The Role of Animal-Assisted Therapy in Improving Mental Health

Writer: Cecilia Castellon

Over the years, various therapy methods such as exposure and behavioral therapy have been utilized to help improve mental health and well-being. While these methods are beneficial and effective for patients, Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) offers a distinct and unique way to handle mental health illnesses by involving animals in these interventions. Previous studies have shown that animal-assisted therapy-related programs have resulted in patients improving their mental illnesses, like depression and anxiety from human-animal interaction (Koukourikos et al., 2019). Another study had Animal-Assisted Therapy be involved in prison-based animal programs to support inmates with mental health and rehabilitation. (Allison & Ramaswamy, 2016). Animal-assisted therapy can benefit individuals by providing mental health support and bonds with animals to help with their general well-being. 

The use of animals in therapy began around the late nineteenth century, with Boris Levinson being one of the first psychologists to recognize and contribute to animal therapy as a therapeutic method to deal with mental health issues. Back then, animals were mainly used for “hunting, herding, and transportation,” and animal training had been primarily utilized for dogs to support individuals during World War I (Fung et al., 2024). The evolution demonstrates how animals can serve in diverse roles, including as providers of therapeutic support. Additionally, it shows how animals are not just pets or hunters but can serve as emotional support companions for those who need it the most. 

One of the benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy is its ability to help reduce symptoms and treat mental health disorders like depression and anxiety.  One study focused on the use of canines to understand how Canine-Assisted Psychotherapy (CAP) can help improve mental health among adolescents. The study design included adolescents between the ages of 10-19 years and incorporated treatment-based interventions with the assistance of mental health professionals. One of the interventions included participants interacting with canines. The purpose of the study was to determine how much of an impact the interventions can have on adolescents with mental health issues and what role canines can play in helping these individuals. The intervention lasted for over 10 weeks and incorporated play therapy and solution-focused techniques. The intervention used certified therapy canines in the study to interact with the participants. (Jones et al., 2019). The study suggests that utilizing animals in mental health interventions can be beneficial for individuals and can reduce symptoms of these disorders. Studies like this can encourage mental health institutes and facilities to implement animal-assisted programs. It’s important to note that many individuals may be animal lovers, and having animals around them can provide comfort and emotional support. Additionally, the inclusion of animals in therapeutic settings can allow individuals to open up about their struggles and feel safer about expressing these emotions. 

Animal-assisted therapy has been incorporated into programs to examine how beneficial AAT can be for those struggling with their mental health. Prisons have implemented Animal-assisted therapy interventions for prisoners who have been diagnosed with mental health illnesses and disorders. Before animal-based interventions were incorporated in prisons, there was a lack of mental health awareness for prisoners, which meant many of them had to deal with their mental health issues on their own or with little support. The study compared previous studies that have researched animal-assisted therapy interventions to examine the impact that AAT has on prisoners involved in the study. Prisoners were able to pet and play with the animals, showing how prisoners were comfortable showing affection and care for the animals (Allison & Ramaswamy, 2016). This shows how animal-assisted therapy can be helpful for individuals in correctional institutions by providing comfort and emotional support. This allows prisoners to develop empathy and reduce feelings of loneliness. Additionally, it can encourage a more positive outlook on life and help heal from emotional trauma. 

Moreover, understanding the human-animal bond can provide insight into how animals can have a positive impact on people's lives and their overall mental health. Animal-assisted therapy relies on the human-animal bond, which allows for researchers to examine how individuals interact with animals and if they develop a close attachment to the animal. A previous study examined the human-animal bond based on two Animal-assisted therapy sessions on adolescents who were admitted to acute psychiatry units.  The results of the findings show that there was a strong bond between the participants and the therapy dog. Additionally, participants were shown to trust the dog and feel like the dog made them happy, and participants would attempt to make the dog feel happy while interacting with them (Claverol et al., 2023). This study shows how important it is to research the human-animal bond when implementing animal-assisted therapy, as the bond between an animal and a human may impact the significance of therapeutic methods and interventions. Incorporating animal-assisted therapy programs into mental health institutions can allow individuals to receive emotional support as well as improve their mental health. 

Animals have played a significant role in people’s lives. They're more than just pets; they provide us with companionship and support when we need it most. Therapeutic methods like Animal-Assisted Therapy can allow individuals to improve their mental health, open up more about their feelings, and develop strong bonds with animals. Incorporating animal-assisted therapy into mental health services can improve mental health and reduce anxiety by giving them comfort and support.