Parents looking for effective ways to help a struggling young girl improve her life can learn about Animal Care at our residential boarding school and ranch near Austin, TX. 

River View Christian Academy understands that parents want to send a child to a safe, monitored environment where their girl receives personal care and guidance that help heal disorders–whether brought on by trauma, adoption or family genetics issues. 

And while the young teen girl, ages 12-17,  enrolls our residential boarding school and ranch for improving her focus on academics and learning new life skills, River View also helps students improve mental and physical health through assigning responsibilities for horse and dog Animal Care, supervised by our experienced staff.

Benefits of Assigning Boundaries and Responsibility

Animal-Assisted Therapy  often incorporates animals, such as horses, dogs, cats, pigs, and birds, into a person’s therapy and treatment plan.

It has been shown that interacting with a pet animal can aid in various mental and physical issues such as insomnia and anxiety disorder. Some of the many benefits of animal-assisted care and responsibility include the reduction of stress, alleviation of pain, reduced blood pressure, and an overall improved mental state. 

Additionally, interaction with pets helps with improving joint movement and motor skills, developing social skills, increasing motivation for exercise, decreasing isolation and loneliness, and helping kids develop nurturing and empathic skills.

One of the biggest benefits of pet care and responsibility is the reduction of stress and anxiety levels. When interacting with a friendly animal, the human brain releases “feel-good” chemicals called endorphins that make a student feel relaxed and more at peace. 

Animal Care & Responsibility at River View Improves Emotional Mindset

When a young teen girl struggles with trauma induced disorders, i.e. anxiety, depression,  lack of social interaction, Animal Care can help her:

• improve socialization and communication; • reduce isolation, boredom and loneliness; • brighten affect and mood, lessen depression, and/ or provide pleasure and affection; • improve memory and recall; • address grieving and loss issues; • improve self-esteem, be presented with opportunities to succeed and feel important, and improve feelings of self-worth; • improve reality; • improve cooperation and problem-solving ability; • improve concentration and attention, and increase engagement; • decrease manipulative behaviors; • improve expression of feelings; • reduce general anxiety; • reduce abusive behavior; • improve an ability to trust; and • learn appropriate touch.

Equine therapy, also known as Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT),  includes equine activities and/or an equine environment in order to promote physical, occupational, and emotional growth in persons suffering from ADD, Anxiety, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Dementia, Depression, Developmental Delay, Genetic Syndromes (such as Down Syndrome), traumatic brain injuries, behavioral issues, abuse issues, and many other mental health problems.  

Equine Therapy can help the individual build confidence, self- efficiency, communication, trust, perspective, social skills, impulse control, and learn boundaries.  Since the horses have similar behaviors with humans, such as social and responsive behaviors, it is easy for the patients to create a connection with the horse.

The two main reasons why horses make for perfect therapeutic animals is due to their ability to be completely unbiased and mirroring. Pet therapy research suggests that equine therapy is extremely effective in treating patients with a wide array of disorders as horses have the ability to be non-judgmental and patient. 

Furthermore, horses are sensitive and observant creatures that provide the patient with quick feedback, helping the person be more aware of themselves.

That’s why River View Christian Academy promotes Animal Care & Responsibility. 

River View is located on 45 acres in the beautiful hill country of central Texas, where girl students are responsible for garden and animal chores, in addition to school and homework. Of course, there are fun school activities, as well as the amazing national parks in the area.

River View is not a residential treatment center, therapeutic boarding school, or alternative boarding school. We provide year-round schooling with ongoing open enrollment, 24-hour care and supervision, with strong structure, mentoring, and boundaries. For over 20 years, we have found that a structured and caring environment can make an enormous difference in correcting behavioral issues among teenagers. 

We want each struggling teen girl to experience care and responsibility in a favorable sitting,  as well as help her improve daily life at school, and back home with family.

If you want to learn more about how Animal Care & Responsibility helps teen girls open up and heal at our residential boarding school and ranch near Austin, TX, please call  1-800-494-2200 now.

Source: 

https://www.healthline.com/health/pet-therapy#benefits

http://anxietytreatmentexperts.com/equine-assisted-therapy/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/animal-assisted-therapy

https://www.counseling.org/Resources/Library/ERIC%20Digests/2001-05.pdf