Animal-Assisted Therapy

Healing Through Connection — Where Words Meet Presence

Animals have a way of reaching parts of us that words sometimes cannot. Their calm presence, attunement, and unconditional acceptance can open pathways to healing, trust, and emotional safety.

In my practice, Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a gentle and evidence-informed way of integrating the natural bond between humans and animals into the therapeutic process. My certified therapy dog, Sophie, works alongside me to help clients feel more grounded, present, and connected.

What Is Animal-Assisted Therapy?

Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a structured form of psychotherapy in which an animal—usually a trained therapy animal and handler—becomes part of the therapeutic process.

It is more than having a comforting pet in the room; it’s a deliberate, clinically guided approach that enhances emotional awareness, self-regulation, and interpersonal connection.

Research shows that AAT can:

Reduce anxiety, depression, and stress
Lower blood pressure and heart rate
Increase oxytocin, the hormone related to bonding and safety
Improve social engagement and communication
Support trauma recovery and emotional regulation

The power of AAT lies in the authentic, nonjudgmental connection between human and animal—a connection that helps restore trust and calm the nervous system.

The Human–Animal Bond in Therapy

Humans and animals share a unique relational intelligence. Animals respond to our tone, body language, and emotional state in ways that are often immediate and honest.

This sensitivity creates a space where clients can practice emotional awareness, empathy, and connection in real time.

Sophie, my therapy poodle, has a naturally gentle temperament and intuitive presence. She provides comfort during difficult moments and helps clients reconnect with feelings of safety, playfulness, and affection. Whether she is quietly resting nearby or offering a soft nudge of reassurance, her presence invites clients to slow down and breathe.

How Animal-Assisted Therapy Works in My Practice

Each session that includes AAT is guided by therapeutic goals and your comfort level. You’ll always have a choice about whether and how Sophie participates.

A typical AAT session may involve:

Gently interacting with Sophie to practice grounding and mindfulness
Observing emotional responses and body sensations while connecting with her
Exploring how you relate to safety, trust, and vulnerability through the animal’s cues
Using AAT as part of trauma-informed therapy, where gentle physical presence helps regulate the nervous system
Reflecting afterward on insights that emerge during these interactions

AAT can be seamlessly combined with evidence-based approaches such as CBT, mindfulness, somatic awareness, and person-centered therapy. It’s never forced or prescriptive—it’s always collaborative, creative, and responsive to your needs.

Why Choose Animal-Assisted Therapy?

Animal-Assisted Therapy offers unique benefits that complement traditional talk therapy:

Enhanced Emotional Regulation: Interacting with an animal can lower physiological arousal, making it easier to process emotions safely.
Increased Engagement: The presence of Sophie can make sessions feel more approachable and reduce anxiety about therapy.
Embodied Healing: AAT helps clients reconnect with their bodies and senses—essential steps for trauma recovery.
Relational Insight: How you connect with Sophie may reveal patterns that mirror human relationships, offering opportunities for reflection and growth.
Joy and Connection: Many clients experience spontaneous moments of laughter, comfort, or peace during sessions with Sophie—reminders that healing can include joy.

Who Can Benefit from AAT

Animal-Assisted Therapy can support individuals of all ages and backgrounds, and is especially beneficial for those who:

Experience anxiety, depression, or trauma
Struggle with trust or relational safety
Feel disconnected from their emotions or bodies
Are navigating grief, loss, or transitions
Benefit from nonverbal connection or sensory grounding
Appreciate the comfort and companionship of animals

AAT can be particularly powerful for clients who have found traditional talk therapy difficult or overwhelming. The animal’s presence can serve as a bridge—a safe intermediary that helps restore trust in connection and in oneself.

Ethics and Safety in AAT

Sophie is a certified therapy dog and has been trained and evaluated for temperament, safety, and responsiveness.

I maintain ethical standards aligned with the American Counseling Association (ACA) and Animal-Assisted Intervention International (AAII), ensuring that sessions are safe, professional, and beneficial for both human and animal participants.

