ABSTRACT
Group therapy is an excellent medium for children with social withdrawal issues and shyness. Groups are natural settings for children, and, therefore, well-structured therapeutic groups can be most beneficial for children who have difficulty expressing their individuality and consequently have difficulties with envy, competition, and normal feelings of anger. The group serves as a holding environment, allowing group members the possibility of regressing within clearly defined and protective boundaries. Since the pioneering works of Boris Levinson with his dog Jingles, and his coining of the phrase: Pet Therapy, animal assisted therapy has become an important adjunct to therapeutic repertoire. All the children are in group settings in schools, and the presenting issue is to help them with social readiness skills so they can integrate better in their educational and social contexts. The children watch how the chinchillas interact as a family and how the mother and father watch over their young and carefully monitor strangers.
