Animal-Assisted Therapy

A different way to experience therapy.

Therapy doesn't always have to happen sitting across from someone in an office.

Whether surrounded by the colours of autumn, the quiet beauty of winter, the renewal of spring, or the warmth of summer, each season offers its own opportunities for reflection, growth, and connection.

Animal-assisted psychotherapy thoughtfully incorporates animals and the natural environment into professional psychotherapy. The animal is not the therapist, it becomes part of the therapeutic process, creating opportunities to connect, explore emotions, practice skills, and experience change in a different way.

At Manotick Counselling, Sharda, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), offers animal-assisted psychotherapy as part of her practice. This approach thoughtfully incorporates animals and the natural environment into professional psychotherapy, creating opportunities to connect, explore emotions, practice skills, and experience change in a different way.

A Unique Setting: Mādahòkì Farm

Located in Ottawa’s Greenbelt, Mādahòkì Farm is an Indigenous-led cultural destination and working farm dedicated to sharing the land, stories, and food from an Indigenous perspective. The farm is home to a growing herd of rare and endangered Ojibwe Spirit Horses, alongside other farm animals, and offers a beautiful natural setting for meaningful experiences with the land and animals.

During animal-assisted therapy sessions, clients may have opportunities to observe and interact with horses and other farm animals through appropriate, ground-based activities. Depending on individual goals and the session, activities may include observing animal behaviour, grooming, guided interaction, reflection, and creative exercises.

Location

Mādahòkì Farm
4420 West Hunt Club Road
Nepean, Ontario K2R 1E7

Learn more about the farm at madahoki.ca.

Honouring the Land and Its Stories

Mādahòkì means “to share the land” and reflects the farm’s commitment to connection with the land and sharing Indigenous perspectives and experiences. The setting offers an opportunity to slow down, engage with the natural world, and develop a deeper appreciation for the relationships between people, animals, and the environment.

Any cultural learning or teachings incorporated into sessions will be approached respectfully and in collaboration with appropriate farm guidance.

How Can It Help?

Animal-assisted psychotherapy can support therapeutic goals related to:

Anxiety and stress

Emotional regulation

Self-esteem and confidence

Boundaries and communication

Social skills and relationships

Trauma and difficult experiences

Coping with change

Mindfulness and grounding

Distress tolerance

Self-awareness

Sessions may incorporate evidence-informed approaches such as CBT, trauma-informed therapy, attachment-based approaches, mindfulness, and exposure-based interventions when appropriate.

What Does a Session Look Like?

There is no one way to participate. Depending on your goals, sessions may include:

Ground-based animal activities
Walking, movement and nature-based activities
Therapeutic exercises and coping strategies
Conversation and processing
Practicing boundaries, communication and emotional regulation

You do not need to ride a horse or have previous experience with animals.

Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy vs. EAL

While they can look similar, they have different purposes.

Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) generally focuses on learning, personal development, communication, confidence and horsemanship.

Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy is clinical psychotherapy. Treatment is guided by a Registered Psychotherapist, and the animal is intentionally incorporated into an individual's therapeutic goals.

The goal isn't simply to spend time with an animal—the goal is to use the experience as part of meaningful therapeutic work.

For Children & Teens

Animals can provide a natural way for young people to engage when traditional talk therapy doesn't feel comfortable.

Rather than simply talking about anxiety, confidence, boundaries or emotions, children and teens can have opportunities to experience and practice these skills in real time.

For Adults

Animal-assisted psychotherapy can offer adults a different environment for slowing down, reconnecting and working through concerns such as anxiety, stress, trauma, relationships, life transitions, self-esteem and emotional regulation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to ride?
No. Sessions can be completely ground-based.

What if I'm nervous around animals?
That's okay. Interaction is never forced, and your comfort is considered throughout treatment.

Do I need to be an animal person?
Not at all.

Is this the same as pet therapy?
No. Animal-assisted psychotherapy is structured clinical psychotherapy with individualized therapeutic goals.

Is it evidence-based?
Research into animal-assisted interventions is growing. This approach is used as an evidence-informed complement to established psychotherapy methods.

What animals are involved?
This will depend on the setting and animal partners available. Horses may be incorporated into some sessions, along with other appropriately selected animals.

Client & Animal Wellbeing Comes First

Animals are not props or tools. Their comfort, health, behaviour and welfare are considered throughout every interaction. Sessions are adapted or stopped when needed to respect both the client and the animal.

Curious if animal-assisted psychotherapy could be right for you?

Contact Us at info@manotickcounselling.com to learn more about this emerging area of practice and whether it may be a good fit for you or your child.