What it is
Structured sessions with certified therapy animals to support mental and physical health.
Emerging evidence
Animal Assisted Therapy
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) involves structured, goal-oriented interventions that include an animal and are delivered or directed by tr...
CategoryHolistic
SafetyLow risk
Reviewed by Gyfts Editorial Team · Editorial Health Review
8 December 2025
At a glance
Animal Assisted Therapy at a glance
Why explore it
Animals can ease emotional barriers, making therapy feel more natural and less intimidating.
How it’s experienced
You'll work toward personal goals by interacting with a therapy animal alongside a trained handler.
Evidence context
Early research looks promising, though findings are still emerging and not yet conclusive.
See the evidence snapshotSafety
Generally low risk — just flag any allergies or phobias so sessions can be tailored for you.
See staying safeHistory & Origin
About Animal Assisted Therapy
Animal Assisted Therapy uses animals as a form of therapeutic intervention to improve mental and physical health.
Therapeutic use of animals has been described in healthcare and rehabilitation contexts for decades; contemporary practice emphasizes structured protocols, provider training, and animal welfare standards.
Mechanism
How it works
Animal Assisted Therapy is generally framed as a guided process for attention, reflection, learning, and emotional integration. Depending on the method, a practitioner may use conversation, imagery, structured exercises, body awareness, or therapeutic techniques to help the person explore patterns and choices. It should not be presented as a standalone solution or a substitute for urgent care, but it may support self-understanding when practiced within an appropriate scope. Animal Assisted Therapy involves structured interactions between a person and a trained animal (commonly dogs, horses, or cats) under the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider or therapist.
- Shared FocusYou and your practitioner agree on goals, limits, and what matters most to you.
- Guided ProcessSessions use talk, creativity, or structured methods alongside a trained animal.
- Meaning MakingYou gently notice patterns, feelings, memories, and strengths at your own pace.
- Stabilising SupportGrounding pauses keep the session feeling safe and at a comfortable intensity.
- Next StepsYour practitioner may suggest reflection, practice, or follow-up to support you.
Your first visit
What to expect from a session
A typical session outline to help you feel prepared
A therapist guides you through purposeful, goal-oriented interactions with a trained therapy animal to support your emotional, physical, or social well-being.
Welcome and Goal Review
Your therapist greets you and briefly reviews your care plan goals, such as reducing anxiety or building social skills, so the session stays focused and meaningful.
Meet the Therapy Animal
You're introduced to the therapy animal at your own pace, allowing you to observe, approach, or simply be near the animal without any pressure to interact immediately.
Animal Readiness Check
The handler assesses the animal's mood and comfort before activities begin, ensuring the animal is calm, engaged, and ready — your safety and theirs are both a priority.
Guided Interaction Begins
Your therapist introduces a structured activity, such as grooming, feeding, walking, or simply petting the animal, chosen specifically to support your therapeutic goals.
Skill Practice with the Animal
You may practice targeted skills during the interaction, like giving calm commands to build confidence, maintaining focus, or regulating your breathing while the animal responds to you.
Therapist Check-In
Midway through, your therapist gently checks how you're feeling physically and emotionally, adjusting the activity or pace based on your comfort and engagement level.
Winding Down Together
The session slows naturally, giving you time to say goodbye to the animal in a calm way, which itself can be a meaningful part of processing the experience.
Reflection and Next Steps
Your therapist closes with a brief conversation about what you noticed during the session and how it connects to your broader care plan goals going forward.
The Evidence
Evidence context
What research currently says about Animal Assisted Therapy, where evidence is strong, and where gaps remain.
Overall pictureEmerging evidence
Promising signals, but research quality is still catching up
Systematic reviews suggest AAT may support mental health and psychosocial outcomes in specific populations. Many studies have methodological limitations, so findings should be interpreted with appropriate caution.
What the research showsAAT has a growing evidence base, though study quality varies considerably across populations and settings.
Systematic reviews indicate AAT may offer benefits for mood, stress, and social engagement in certain groups, including older adults, children, and people in mental health settings. However, many studies are small, lack control groups, or rely on self-report measures. Evidence is best described as emerging rather than established.
A holistic lens on AATAAT works across emotional, physical, and social dimensions simultaneously, which aligns with a holistic approach to wellbeing.
The presence of a trained animal can engage multiple aspects of a person's experience at once — sensory comfort, emotional regulation, and social connection. This multi-dimensional quality makes AAT a natural fit within holistic care frameworks, where wellbeing is understood as more than the absence of symptoms.
How AAT fits into careAAT is typically used as an adjunctive support alongside conventional or allied health care, not as a standalone intervention.
In clinical and allied health settings, AAT is most commonly offered alongside established therapies — for example, to support engagement in rehabilitation or to complement psychological support. It is not a substitute for professional assessment or evidence-based treatment for mental or physical health conditions.
