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Animal-Assisted Therapy in Michigan | Counseling & Psychology

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Animal-Assisted Therapy in Michigan is a type of counseling that includes a trained animal and a licensed therapist. Many people know what they want to work on, but they feel too stressed, shut down, or scared to talk. A calm animal can help your body feel safer so your mind can learn new coping skills. This service can help children, teens, and adults who want support with anxiety, trauma, grief, depression, or social skills.

Signs You Might Benefit

Animal-Assisted Therapy is not “pet therapy.” It is goal-based mental health care, led by a licensed clinician, with an animal on the team. You might benefit if you notice:

  • Big worry or panic: racing heart, trouble breathing, constant “what if” thoughts
  • Trauma stress: nightmares, being on edge, feeling unsafe, avoiding reminders
  • Low mood: sadness most days, low energy, loss of interest, feeling hopeless
  • Grief or loss: strong sadness, anger, numbness, or guilt after someone (or something) important is gone
  • Social stress: trouble making friends, fear of talking, trouble with trust
  • Body-based stress: tense muscles, headaches, stomach aches, poor sleep
  • Hard time in talk therapy: you freeze, dissociate, or can’t find words

Common benefits people report include:

  • Feeling calmer in session (slower breathing, less tension)
  • Better coping skills for stress, anger, and overwhelm
  • More motivation to show up and practice skills
  • Safer connection and stronger trust with the therapist over time
  • Improved social skills like boundaries, communication, and empathy

Evidence-Based Approach

We use Animal-Assisted Therapy as a clinical tool, not a distraction. The therapist leads treatment, sets goals, and measures progress. The animal supports the work by helping the nervous system settle and by creating real-time practice moments for skills like boundaries, problem-solving, and emotional regulation.

How the animal supports clinical goals

  • Co-regulation: A steady animal can help your body slow down. When your body feels safer, it is easier to learn and use coping skills.
  • Mindfulness practice: Noticing the animal’s breathing, warmth, or gentle movement can bring you back to the present moment.
  • Exposure, in small steps: For social anxiety or trauma triggers, we practice in a careful, planned way—never forcing contact.
  • Skills coaching: We use each session to practice skills like asking for space, reading cues, and setting kind boundaries.

Therapy methods we may combine with Animal-Assisted Therapy

The animal is part of a larger evidence-based plan. Depending on your needs, your clinician may use:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): to change unhelpful thoughts and build new coping behaviors
  • Trauma-informed care: with pacing that keeps you within your “window of tolerance”
  • Mindfulness-based strategies: to lower stress and improve attention
  • Play-based or skills-based work (for kids): to build emotion words, self-control, and social confidence

Research supports that Animal-Assisted Interventions can improve stress, mood, and engagement for some people, especially when used with structured therapy goals (National Institutes of Health, n.d.). The American Psychological Association also describes how human-animal interaction can support well-being and reduce stress for many individuals (American Psychological Association, n.d.).

Safety, ethics, and Michigan licensing standards

Your care is provided by a Michigan-licensed mental health professional (such as an LPC, LMSW, LLP, or licensed psychologist), following state scope-of-practice rules and professional ethics. We also use clear safety steps for Animal-Assisted Therapy, including:

  • Screening for allergies, asthma, phobias, trauma triggers, and cultural preferences
  • Clear rules for touch, handling, and boundaries
  • Cleaning and infection-control routines for the therapy space
  • Animal welfare standards: rest breaks, hydration, and stopping sessions if the animal shows stress

What to Expect

We keep the process simple and predictable. You stay in control, and we match the plan to your comfort level.

Step 1: Intake and treatment planning

Your first visit is focused on understanding your story and your goals. We will talk about symptoms, stressors, strengths, medical history if relevant, and what you hope will change. We also ask specific Animal-Assisted Therapy questions, like:

  • Do you have allergies or asthma?
  • Are you afraid of certain animals?
  • Have you had any past experiences with animals that felt unsafe?
  • What type of support feels best: sitting near the animal, structured activities, or no animal contact?

Step 2: Your sessions

Most sessions are 45–55 minutes. The animal may be in the room for all or part of the visit, based on your plan. Some people start by simply having the animal nearby. Others use guided activities that connect to therapy goals, such as:

  • Practicing slow breathing while noticing the animal’s calm behavior
  • Using the animal to practice asking for space and setting boundaries
  • Building a routine to support emotional regulation (check-in, coping skill, reflection)
  • Learning to name feelings and body signals (especially helpful for children)

After session support

You will leave with clear next steps, like a coping skill to practice, a small goal for the week, or a plan for handling a trigger. If Animal-Assisted Therapy is not a good fit, we will talk about other evidence-based options.

Insurance

Many clinics bill Animal-Assisted Therapy as part of standard psychotherapy services when it is provided by a licensed clinician and documented as medically necessary. Your insurance plan may apply:

  • Copays: a set amount you pay per visit
  • Deductibles: the amount you must pay before benefits start
  • Coinsurance: a percentage you pay after the deductible

Mental health benefits are also protected by parity laws, which are meant to help mental health coverage be more comparable to medical coverage. Coverage can still vary by plan, so we recommend you ask your insurer:

  • Is outpatient psychotherapy covered for my diagnosis?
  • Do I need a referral or prior authorization?
  • How many visits are covered per year?
  • What is my copay, deductible, and coinsurance?

If you are paying out of pocket, we can provide a receipt (“superbill”) that you may submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement, depending on your plan.

FAQ

Is Animal-Assisted Therapy the same as an emotional support animal (ESA) letter?

No. Animal-Assisted Therapy is a form of psychotherapy where a licensed clinician uses an animal to support treatment goals. ESA letters are a separate service and are not the same as therapy. If you have questions about documentation, we can explain what we do and do not provide.

Do I have to touch the animal?

No. You can choose how close you want to be. Some clients never touch the animal. You can still benefit from the calm presence, structure, and skills practice. Consent and boundaries are part of the work.

What if I have allergies, asthma, or I’m scared of animals?

Tell us at intake. We can adjust the plan, use a different room setup, or choose sessions without the animal. If Animal-Assisted Therapy is not safe or comfortable, we will offer other evidence-based therapy options.

Is Animal-Assisted Therapy evidence-based?

Animal-Assisted Therapy is most effective when it is goal-based and combined with proven therapy methods like CBT and trauma-informed care. NIH resources and peer-reviewed research describe benefits for stress, mood, and engagement for many people (National Institutes of Health, n.d.). The American Psychological Association also discusses how human-animal interaction can support stress reduction and well-being (American Psychological Association, n.d.).

References
American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Human–animal interaction. https://www.apa.org
National Institutes of Health. (n.d.). Animal-assisted interventions and health. https://www.nih.gov