Safety, consent, and respect are central to this work:

You always have control over the level of interaction.
Sophie’s well-being is prioritized equally alongside yours.
Hygiene, allergies, and comfort are carefully managed before sessions.

AAT is most effective when both participants—the human and the animal—are at ease.

Integrating AAT With Other Modalities

Animal-Assisted Therapy naturally complements other therapeutic approaches I use:

Trauma-Informed Care: Sophie’s calm presence supports emotional regulation and helps clients feel safe enough to process memories gently.
Humanistic, Person-Centered Therapy: AAT enhances empathy and authenticity—values central to humanistic work.
Evidence-Based Therapy: Incorporating animals can increase engagement and retention in therapy, strengthening the impact of proven interventions.
Mindfulness and Somatic Work: Interacting with Sophie encourages grounding, sensory awareness, and connection to the present moment.

This integration allows AAT to serve as both anchor and amplifier—a grounding presence that supports deeper insight and emotional transformation.

The Science Behind Animal-Assisted Therapy

Emerging research continues to affirm what many clients already feel intuitively: that connection with animals heals.

Studies have shown that animal interaction can:

Increase oxytocin (bonding and trust)
Decrease cortisol (stress hormone)
Improve mood regulation and social connection
Support PTSD recovery by helping regulate the nervous system

These physiological benefits often translate into psychological ones—helping clients feel calmer, more open, and more connected.

A Relationship That Heals

In AAT, the animal becomes both mirror and companion. Sophie reflects back the energy in the room—responding calmly when clients are calm, and offering gentle grounding when emotions rise.

Through this nonverbal dialogue, many clients rediscover their capacity for empathy, self-soothing, and connection.

The therapeutic relationship—between you, me, and Sophie—becomes a microcosm of trust, communication, and healing.

Next Step

If you are seeking Animal-Assisted Therapy in Santa Barbara, I would be honored to share this work with you.

Together, we can explore the healing power of connection—where science, presence, and compassion meet.

Healing can be warm, playful, and deeply human. Sophie and I look forward to welcoming you.

JAMIE FORTINAugust 25, 2025Jamie Fortin LMFT

Animal-Assisted Therapy

Healing Through Connection — Where Words Meet Presence

Animals have a way of reaching parts of us that words sometimes cannot. Their calm presence, attunement, and unconditional acceptance can open pathways to healing, trust, and emotional safety.

In my practice, Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a gentle and evidence-informed way of integrating the natural bond between humans and animals into the therapeutic process. My certified therapy dog, Sophie, works alongside me to help clients feel more grounded, present, and connected.

What Is Animal-Assisted Therapy?

Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a structured form of psychotherapy in which an animal—usually a trained therapy animal and handler—becomes part of the therapeutic process.

It is more than having a comforting pet in the room; it’s a deliberate, clinically guided approach that enhances emotional awareness, self-regulation, and interpersonal connection.

Research shows that AAT can:

Reduce anxiety, depression, and stress

Lower blood pressure and heart rate

Increase oxytocin, the hormone related to bonding and safety

Improve social engagement and communication

Support trauma recovery and emotional regulation

The power of AAT lies in the authentic, nonjudgmental connection between human and animal—a connection that helps restore trust and calm the nervous system.

The Human–Animal Bond in Therapy

Humans and animals share a unique relational intelligence. Animals respond to our tone, body language, and emotional state in ways that are often immediate and honest.

This sensitivity creates a space where clients can practice emotional awareness, empathy, and connection in real time.

How Animal-Assisted Therapy Works in My Practice

Each session that includes AAT is guided by therapeutic goals and your comfort level. You’ll always have a choice about whether and how Sophie participates.

