A CBT approach combined with animal-assisted therapy to treat depressed adolescents

Abstract

The thought behind this program development for adolescents emerged due to the rise of depression over the past decade. It is this writer’s belief that with the increase of population, social media, peer pressure and body image among young girls, those issues have all contributed to low self-esteem and low self-confidence which have led to a greater diagnoses of depression. There have been many professionals that have developed traditional therapy programs, but it is my belief that if we can help teens connect with life through love and compassion, then they can overcome their depression long term with an additional tool for maintaining a healthy mental life style. This program will allow the teen to get out of a traditional office setting and contribute to the welfare and future of abandoned canines that need love, care and assistance in finding a forever home. When most teens become depressed they feel useless, lonely, anxious and fearful of facing everyday tasks. The thought behind this program is to allow them to focus on an animal’s well-being and experience the special and magical connection humans and animals develop. The hope is that this could help them through the most difficult stage of life and strengthen mental health for future success. This study will look at developing a program that will introduce animal-assisted therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy with fundamental beliefs of Attachment Theory for the treatment of adolescent females diagnosed depressed.