therapy

‘Horsing around’ reduces stress hormones in youth

By Rachel Webber, College of Agricultural, Human & Natural Resource Sciences PULLMAN, Wash. – New research from Washington State University reveals how youth who work with horses experience a substantial reduction in stress – and the evidence lies in kids’ saliva.

War veterans find peace with a hoe and pitchfork

By Sylvia Kantor, College of Agricultural, Human & Natural Resource Sciences  SEQUIM, Wash. – Military veterans on the Olympic Peninsula are healing invisible wounds of war by tending the earth. They are part of a trend taking root across the country called agrotherapy, which helps veterans not only overcome difficulties like post-traumatic stress syndrome but […]

WSU students gain from autism learning center partnership

By Judith Van Dongen, WSU Spokane SPOKANE, Wash. – In a bustling classroom, college student Kellie Carns shows Daniel Fast, age 4, a small yellow car and encourages him to point to a matching picture and name the object: “Kuh…” she prompts. “Car,” he responds – to her satisfaction.

Therapy benefits athletes

Like soda shops and rumble seats, their popularity has fallen away over the years. Heated therapy pools — once standard in hospitals of the 1930s and 40s — declined in use after the advent of the polio vaccine in 1955, until today they are little more than a medical afterthought.   That practice may be […]

Animal assisted therapy focus of June 4 broadcast

Washington State University Extension, the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Department of Human Development will be presenting a satellite broadcast addressing the role of animal assisted activities for children with disabilities and developing youth at 9:30-11:00 am Friday, June 4. The program can be viewed on satellite or it can be viewed via video […]