Mental Health Benefits of Pets and Therapy Animals

Elvira the Therapy Dog in Session -Photo by Megan Garza

Anyone who has been selected by the magic of the pet distribution system knows that the presence of animals can be incredibly healing and soothing. A pet can decrease our loneliness and help us feel loved.  I know when I had major surgery a few years back my cats were like protective guardians that rarely left my side and were a true source of support during a challenging time. My own mother had an article written about her relationship with her cat Baby Kitty in Cat Fancy magazine when she was battling stage two breast cancer. Baby Kitty was also battling a heart defect, requiring experimental surgery at University of Michigan. The odds were against them both, but My mom made a pact with Baby Kitty- if you live, I will live. And they both did.  Most pet owners will probably share similar stories of the power of healing and strength from their furbabies.

But what does the science say? 

Animals can be especially useful in mental, physical and emotional well-being. Petting dogs  help release oxytocin, the hormone for bonding and attachment and stress regulation (Gee et al, 2021 Frontiers Veterinary Science). Interacting with animals has been found to be associated with lower cortisol, reduced HPA axis stress activation (frequently activated with PTSD), and greater parasypathetic activity- which basically translates into lowering the bodies physiological stress response. (Teo et al, 2022, International Journal of psychophysiology). The American Heart Association reported that dog ownership may be associated with reduced cardiovascular risk (Levine et al, 2013). And cat ownership has been associated with lower cardiovascular mortality and pet ownership with lower heart rate (Ehab El-Qushayri, 2020, Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine).

Service animals can be specially trained to do tasks that help support their caretakers in their everyday mental and physical wellbeing such as detecting when someone's glucose levels have gotten out of balance, interrupting escalating anxiety or panic by redirecting or licking the handler with PTSD, servicing as block from others, or retrieving medication, or serving as guide dogs for the blind. Service animals require specialized training and certification, and are protected by ADA laws to allow them into public spaces. Service animals generally should not be petted while they are actively working without the consent of their caretakers.

Emotion support animals are not specially trained, but are often recognized by their owners as serving an important role in their mental health, most notably for aiding in anxiety, social anxiety, PTSD, and depression concerns. Folks with emotion support animals know that their pet isn't formally trained, but their presence is healing and often those animals do play special roles in recognizing when their caretaker is unwell.  Emotional support animals are not protected by ADA laws, but can have some special allowances for housing with certification from a mental health professional. 

Animals Assisted Therapy- usually dogs or horses who are trained and certified to go into specialized health settings to aid in therapeutic support. They can be brought to schools, hospitals, special events, and are often used by mental health professionals in their therapy practice. They do not function the same as service animals, and generally their role is to be petted and to have their presence available to be soothing or relearning safety and trust with equine therapy. Therapy dogs need to pass their Canine Good Citizen test for their certification. A 2026 meta-analytic study found significant reduction in stress, depression, and anxiety following animal-assisted therapy (Chun-Ying Shih et al, Journal of Global Health, 2026)

What are the benefits of having a therapy dog in your therapy sessions? 
- Emotional comfort and grounding
- Support with anxiety, stress, and emotional regulation
- Enhanced social connection and rapport in therapy
-Increased oxytocin, serotonin, or dopamine levels to improve mood
-Increased sense of safety in therapy room
-Exposure opportunities to overcome anxiety
-Opportunity for a corrective emotional experience from past pet related trauma or grief

​What are the potential risks of having a therapy dog in session?
-Contact with saliva via licking or drooling
- Allergic reactions or sneezing
- Fear or discomfort around dogs
- Accidental minor scratches or light bruising
- Triggers related to prior animal trauma
-Fur on clothing
-Even a well trained dog still has needs and sometimes pups can let us know they are done for the day and may make distracting noises to let us know or they may just decide to take a nap alone. 
​-Cuteness Overload  :)

 At Healing Reflections Therapy, Elvira the Bassethound is an integral member of our therapy team. She enjoys laying on clients laps and giving them licks when she agrees with what they are saying.

​She will be available for therapy dog snuggles and cuddles at Tower Grove Pride in Tower Grove Park in St. Louis, so come on down and meet her and the rest of our team!

Author: Megan Garza, MA, LMFT 
Megan is Therapist and Co-owner at Healing Reflections Therapy