Animal Therapy Benefits Struggling Teen Girls  

New Lifehouse Academy animal therapy boarding school in OklahomaAnimal Therapy at New Lifehouse Academy Benefits Struggling Teen Girls  

Parents looking for effective therapy methods to help a struggling teen girl can learn about Animal Therapy at our life-changing boarding school in Oklahoma.   

New Lifehouse Academy, a boarding school for Christian teen girls, understands that parents want to send their daughter to a safe, monitored environment where their child receives personal care and individual therapies that help heal disorders–whether brought on by trauma, adoption or family genetics issues.   

And while your teen enrolls in our Christian boarding school, New Lifehouse Academy also helps troubled girls improve mental and physical health through Animal Therapy, led by licensed therapists. Animal-Assisted Therapy is a life-changing intervention that incorporates animals, such as horses, dogs, cats, pigs, and birds, into the treatment plan.

animal therapy helps teen girls heal at New Lifehouse AcademyIt 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 therapy include the reduction of stress, alleviation of pain, reduced blood pressure, and an overall improved mental state.  Additionally, therapy 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 therapy 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 the patient feel relaxed and more at peace. 

Animal Therapy at New Lifehouse Academy life-changing boarding school Improves Effects of Individual Therapy.

Animal Assisted Therapy is used to enhance and complement the benefits of traditional therapy at New Lifehouse Academy. When a teen girl struggles with trauma-induced disorders, i.e. anxiety, depression, lack of social interaction, Animal Therapy can help him or her:

  • improve socialization and communication
  • reduce isolation, boredom, and loneliness
  • brighten effect 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 the expression of feelings
  • reduce general anxiety
  • reduce abusive behavior
  • improve an ability to trust

Equine therapy, also known as Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT), is a treatment that includes equine activities and/or an equine environment 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 life-changing animals are 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 patient be more aware of themselves. That’s why New Lifehouse Academy boarding school for troubled girls offers Animal Therapy..


New Lifehouse Academy boarding school in OklahomaIf you want to learn more about how Animal Therapy helps troubled teen girls open up and heal at New Lifehouse Academy life-changing boarding school, please call 918-939-8270 now.

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Should you need help finding schools for defiant boys, or Christian boarding schools, we can help guide you toward strong options for your teen girl. New Lifehouse Academy is a Christ-centered boarding school for struggling teenage girls, designed to address behavioral challenges, low motivation, and academic setbacks through faith-based mentoring, biblical discipleship, and structured academics. This residential program provides a disciplined and supportive environment where girls can reset direction, build responsibility, and develop lasting character. Often compared to therapeutic boarding schools and other residential programs for troubled teens, New Lifehouse Academy emphasizes personal mentoring, accountability, and consistent daily structure rather than clinical models, helping students improve behavior, strengthen decision-making, and regain confidence. Daily mentoring, academic focus, and life skills development work together to build self-control, respect, and purpose. For families seeking a structured boarding school for troubled girls focused on character development, accountability, and real-world growth, New Lifehouse Academy offers a clear and proven path to lasting change.

DISCLAIMER: We are a nonprofit, affordable residential program designed for teens facing basic behavioral, motivational, or academic challenges. For more than 60 years, the Teen Challenge approach has helped thousands of young people achieve meaningful change and lasting progress. Our team includes mentors and certified teachers that change the lives of our students; however, the program is not licensed to provide clinical treatment for youth with mental health disorders and does not enroll students requiring that level of care. For diagnosis or treatment of such conditions, please consult a qualified licensed mental health facility.

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