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.

The emotional benefits of animal assisted therapy are supported by both science and clinical observation. Animals provide:

• Regulation of the nervous system — their presence lowers heart rate, calms breathing, and helps reduce hypervigilance in trauma survivors.
• Oxytocin release — physical interaction stimulates oxytocin, a bonding hormone that promotes emotional safety and connection.
• Lower cortisol levels — interaction with therapy animals has been shown to reduce stress hormones.
• Support for emotional expression — clients resistant to talking often express themselves more freely when an animal is present.
• Relational safety and trust — animals are nonjudgmental and consistent, offering a foundation for rebuilding attachment and interpersonal connection.

For many people, animals offer an emotionally safer “co-therapist” — one who helps them access feelings they’ve kept hidden or felt too vulnerable to share.

It’s important to distinguish Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) from other animal-related roles:

• AAT involves structured therapy delivered by licensed professionals using trained animals in a clinical setting.
• Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) offer general emotional comfort but do not participate in treatment or require specialized training.
• Service Animals are trained to perform tasks for individuals with disabilities and are protected under the ADA — their purpose is functional, not therapeutic.

AAT is always guided by a credentialed therapist, with specific goals, treatment plans, and safety protocols for both client and animal. The animal is a therapeutic partner, not just a comfort object.

You’ll find animal assisted counseling offered by a variety of certified professionals who’ve completed additional training in AAT. These include:

• Licensed psychotherapists (LPCs, LCSWs, LMFTs, psychologists)
• Occupational and physical therapists with AAT integration training
• Certified animal therapy handlers, often credentialed through organizations like Pet Partners or Therapy Dogs International
• Equine-assisted therapists trained in EAGALA or PATH Intl. models for trauma and emotional work

Look for a provider who understands both clinical treatment and animal welfare — this ensures the experience is both safe and therapeutically effective.

Yes — growing research supports the benefits of animal therapy across multiple populations. Clinical studies have shown that AAT can:

• Reduce PTSD symptoms in trauma survivors and veterans
• Improve mood and engagement in individuals with depression
• Enhance communication and social behavior in people with autism
• Lower cortisol levels and support nervous system regulation
• Support grief processing and emotional resilience in children

While it may not be the only form of treatment, AAT is often integrated into evidence-based therapy models like CBT, EMDR, occupational therapy, and trauma-informed care to enhance outcomes.

Yes — when conducted by trained professionals, therapy with animals is designed with safety as a top priority. Key safety measures include:

• Animal screening for temperament, health, and behavior
• Up-to-date vaccinations and grooming standards for hygiene
• Therapist training in animal behavior, safety, and pacing for client comfort
• Client consent including allergy screening, animal history, and cultural sensitivity
• Emergency protocols for animal retirement, behavior changes, or client discomfort

Animals are removed from therapy work if they show signs of stress, aggression, or declining health. The therapist’s role includes monitoring both animal and client well-being at all times.