The 9/11 terrorist attack on September 2001 still remains painful. Killing 2,996 people, the attack left irreversible damages not only to direct victims but also to first responders including rescue workers, relatives, and loved ones. There was one particular figure that played an active part in comforting people from the attack—a one-year-old dog named Tikva. His presence relieved psychological pain, thus elevating the public awareness of animals curing human minds. With increasing isolation in a rapid-paced society, more and more citizens are calling for animal assisted psychotherapists.  

 

   
▲ Park Eun-Young explaining about animal psychotherapy. Photographed by Jung Woo Jae.

  

Animal assisted psychotherapy is unfamiliar to most Koreans, yet its demand is on the rise since its first introduction in 1990. Since the launch of therapeutic assistance dogs, foundations in Korea have been setting up animal assisted psychotherapy clinics. One of the clinics where animal assisted psychotherapy is active is Anyang-Si Suri Rehabilitation Center (ASRC), where Korea’s first official animal assisted psychotherapist, Park Eunyoung, visits regularly.

 
   
▲ Two therapeutic assistance dogs of Park, Duk-yi and Maru, from left to right. Photographed by Jung Woo Jae.
 
 
Most of Park’s patients are young, yet their age varies from elementary school students to the elderly. The therapy starts by placing therapeutic assistance animals and patients in the same space. “Psychotherapists are only involved a little at first,” explained Park. Psychotherapists analyze the health of the patient, and decide later about which therapy program fits best. A careful approach is critical, because neither the patient nor the animal is familiar with each other, making the interaction completely new.
 
Park also said that the therapy is not entirely about patients, but also about their family. Family members, who have spent their life with the patients, are the factors that directly affect patients’ psychological status. “Often mental illness comes from homes, mostly because of the parents’ excessive demands on children, and a lack of proper communication,” she said. It is also the animal assisted psychotherapist’s duty to counsel family members of patients, figure out the source of their communication problems, and facilitate a more effective therapy. “This involves the understanding of general human psychology as well,” explained Park.
 
People may wonder how animals, not humans, can help to fix the human mind. To answer this question, Park told a story. One of her patients suffered from burns on his body. “When I asked him what made him feel attached to the assistance dogs, he said that ‘they are the only ones that come to me no matter how I look,’” he said. Animals are void of human standards. They provide unconditional love whenever they receive affection, a major contributorto healing psychological illness.
 
Interaction with animals fulfills a basic human desire to lead others, as animals follow what humans say. “Patients express suppressed desires, eliminating psychological barriers of communication. Thus it is a healthy vent,” explained Park. Although there are various types of assistance animals—cats, hamsters, rabbits, even goldfish and beetles—there is a reason why dogs are the most common. “Dogs have the most loyalty to humans, as well as a predictable and stable psychology,” she said. Assistance animals are selected considering socialization, obedience and health. After receiving certification, animals are adopted by psychotherapists.
 
There have been a number of memorable episodes during Park’s career. There was a middle-school dropout who attempted suicide, and became healthy through animal therapy and graduated from high school in the top two percent nationally. Two autistic Korean brothers rarely communicated, but since the therapy the two brothers now communicate with no problem. "People’s change is the most motivating aspect in my career,” said Park. Although the hardest moments come when parents of patients set barriers against her, Park stated that they all change after several sessions with animals. “The power of animal interaction is more potential than anyone can image,” explained Park.
 
Regarding its current status in Korea, Park said, “There is a long way to go.” She explained that quite a number of people distrust animals’ curing ability. In addition, the number of people who practice animal assisted psychotherapy as their profession is very scarce. “This is due to the low amount of payment psychotherapists receive, while costs of breeding assistance animals are much higher,” explained Park. She therefore claimed the need for assistance from the government and change in awareness toward animals. 
 
 
   
▲ 3. Park demonstrating training with Maru. Photographed by Jung Woo Jae.            4. Park and her therapeutic assistance dogs. Photographed by Jung Woo Jae.        5. Park complimenting Duk-yi on training. Photographed by Jung Woo Jae.
 
 
Regardless of the hardships animal assisted psychotherapy faces in Korea, its flawless success until now reflects a positive future. Park explained that the lack of communication among people today makes the unique interaction with animals that can cure those with psychological disorders even more superlative. She also states its positive prospective in regards to expansion of various related jobs. “Therapists can also work in animal management, such as a pet counselor or an expert in animal behavior modification,” she explained.
 
Expertise and prudence are the qualities that Park emphasized as being most necessary as qualifications for therapists. “To become an animal assisted psychotherapist, you need to earn a certificate, which requires vast knowledge about both human and animal psychology, not to mention being fully aware of up-todate psychological theories afterwards,” she said. As this type of therapy involves keen observance toward human and animal behavior, Park stressed prudence. “It is a matter of a person’s life. Therefore caution is a prerequisite.”
 
Animals heal, more than humans ever realized. Because of the nano-speed world nowadays, humans are rapidly losing their ability to communicate. Isolated people develop diseases in their minds. With the help of a nonhuman companion, so innocent and honest without secularity, some patients have begun to take steps toward that world. For those who can touch the insides of both animals and humans, the career path of animal assisted psychotherapy awaits to be explored.

 

 

 

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