Why Choose Cognitive Behaviour Therapy?

The use of CBT in treating behavioural problems in animals is a relatively new phenomenon and to date the Animal Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Centre (ACBTC) is the only behaviour group offering this service. It is scientifically proven that most animals (mammalian and bird species) can experience emotions, and although these may be interpreted a different way to how humans experience them, negative emotions and mental states (fear, anxiety, depression etc.) have been shown to affect behaviour and reduce an animals well being. CBT is used to identify the negative or irrational emotions and thoughts that may cause problem behaviours and/or the events that then maintain these behaviours in animals. Therapeutic techniques such as positive reinforcement, distraction techniques and behaviour modification are specifically catered to the animals (and species) cognitive (mental) and behavioural processes. This allows maladaptive behaviours to be altered, helping your pet to cope, reducing stress and promotes new, desirable behaviours.

As with people, all pets are different and our techniques and advice are specifically tailored for each individual animal. The personal service we offer enables individual behaviours to be broken down, enabling us to develop the most effective method of treatment for your pet. Our techniques focus on positive associations and reinforcement and the ACBTC does not use or advocate negative reinforcement or punishment training.

So if you have an aggressive dog, an aggressive cat or your pet is experiencing house soiling problems, seperation anxiety, excessive barking, jumping up, spraying, scratching or any animal behaviour problems and you are looking for more than just a pet behaviour councellor then animal cognitive behaviour therapy could work for you.

Most behavioural problems can be helped, so don't just continue to live with it, get in touch with us today.

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