Man’s Best Friend and Social Anxiety
Animal lovers will agree that there is nothing like the love of a pet. High school science teacher Susan Boyd has taken this notion one step further by using animals to help kids overcome social anxiety in a program called “We’ll Take You There“.
Boyd recently completed a program with four children at the “If Wishes Were Horses” ranch in Arkansas. The kids spent time training rescue dogs as well as horses. The program is designed to teach self-confidence, self-esteem and self-reliance through empowerment.
Parents of the kids have nothing but positive praise. Kaitlyn Stoddard, a student with selective mutism was talking to a fellow classmate by the end of the program. Another student ended up adopting the dog that he trained and planned to have him certified as a service animal for his anxiety disorder.
What do you think about the program? Do you have any stories to share about how a pet has helped you with social anxiety?
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