Cognitive Therapy Definitions

SYMPTOMS:
Depression: a feeling of extreme hopelessness and despair.
Cognitive Deficits: Confusion and Impaired Memory: a deficiency of the mental functions needed to produce thought.
Activity: Walking a therapy dog.
This assumes that the client has chosen the activity because it has personal meaning to them and supports their occupational roles.
This is a real occupation that the therapist and client can engage in together which can occur in several settings when appropriate safety measures are in place. Doing something that is helpful to someone else (the dog) can be a great motivator for a depressed client. In addition walking is a gross motor activity that is recommended for both symptoms being addressed. The benefits for clients with cognitive deficits such as confusion and impaired memory include offering choices and the opportunity to gradually increase the complexity of the activity. An example would be starting out with a short walk and adding attaching the leash, throwing a ball, brushing, offering water or picking up if the dog relieves itself. In addition to
The client might plan the route but be challenged to respond spontaneously when offered a compliment on their skill with the task. Of course it is important that the first sessions be designed to guarantee success in order to reinforce the sense of responsibility, self-control and competence of the client. Ideally this activity is completed outdoors, but alternate settings such as inpatient hallways can be incorporated during inclement weather. Interacting with certain animals is believed to have several positive effects on a person, from creating a sense of calm to providing a sense of purpose. While animal-assisted therapy may be short on clinical evidence proving its efficacy the activity described here can certainly be incorporated into formal therapy sessions that include functional goals for the