Animal-Assisted Therapy
A different way to experience therapy.
Therapy doesn't always have to happen sitting across from someone in an office.
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.
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
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Walking, movement and nature-based activities
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Therapeutic exercises and coping strategies
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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.