Your Therapist, BunBun, Will See You Now
Dickinson launched its therapy-bunny program last year as an addition to its suite of services to enhance student well-being. Photo by Dan Loh.
Students can be anxious. These therapy bunnies can help.
by MaryAlice Bitts-Jackson
She was gentle and sweet. He was sociable and adventurous. Their meet-cute was promising. And soon, they were the “it” couple on campus—young, popular and in love.
We’re speaking of BunBun and Moxie, Dickinson’s newest therapy bunnies. Along with Otto and Dixie, they’re the star attractions in a Dickinson Wellness Center program leveraging the health-boosting benefits of positive connections with animals. And if endorphin-friendly adorableness could be quantified, theirs would be off the charts.
That’s something we could all benefit from in stressful times. But for today’s U.S. college and university students, who report record levels of loneliness and stress, it’s a potentially more vital assist. Though pint-sized, these herbivores can make a difference in big ways, including helping students learn to adjust to a new environment, become more independent and tackle social and academic challenges they may never have encountered before.
The right critters for the job
Otto, described as smart, curious and caring, is adept at finding treats hidden in his nesting-cup toy. Photo by Dan Loh.
The soothing effects of animal-human connection have long been understood, as studies show that just being in the presence of animals can improve blood pressure and mood. Animal interactions also can alleviate feelings of loneliness—a fact that’s attracted increased attention in light of the U.S. surgeon general’s advisory on the current “loneliness epidemic.”
“Being around animals can be so incredibly healing, especially for students struggling with being away from home for the first time.” —Eddie Duman '27
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) places these benefits into a therapeutic framework. As the animals help alleviate anxiety, break the ice and boost mood just by doing their thing, trained clinicians use AAT techniques to create optimal opportunities for connection and insight, and they contextualize whatever transpires.
The mood lifts are only part of the equation: AAT sessions also offer low-stress opportunities to practice interpersonal skills and engage socially. Common benefits include confidence boosts, particularly around social encounters; a greater ability to effectively resolve conflict and maintain healthy boundaries; increased emotional regulation and mindfulness; and increased ability to tolerate distress. It’s also a potent stress reliever—and a lot of fun.
“So this is something we’ve been interested in exploring for some time, and we did quite a bit of research,” says Lauren Strunk, executive director of the Wellness Center.
Wellness Center staff considered bringing in cats, chinchillas, birds and potbellied pigs, among other animals into therapeutic service at Dickinson. Ultimately, rabbits won out, because they’re widely appealing critters that generally don’t spark fear or allergic reactions. After staff training on rabbit care and AAT, the college adopted its first bunny couple from a local rescue organization, Luv-N-Bunns.
All aboard!
Scientific studies show that just being in the presence of animals can improve blood pressure and mood. Animal-assisted therapy places these benefits into a therapeutic framework. Photo by Dan Loh.
Charmers Otto and Dixie came to Dickinson in summer 2023 as an already-bonded pair. They collaborate well, sharing treats they uncover together in a nesting-cup game. You may see them groom each other and bump noses—classic bunny-speak for love.
“It’s been a beautiful journey of earning their trust and affection,” says Rebecca Shoemaker, a staff psychologist who describes Bun-Bun as energetic and playful and Moxie as emotionally attuned.
BunBun, a lilac rabbit, was abandoned by his first owner and offered to the Wellness Center last January. Being a “third wheel” was lonely for BunBun, so Strunk arranged “speed dates” at the rescue center and returned to campus with Moxie. Brief, chaperoned meetups in a cozy space—the center's bathroom floor—slowly broke the ice.
“Now, they’re inseparable. If I take one to the vet, the other has to come along,” Strunk says. (As if on cue, Moxie peeks out of her cage to bravely join BunBun, the extrovert, who’s sniffing this writer’s shoe.)
Each of the two couples has a spacious cage in a bunny-proofed room filled with toys, blankets and straw. Wellness Center staff share in their care, and volunteers take the rabbits home over breaks. “We’re committed to them—they are very well loved,” Strunk says.
And why not? Just picture BunBun with his Winnie the Pooh blanket, Dixie in her ball pit, Moxie peeking out shyly or Otto, tossing treat nesting cups in the air.
Ready to share the bunny love?
The Wellness Center currently offers three paths to bunny interactions:
- Bunny Connections: These small-group sessions, run by Shoemaker and Carrie Bowerman, a staff counselor, meet weekly for eight weeks and incorporate a wide range of therapy styles along with AAT techniques.
- Individual sessions: Bowerman and Shoemaker incorporate work with the bunnies into individual sessions, as appropriate.
- Bunny Breaks (Thursdays, noon to 1 p.m.): Informal opportunities to soak in the bunny vibes.
Registration is required for Bunny Breaks, which are capped at just six participants. Students may drop in to do homework, listen to music or just enjoy the cuteness, calm and joy.
Led by Executive Director Lauren Strunk (right), the Wellness Center offers three ways to interact with the bunnies and enjoy their health- and mood-boosting effects. Photo by Dan Loh.
“They’re gluttons for treats and wonderful study companions,” says Eddie Duman ’27, who enjoyed Bunny Breaks so much that she volunteered to help out with the bunnies’ care, just to get in extra time with her favorite animals. Now she works at the Wellness Center as a paid student assistant.
“It’s a privilege that I’m thankful for every day,” Duman says.
Asked why, Duman says the bunnies bring students together and soothe academic stress. “Being around animals can be so incredibly healing, especially for students struggling with being away from home for the first time,” Duman explains. “I’d encourage anyone curious about the bunny program to sign up for a session on Engaged and bring a friend!”
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Published November 20, 2024