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To make a food donation please call Allison Kinyua at ‪(617) 446-3458
Here's our kitchen wishlist!‬
Send Checks to:
Boston Rescue Mission
P.O. Box 120069
Boston MA 02112-0069
Paws for Serenity - Animal Assisted Therapy
The Boston Rescue Mission (BRM) began offering Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) to our shelter guests. In partnership with Tufts University’s Institute for Human-Animal Interaction and their Paws for People volunteer program, the Mission began incorporating a certified therapy dog into existing recovery curriculum at the Mission.
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So far, Animal-Assisted recovery has been very well-received by BRM clientele and has served as a fresh and creative way for clients to actively participate in their treatment. In the presence of a non-judgmental, attentive, and unconditionally loving dog, clients work through recovery issues like relapse prevention, triggers, stress management, establishing healthy routines, and other relevant recovery topics.
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A growing body of research suggests that AAT is beneficial to clients participating in residential substance abuse treatment. Studies demonstrate that AAT can therapeutically enhance clients’ programming when used in tandem with more traditional relapse prevention and trauma-informed modalities. Incorporating animals into treatment has been shown to reduce stress, increase oxytocin (pleasure/relaxation hormone), enhance rapport, improve communication, and strengthen the therapeutic alliance between clinician and client (amongst other benefits).
Our Senior Clinician, Nike Gregory MSW, LICSW, has earned her certification in Animal-Assisted Therapy, Activities and Learning from the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work (Institute for Human-Animal Connection). The program is on hold since COVID-19 pandemic.