It’s no secret that interacting with a dog has a positive impact on most people. Research in this area is only growing, demonstrating that spending time with dogs decreases feelings of distress and anxiety and promotes social and emotional wellbeing.
So what happens when the dog is there to do a different job? If a service dog is present in a music therapy session but is not allowed to interact with participants, is there still a therapeutic impact?
The short answer is yes. My five year career as a music therapist has provided me with countless opportunities to observe the enormous impact my service dog has had on participants. From accelerating the rapport-building process, to supporting reminiscence in older adult settings, to assisting neurodivergent children to regulate their emotions, to allowing those with a fear of dogs to feel safe enough to take part in a session. My service dog has facilitated all of this and much more simply by being present. I have worked in hospitals, schools, aged care facilities, community centers and home studios. In every setting I have witnessed the phenomenal impact my dog has had on participants, on staff and family members, and on myself.
I will begin by introducing the topic and outlining relevant research, move on to some personal anecdotes, then invite questions from the moderator and the audience. During this presentation I aim to raise awareness of the different and creative ways we can draw on our own unique circumstances to enhance the therapeutic experience. I will illustrate that by embracing diverse ways of working within the music therapy community we can begin to view factors such as disability and the need for assistive equipment (such as service dogs) with a strengths-based mindset.