Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/90756
Heartland Farm Sanctuary." Throughout her life another theme has remained constant continued to provide an outlet for her emotions, along with solace and healing. It is a situation that it not unique to her. Known by psychologists as animal- for Barre: Animals assisted therapy, ATT is a treatment that involves the use of an animal's company in patient therapy. It has been used to treat a range of conditions—from anxiety disor- ders, clinical depression and eating disor- ders to autism, schizophrenia and more. Many studies have shown that ATT can have a significant impact on a patient's health, improving their physical, emo- tional and cognitive well-being, lifting some out of depressive spells, and helping others out of a communicative fog. The therapeutic concepts are not foreign teering or working] here come from diffi- cult childhoods," she explains. "They find such comfort and reassurance here." The impact of their work has continued to Barre, who holds a degree in counseling psychology (in addition to an MBA). "A lot of the adults who end up [volun- to help Heartland grow. In 2011, the sanctuary rapidly expand- ed—growing from four to 40 animals; in- creasing from three to 30 volunteers; em- ploying five staff persons; and moving into November 2012 bravamagazine.com 59