Safety and suitabilityAAT is generally low-risk, but individual screening and program standards matter.
Before participating, individuals should be screened for allergies, animal phobias, and immunocompromised status. Reputable programs follow established animal welfare and handler training standards. AAT is not appropriate where animal contact is unwanted, unsafe, or restricted by clinical setting policies.
Choosing a qualified programProgram quality varies — look for structured protocols, trained handlers, and clear animal welfare standards.
AAT should be delivered by qualified practitioners working with certified or formally assessed animals. Ask about the provider's training, the animal's welfare protocols, and how sessions are structured. Unstructured animal contact is not the same as formal AAT and may not carry the same potential benefits or safety oversight.
Limitations to keep in mindThe evidence base is growing but not yet sufficient to support inflated outcome claims for most conditions.
Most AAT studies are small, short-term, and lack standardised outcome measures, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions. Effects observed in research may not generalise across all populations or settings. AAT should be considered a supportive option rather than a primary intervention, and expectations should remain realistic.
Safety first
Staying safe
General guidance to help you decide whether this approach is appropriate for you. This is informational only and not a substitute for medical, psychological, or professional advice.
When this may not be suitable
Some situations call for extra care or a different approach. Share any conditions, injuries, or sensitivities with your practitioner before your first session.
See specific guidance
- Screen for allergies, phobias, immunocompromised status, and infection-control requirements. Ensure the program follows established training and welfare standards for animals and handlers. Not appropriate where animal contact is unsafe, unwanted, or contraindicated by clinical setting policies.
Check with a professional first
If you are pregnant, managing a health condition, recovering from injury or surgery, or taking medication, consult a qualified healthcare professional first.
Choosing a practitioner
Look for clear boundaries, transparent pricing, and practitioners who avoid fear-based claims or pressure to book frequent sessions.
Possible side effects or aftercare
Mild, short-lived effects such as tenderness, tiredness, or temporary soreness can occur. Rest, hydrate, and tell your practitioner how you respond.
For you?
Is this right for you?
A simple, human way to weigh it up. This is general guidance, not personal medical advice — a qualified practitioner can advise on your situation.
May be a good fit if…
- Individuals who are comfortable with animals and are working within a structured therapeutic program where goals and safety protocols are clear.
May not be right if…
- People with severe animal allergies, strong phobias, significant immunosuppression without clinical clearance, or those who do not consent to animal contact.
Gyfts is a discovery platform, not a medical provider. Nothing here diagnoses, treats or replaces professional care. In an emergency, contact your local emergency number.
Explore approaches
Related modalities
Other practices people often explore alongside animal assisted therapy.
In their words
People often describe it as
reflectivestructuredsupportiveemotionally spaciousclarifyingpacedcollaborativegrounding
FAQ
Common questions
Is AAT the same as having a pet for comfort?
No. AAT is typically structured and goal-oriented within a therapeutic plan, delivered or directed by trained professionals.
What animals are used?
Commonly dogs, but programs may use other species depending on setting, training, and welfare standards.
How is safety managed?
Programs screen participants for contraindications, follow infection-control policies, and adhere to training and animal welfare guidelines.
What animals are used in animal-assisted therapy and for what purposes?
Dogs are the most widely used in formal AAT programmes, particularly therapy dogs in hospitals, schools, and mental health settings — with substantial evidence for anxiety and stress reduction, increased social engagement, and pain perception management. Horses are central to equine-assisted therapy, particularly for emotional regulation, trauma, PTSD, and autism. Cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs are used in care settings and with children. Dolphins have been used in dolphin-assisted therapy, though evidence is limited and ethical concerns exist around captivity. The key across species is the non-judgmental, responsive presence of the animal.
Is animal-assisted therapy evidence-based?
Yes, with meaningful variation by application. The evidence is strongest for dog-assisted interventions in acute care settings — multiple RCTs show reduced anxiety, lower cortisol, and reduced pain perception in hospital patients. Equine-assisted therapy has moderate evidence for PTSD (particularly in veterans), autism, and at-risk youth. AAT for dementia shows consistent positive effects on agitation, mood, and social engagement. The mechanism is well-understood: animal interaction stimulates oxytocin release, reduces cortisol, and activates affiliative neural circuits. A 2019 meta-analysis found significant effects across anxiety, depression, and social functioning.
References
Evidence & Research
Educational sources that inform this overview. Inclusion is for context and does not imply endorsement.
- Effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy and pet-robot interventions in reducing depressive symptoms among older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis
- The effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review
- Animal-assisted therapy in adults: A systematic review
Full citations are maintained by the Gyfts editorial team and reviewed periodically.
Keep exploring
Find Animal Assisted Therapy practitioners you can trust
Browse practitioners, explore honest overviews, and take what you learn to a conversation — at your own pace.