In a city where stress levels run high and phone screens rarely go dim, New York college students are getting an unlikely new therapist this week: cats. From October 8-10, Purina Cat Chow is parking a roving "Therapod" around Manhattan campuses to mark World Mental Health Day-and give students a reason to put down their phones and pick up a purring feline instead.
Horses are deeply emotional beings and have been shown to be able to help adults and children heal from a variety of psychological and physical conditions. 1 For this and other reasons, I was very pleased to learn of a new collection of essays compiled by Colorado State University Professor of Clinical Studies Dr. Lori Kogan in a book titled Equine-Assisted Services: Studies Illustrating the Potential Benefits for Children, Adolescents and Adults.