Integrating animals in mental health care: Strategies for providers

Animals can bring companionship, joy, and structure to our lives. We know they can play a significant role in healing, but they’re often left out of the treatment process.

When pets become part of clinical care, we’re recognizing animal companions as an integral part of someone’s support system. We’re also acknowledging presence as a pathway for growth. So, if we understand that the relationship between people and their pets is important, how can we bring them into treatment, too?

Make asking about pets part of your process. One study found that asking patients about their pets helped build trust, communication, and led to patients being more open about their lives. Asking about pets establishes a partnership and helps patients gain insight into their lives.

The human-animal bond runs deep and many people see pets as family members. These relationships can be just as strong as bonds with other people.

If you’re a patient, let your provider know how you view your pet. For instance, you might say, “My dog has been there for me when no one else has. He’s like the brother I never had. He’s family.”

Acknowledging the emotional significance of these relationships is important. You can do this by including pets in the conversation with individuals, couples, or families. This may be especially important when doing therapy with children and teens who have pets, as these companions can play a role in grief and resilience. If you’re working with a client who has lost a pet, you’ll want to directly acknowledge their pain and grief.

Bringing pets into the conversation early makes it easier to include them in the care plan. Research shows that people living with mental health conditions may benefit from the emotional support, routine, and motivation that comes with caring for their pet.

When creating a treatment plan, providers and clients can work together to develop specific and attainable goals. For example, you may decide to include a pet-related goal like, “Take my dog to the park twice per week on Wednesdays and Sundays.”

Having a plan for emergencies can bring comfort even if you never need to use it. For instance, a provider and patient might consider who can help care for the pet if the client is hospitalized. Or, someone might identify their pet as a source of comfort they can turn to when they’re feeling distressed.

Hospitals and care facilities can integrate animals into care by creating opportunities for people to visit with their own pets. Research shows that visiting with your own pet while in the hospital leads to people feeling more open and connected with their care teams.

Care facilities also have the option to start programs where people in treatment can interact with therapy animals. A study showed that therapy animals and personal pet visits reduced depression and loneliness during long hospital stays.

Making these visits part of a treatment plan also means making time and space for people to meet with their care team to process these interactions and discuss how these interactions are supporting their well-being.

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) includes trained animals, like dogs, horses, and more, in treatment. For example, a therapist who practices AAT might bring a therapy dog to sessions to create a calm atmosphere and promote connection. The dog might rest their chin on a patient’s lap during the session, or they may use their paw to create gentle pressure, which can help the client feel safe and connected.

To integrate animals into your practice, providers can seek out training in AAT and check out resources from Animal Assisted Services International.

If you or a friend are struggling with your mental health, take an anonymous, free, and private mental health test. It only takes a few minutes, and after you are finished, you will be given information about the next steps you can take based on the results.

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