Animal Assisted Psychotherapy: Healing With the Help of Animals

Animal assisted psychotherapy combines traditional therapy with the calming, supportive presence of trained animals. In this approach, licensed mental health professionals use structured interactions with animals to help clients feel safer, reduce anxiety, and explore difficult emotions in a gentle way. Sessions might include grooming, walking, or simply sitting with the animal while talking, creating a warm, nonjudgmental setting for healing.​

What Is Animal Assisted Psychotherapy?

Animal assisted psychotherapy (often called animal assisted therapy) is a goal oriented mental health intervention. A therapist works with a carefully selected and trained animal, such as a dog or horse, to support emotional, cognitive, and social change. The therapist sets clear therapeutic goals, plans each activity, and monitors client safety and animal welfare throughout the process.​

This form of therapy is not the same as casual pet visits. It is a structured treatment method backed by research that shows benefits for anxiety, depression, trauma related symptoms, and social difficulties. The animal becomes part of the treatment team, helping clients feel more relaxed, open, and engaged.​

How Animal Assisted Psychotherapy Works

Animal assisted psychotherapy uses the human animal bond to support the nervous system and emotional regulation. Interacting with friendly animals can lower stress hormones and increase feel good chemicals like oxytocin and endorphins, which may reduce anxiety and improve mood. As clients pet, groom, or play with the animal, they often feel calmer and more present, which makes it easier to talk about painful experiences.​

The therapist uses these calmer moments to introduce coping skills, explore thoughts and feelings, and practice new behaviors. For example, practicing gentle boundaries with a dog or leading a horse might mirror learning boundaries and communication in human relationships. The animal provides immediate, honest feedback through its behavior, which helps clients see how their actions affect others.​

Who Can Benefit From Animal Assisted Psychotherapy?

Research suggests that many groups can benefit from animal assisted psychotherapy, especially people who feel anxious or guarded in traditional talk therapy. It is often helpful for:​

• Children and teens who struggle to express feelings in words

• People with trauma or post traumatic stress symptoms

• Individuals with anxiety, depression, or loneliness

• Clients on the autism spectrum who need support with social skills

• Families or groups working on trust and communication

Because the animal’s presence softens the intensity of sessions, clients may feel less judged and more willing to share. This can be particularly valuable for those who have had negative experiences with authority figures or healthcare systems.​

Key Benefits of Animal Assisted Psychotherapy

Animal assisted psychotherapy offers emotional, physical, and social benefits that complement standard treatment:

• Emotional support and comfort: Animals provide steady companionship, which can ease distress and help clients feel less alone.​

• Reduced stress and anxiety: Studies show that contact with therapy animals can lower blood pressure, reduce cortisol, and promote a sense of calm.​

• Improved mood and motivation: Positive interactions with animals are linked to increased positive emotions and greater engagement in treatment.​

• Better social skills and communication: Animals can act as social bridges, helping clients practice empathy, patience, and clear communication.​

• Increased self esteem and confidence: Successfully caring for or guiding an animal can help clients see themselves as capable and trustworthy.​

Two Lists to Understand Animal Assisted Psychotherapy

Common Animals Used in Animal Assisted Psychotherapy:

• Dogs (for comfort, grounding, and social support)​

• Horses (often used in equine assisted psychotherapy for insight and regulation)​

• Small animals like rabbits or guinea pigs (gentle interactions and calming touch)​

• Farm animals such as goats or chickens in some programs (responsibility and routine)​

Examples of Goals in Animal Assisted Psychotherapy:

• Reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, or trauma

• Build trust and improve attachment patterns

• Practice emotion regulation and grounding skills

• Strengthen communication and boundary setting

• Increase motivation to attend and participate in therapy

• Enhance overall quality of life and social connection​

What Happens in a Typical Session?

A typical animal assisted psychotherapy session starts with checking in about mood, recent events, and goals for the day. The therapist then introduces activities involving the animal that match those goals. This could be brushing a dog while talking about coping skills, leading a horse through an obstacle to explore problem solving, or practicing mindful breathing while noticing the animal’s movements and warmth.​

Throughout the session, the therapist observes the interactions and invites reflection. For instance, if a client becomes frustrated and the animal pulls away, the therapist might gently ask what that moment felt like and how it mirrors other relationships. These real time experiences help turn insight into practice in a concrete, memorable way.​

Safety, Ethics, and Training

Qualified animal assisted psychotherapy programs follow clear standards to protect both clients and animals. Therapy animals are screened for temperament, health, and behavior, and receive specialized training to work around diverse clients and situations. Handlers and therapists learn to read animal stress signals and to end or adapt activities if the animal shows discomfort.​

Ethical practice includes:

• Respecting the animal as a partner, not a tool

• Providing rest, proper care, and veterinary support

• Matching clients to appropriate animals and activities

• Following privacy, consent, and safety guidelines for clients​

Limitations and Considerations

Animal assisted psychotherapy is not suitable for everyone. People with severe allergies, intense animal phobias, or certain cultural or personal preferences may not feel comfortable with animals in sessions. It is also important to remember that animal assisted psychotherapy works best as a complement to, not a replacement for, evidence based mental health treatments.​

If someone has a history of harming animals, providers must carefully assess risk and choose interventions that are safe for all involved. Programs also need resources to support the animals’ welfare, which can limit availability in some settings.​

How to Explore Animal Assisted Psychotherapy

For those interested in animal assisted psychotherapy, it helps to:

• Ask potential therapists about their training in animal assisted work and their licensure in mental health.

• Confirm that the animals are trained, evaluated, and cared for according to recognized standards.

• Discuss your goals, preferences, fears, and any allergies or health concerns before starting.

When animal assisted psychotherapy is thoughtfully integrated into care, it can deepen trust, broaden emotional expression, and create powerful moments of connection. The unique bond between humans and animals offers comfort, motivation, and insight that, together with skilled therapy, can support meaningful healing and growth