company may be able to tell you the steps you need to take and talk to you about how to get one.
On the other hand, some types of dogs are well-suited to be therapy dogs. If you feel like your pet would be good for therapy, you can look into getting them the proper training. Once a dog gets through a special training program, they will be ready to work as a therapy dog. Generally speaking, a dog that is meek and gentle, is able to keep quiet, and will stay calm around groups of people will be the most likely to be suited to act as a therapy dog.
For some people, you may be able to get a free therapy dog or an affordable therapy dog. It really depends on the situation and your circumstances. If there are mental health services on your campus, there may be a therapy dog that is there sometimes. You can ask around to know for sure.
If your school does not offer a therapy dog, you may want to talk to a dean or someone in the administrative staff that might be able to change that. Whenever therapy dogs are inquired about by students, schools may be able to get them. Asking about it or learning details about how your school can get one offers the potential to benefit all if your peers. BMC Psychiatry offers an article that talks about how therapy dogs can be beneficial to those that are experiencing mental health concerns.
Overview
If you are feeling out of sorts at school or are experiencing things that you have never felt before, this may lead you to have mental health issues at times. However, there are many things you can do to help with this, including visiting a therapist or talking to a counsellor at school. Once you meet with a mental health professional, they will be able to tell you about all the treatment plans that you can benefit from. One may be a therapy dog, which can be taught how to be supportive and assist you when you are experiencing anxiety, stress, or are depressed.
