Animal-Assisted Counseling
Healing through
animal-assisted
counseling
"Animals offer what words sometimes cannot — presence, steadiness, and a connection that bypasses the need to explain."Book a Consultation
Evidence-informed, intentional counseling — delivered by a licensed clinician, with the animal as an active part of your treatment plan.
What Is Animal-Assisted Counseling?
More than a pet visit —
structured clinical counseling
Animal-Assisted Counseling, sometimes called animal-assisted psychotherapy (AAPT), is a form of mental health treatment that incorporates the presence and interaction of trained animals into the therapeutic process. It is delivered by a licensed mental health professional with additional training in working with animals in a clinical setting.
Animal-Assisted Counseling involves structured, goal-oriented interventions where the therapist uses the therapeutic relationship between the client, the animal, and the therapist to facilitate emotional, cognitive, social, or behavioral healing and growth.
Unlike casual interactions with pets, Animal-Assisted Counseling is evidence-informed, intentional, and aligned with your treatment goals. The animal is a purposeful participant — not a backdrop.
The Relationship in the Room
Healing happens in relationship
In Animal-Assisted Counseling there are three of you in the room: you, your therapist, and the animal. The work is more than what gets said. It is what unfolds between the three of you, moment to moment.
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You and the animal
An animal doesn't judge, doesn't need you to explain yourself, and responds honestly to how you approach them. For many people that makes closeness feel safer than it does with other people. Over time the animal can become a steady presence: somewhere to settle when the conversation gets hard, and a secure place to start from when you're ready to look at what hurts.
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Your therapist and the animal
You'll also see how your therapist is with the animal: patient, attentive, and accepting even when the animal is having an off moment. Seeing that care up close often makes it easier to trust that the same acceptance is there for you, on your off days too.
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You and your therapist
What comes up between you and the animal, whether it's the pull to get closer, the worry about being rejected, or the urge to keep your distance, often echoes what happens in your other relationships. Your therapist helps you notice those patterns gently, make sense of them, and try something different. What you practice here can carry into your relationships outside the room.
Animal-Assisted Counseling isn't the right fit for everyone. At intake we'll ask about allergies, fears, and your history with animals, and decide together whether it suits you and your goals.
Informed by attachment-based research on animals in the therapy room: Zilcha-Mano, Mikulincer & Shaver (2011), Attachment & Human Development.
How It Works
The animal is part of the treatment plan
Assessment & Goal-Setting
The therapist conducts a traditional mental health intake and identifies whether animal-assisted approaches will support your specific needs and goals. Nothing is assumed — everything is tailored.
In-Session Activities
Animals may assist with emotion regulation, building trust and attachment (especially for trauma survivors), social skills development for children and teens, mindfulness and grounding, and narrative or metaphor work — all guided intentionally by your therapist.
Client–Animal Interaction
The animal acts as a co-regulator, mirror, or nonjudgmental presence. Activities may include grooming, walking, observing behavior, or simply being together. The therapist guides reflection and insight throughout.
Ethical Considerations
Only animals who are well-trained, temperamentally sound, and registered for therapy work are included in sessions. The wellbeing of both the client and the animal is prioritized at every stage.
Who This Is For
Animal-Assisted Counseling can benefit a wide range of individuals
- Anxiety, depression, or trauma
- Attachment or relational difficulties
- Social phobia or communication challenges
- Autism spectrum disorder or sensory integration challenges
- Grief and loss, including pet loss
- Low self-esteem or emotional dysregulation
- Children and adolescents who may struggle to engage with traditional talk therapy
"In Animal-Assisted Counseling, the animal is not incidental — they are a purposeful participant in the treatment plan, helping create change that words alone sometimes cannot reach."
The Gentle PawWhere We Offer This Service
In-person sessions in Nyack, New York
Animal-Assisted Counseling is an in-person service. We offer sessions at our Nyack, NY location, where our registered therapy animals are available to participate in your care.
Sessions in Stamford, CT are occasional and arranged as needed. Ask us about availability.
Nyack, New York Book a SessionInsurance & Fees
Insurance accepted for Animal-Assisted Counseling
Many insurance plans cover Animal-Assisted Counseling sessions. Visit our Fees page for a full list of accepted plans, self-pay rates, and what to expect at your first visit.
View Fees"In Animal-Assisted Counseling, the animal is an active member of the treatment team — not a comfort object, but a clinical partner." The Gentle Paw
Getting Started
Your path forward
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Book a Consultation
Schedule a free consultation to talk through your goals and find out whether Animal-Assisted Counseling is the right approach for you.
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Mental Health Intake
A thorough assessment to understand your history, presenting concerns, and whether animal-assisted approaches will meaningfully support your treatment goals.
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Begin Sessions
In-person sessions at our Nyack, NY location — with the animal playing an active, intentional role in your treatment plan from the very first session.
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Grow & Heal
Ongoing care tailored to your evolving needs, with regular reflection on your goals and the role the animal continues to play in your therapeutic journey.
Ready to Begin?
When the animal is part of
the treatment plan, healing shifts
Animal-Assisted Counseling is available in person at our Nyack, NY location. Insurance accepted.