Find Animal Assisted Therapy

Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a structured form of therapy where trained animals actively participate in the treatment process under the guidance of licensed professionals. This isn’t about cuddling pets for comfort — AAT integrates therapy animals into goal-oriented clinical sessions to enhance emotional safety, promote trust, and support behavioral or psychological healing.

Therapists use animals in carefully planned ways to encourage self-regulation, emotional expression, and social connection. AAT may be incorporated into psychotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, or physical rehabilitation — adding a warm, living presence that helps many clients feel more grounded, open, and emotionally engaged.

While dogs are the most common therapy animals due to their trainability and natural attunement to humans, Animal-Assisted Therapy can involve a wide variety of animals depending on the therapeutic setting and client needs. These may include:

• Horses – through specialized equine-assisted therapy programs that address trauma, emotional regulation, and trust.
• Miniature horses, guinea pigs, or rabbits – often used with children or clients who need sensory input and calming interaction.
• Cats – less common, but helpful in certain residential or pediatric settings where their calming presence soothes anxious clients.
• Farm animals or dolphins – used in some specialized experiential programs, often focusing on relationship building or neurodivergent populations.

All animals involved in AAT are screened for temperament, trained for therapeutic environments, and monitored for health and hygiene. They’re not just friendly — they’re clinically prepared to support healing.

Research and clinical practice both support therapy with animals as beneficial for a wide range of mental and physical health concerns. Animal-Assisted Therapy has been used to support healing in:

• Trauma survivors and PTSD, including veterans and abuse survivors
• Anxiety disorders and panic attacks
• Depression and mood regulation
• Autism spectrum disorders and other developmental challenges
• ADHD and difficulties with impulse control or attention
• Grief and bereavement
• Social anxiety and attachment disorders
• Chronic illness and rehabilitation, especially in hospitals or long-term care
• Elderly individuals with dementia, isolation, or cognitive decline

By creating a calming presence, animals help regulate the nervous system, increase openness to therapy, and facilitate connection when trust is hard to establish.

Anyone seeking therapy in a more emotionally accessible or embodied way may benefit from Animal-Assisted Therapy. It’s particularly effective for:

• Children with emotional, behavioral, or developmental challenges
• Teens and young adults dealing with self-harm, anxiety, or difficulty connecting
• Adults with complex trauma, PTSD, or interpersonal struggles
• Veterans returning from service with emotional wounds or relational distrust
• Clients with chronic illness who need emotional resilience and support
• Seniors in assisted living or memory care who are isolated or withdrawn
• Neurodivergent individuals who benefit from non-verbal emotional support

The presence of an animal often creates a bridge between the therapist and client — reducing anxiety, increasing emotional expression, and building trust naturally.

Animal Assisted Counseling sessions are led by trained therapists and follow a structured, goal-oriented process. Here’s what you might expect:

• Initial assessment: Your therapist will determine whether AAT is appropriate and explore any allergies, fears, or past animal experiences.
• Introduction of the therapy animal: The animal is brought into session gradually, allowing time for comfort and safety to develop.
• Interaction: Clients may pet, walk, feed, or groom the animal as part of emotional regulation or therapeutic exercises.
• Structured activities: Sessions may include role-playing, grounding techniques, or trust-building tasks involving the animal.
• Emotional exploration: Clients often open up more easily with the animal present, especially those who struggle with verbal expression or relational fear.

Therapists guide each session with clear clinical goals while allowing the animal to support emotional attunement, nervous system regulation, and safe relational connection.