{"id":1280,"date":"2018-11-01T12:47:54","date_gmt":"2018-11-01T02:17:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/student-health-and-well-being\/?p=1280"},"modified":"2018-11-01T12:47:54","modified_gmt":"2018-11-01T02:17:54","slug":"use-greyhounds-reduce-exam-stress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/student-health-and-well-being\/2018\/11\/01\/use-greyhounds-reduce-exam-stress\/","title":{"rendered":"Use greyhounds to reduce exam stress"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

I once saw a psychologist who had a ‘therapy dog’.<\/p>\n

The purpose of the dog, as far as I could gather, was to provide an alternative avenue for emotional expression. Supposedly, some people find it easier to interact with a dog, than to lie on a couch and tell their life story.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, that particular therapy dog just glared at me for half of the session and then fell asleep.<\/p>\n

Given that I was seeking therapy for an overwhelming sense of ‘people glaring at me and then falling asleep’, I naturally found it a bit hard to deal with.<\/p>\n

But my experience is not the norm.<\/p>\n

Animal-assisted therapy is a genuine thing, and associated with measurable improvements in individuals with autism-spectrum symptoms, medical difficulties, behavioral problems, and poor emotional well-being<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Although not formally assessed, when the Greyhound Adoption Program (GAPS SA) people brought greyhounds to the mid-year exams<\/a> this year, students loved it. It was a great release of tension during a period of time that has most students feeling pretty anxious.<\/p>\n

The good news is they are returning for end-of-year exams as well.<\/p>\n

See the advert below.<\/p>\n

Note: the particular dog featured in the picture who has a PhD and unnerving ability to use a stethoscope will not<\/strong> be in attendance.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"greyhound<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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