A typical AAT session may involve:

Gently interacting with Sophie to practice grounding and mindfulness

Observing emotional responses and body sensations while connecting with her

Exploring how you relate to safety, trust, and vulnerability through the animal’s cues

Using AAT as part of trauma-informed therapy, where gentle physical presence helps regulate the nervous system

Reflecting afterward on insights that emerge during these interactions

AAT can be seamlessly combined with evidence-based approaches such as CBT, mindfulness, somatic awareness, and person-centered therapy. It’s never forced or prescriptive—it’s always collaborative, creative, and responsive to your needs.

Why Choose Animal-Assisted Therapy?

Animal-Assisted Therapy offers unique benefits that complement traditional talk therapy:

Enhanced Emotional Regulation: Interacting with an animal can lower physiological arousal, making it easier to process emotions safely.

Increased Engagement: The presence of Sophie can make sessions feel more approachable and reduce anxiety about therapy.

Embodied Healing: AAT helps clients reconnect with their bodies and senses—essential steps for trauma recovery.

Relational Insight: How you connect with Sophie may reveal patterns that mirror human relationships, offering opportunities for reflection and growth.

Joy and Connection: Many clients experience spontaneous moments of laughter, comfort, or peace during sessions with Sophie—reminders that healing can include joy.

Who Can Benefit from AAT

Animal-Assisted Therapy can support individuals of all ages and backgrounds, and is especially beneficial for those who:

Experience anxiety, depression, or trauma

Struggle with trust or relational safety

Feel disconnected from their emotions or bodies

Are navigating grief, loss, or transitions

Benefit from nonverbal connection or sensory grounding

Appreciate the comfort and companionship of animals

AAT can be particularly powerful for clients who have found traditional talk therapy difficult or overwhelming. The animal’s presence can serve as a bridge—a safe intermediary that helps restore trust in connection and in oneself.

Ethics and Safety in AAT

Sophie is a certified therapy dog and has been trained and evaluated for temperament, safety, and responsiveness.

I maintain ethical standards aligned with the American Counseling Association (ACA) and Animal-Assisted Intervention International (AAII), ensuring that sessions are safe, professional, and beneficial for both human and animal participants.

Safety, consent, and respect are central to this work:

You always have control over the level of interaction.

Sophie’s well-being is prioritized equally alongside yours.

Hygiene, allergies, and comfort are carefully managed before sessions.

AAT is most effective when both participants—the human and the animal—are at ease.

Integrating AAT With Other Modalities

Animal-Assisted Therapy naturally complements other therapeutic approaches I use:

Trauma-Informed Care: Sophie’s calm presence supports emotional regulation and helps clients feel safe enough to process memories gently.

Humanistic, Person-Centered Therapy: AAT enhances empathy and authenticity—values central to humanistic work.

Evidence-Based Therapy: Incorporating animals can increase engagement and retention in therapy, strengthening the impact of proven interventions.

Mindfulness and Somatic Work: Interacting with Sophie encourages grounding, sensory awareness, and connection to the present moment.

This integration allows AAT to serve as both anchor and amplifier—a grounding presence that supports deeper insight and emotional transformation.

The Science Behind Animal-Assisted Therapy

Emerging research continues to affirm what many clients already feel intuitively: that connection with animals heals.

Studies have shown that animal interaction can:

Increase oxytocin (bonding and trust)

Decrease cortisol (stress hormone)

Improve mood regulation and social connection

Support PTSD recovery by helping regulate the nervous system

These physiological benefits often translate into psychological ones—helping clients feel calmer, more open, and more connected.

A Relationship That Heals

In AAT, the animal becomes both mirror and companion. Sophie reflects back the energy in the room—responding calmly when clients are calm, and offering gentle grounding when emotions rise.

Through this nonverbal dialogue, many clients rediscover their capacity for empathy, self-soothing, and connection.

The therapeutic relationship—between you, me, and Sophie—becomes a microcosm of trust, communication, and healing.

Next Step

If you are seeking Animal-Assisted Therapy in Santa Barbara, I would be honored to share this work with you.

Together, we can explore the healing power of connection—where science, presence, and compassion meet.

Healing can be warm, playful, and deeply human. Sophie and I look forward to welcoming you.