Chloe at UNS Counsellor meeting, June 2016
Introducing Chloe, an English bulldog and certified therapy dog…
You can find her helping staff relax as part of the new animal-assisted therapy programme offered by the Staff Counsellor’s Office in New York.
In June, Chloe was introduced to Stress/Staff Counsellors from around the globe at a meeting in Glen Cove. A confidential survey showed acceptance was positive with 85% of respondents feeling “neutral to strongly supportive” of animal-assisted therapy in their UN work location. Amongst individuals who interacted with Chloe, positive reactions such as increased happiness, decreased pain, and reduced anxiety/depression were reported. These effects lasted from a few minutes (50%) to hours to longer than a day (50%).
Animal-assisted therapy and animal-assisted activities are designed to involve animals as a form of treatment to enhance an individual's physical, emotional, and social well-being. The therapy boosts self-esteem and reduces anxiety. Recent studies find that individuals with pets see health benefits such as decreased blood pressure and improved immune function.
While it may be a new concept to many, animals were used in healthcare as far back as 1792. In the late 1800s, Florence Nightingale wrote about using small animals in treatment of isolated patients. Since 1919, dogs have been used in therapy with psychiatric patients. Today, in occupational health settings, animal-assisted therapy can involve simply petting and playing with a dog during a brief break from work.
For UN staff, animal-assisted activities will initially be limited to the Staff Counsellor’s Office or pre-arranged location. If a manager wants to arrange a team visit in their location, we ask that everyone in that work area is in agreement (even if individuals opt not to participate).
The six-month pilot programme is only applicable to the therapy dog, Chloe - until 31 July. Anyone who interacts with her is encouraged to participate in a survey to evaluate the programme.
For more information, email the Staff Counsellor’s Office in New York: SCOHQ@un.org.