The Missing Science Behind Therapy Animals: Why Understanding the How Matters

Animals have supported human healing for generations, offering comfort during emotional distress and grounding during moments of overwhelm. Whether someone is sitting beside a calm dog or standing near a gentle horse, these encounters can bring immediate relief. Yet even with countless positive experiences, the field still struggles to answer one essential question: what exactly makes these interactions therapeutic?

Many people describe therapy animals as having a special kind of “magic,” but this magic deserves a scientific explanation. While evidence consistently shows that animal-assisted interventions (AAI) reduce stress, support regulation, and improve mood, these findings don’t reveal the deeper mechanisms involved. Without understanding the processes underneath the emotional shift, practitioners and researchers miss vital opportunities to enhance safety, consistency, and effectiveness. A deeper scientific lens is required to move the field forward.

A meaningful evolution begins by shifting attention away from outcomes alone and toward the actual exchanges taking place between the human and the animal. These interactions shape the nervous system, influence emotional expression, and impact relational repair. When we examine the nuance of these shared behaviors, we gain invaluable insight into what truly makes animal-assisted work transformative.

The Limitations of Outcome-Focused Animal-Assisted Therapy Research

Many studies on therapy animals highlight improvements in anxiety, stress, interpersonal functioning, and overall emotional well-being. These outcomes matter, and they help solidify the legitimacy of incorporating animals into therapeutic environments. However, simply knowing that change occurs doesn’t give us the information needed to understand why it occurs. This restricts the field’s ability to refine methods and deliver targeted interventions.

For example, when a client feels calmer after interacting with a therapy animal, the reason could be physical touch, proximity, mutual eye contact, rhythmic movement, or even the animal’s attuned response to the client’s emotional state. Without analyzing the specific elements involved, each session becomes a guessing game rather than a deliberate clinical intervention. Practitioners are left relying on intuition rather than evidence-driven insight.

Outcome-focused research can only take the field so far. To elevate AAI into a sophisticated clinical discipline, we must explore the subtle interactional cues that create shifts in emotional and physiological states. This allows therapists to make more intentional decisions, select appropriate interventions, and prioritize ethical care for both clients and therapy animals.

Why Identifying Micro-Interactions in Therapy Animal Sessions Is Essential

Micro-interactions—small, observable behaviors exchanged between a human and an animal—are at the heart of therapeutic change. These include subtle cues like leaning in for touch, adjusting proximity, mirroring body language, responding to emotional intensity, or offering a calming presence during distress. Each of these actions can influence nervous-system regulation and emotional processing.

When therapists pay attention to these micro-moments, they gain valuable information about the client’s internal experience. A horse turning toward a client during an emotional pause may signal connection and safety, creating an opening for deeper insight. Similarly, a dog staying close during a client’s anxious moment may provide co-regulation, helping the client re-engage with stability and clarity. These moments are not random; they are behavioral exchanges with therapeutic value.

Studying micro-interactions also enriches the training and wellbeing of therapy animals. Understanding which behaviors support healing allows practitioners to protect the animal’s comfort and boundaries while guiding sessions more effectively. This enhances clinical intentionality and elevates AAI into a practice rooted in consistency, compassion, and research-informed technique.

How Understanding the “How” Improves Animal-Assisted Treatment Outcomes

When therapists understand the mechanisms behind therapeutic change, they are better equipped to support diverse client needs. By identifying the specific relational and behavioral components that influence nervous-system states, sessions become more attuned and purposeful. This helps therapists match interventions to clients’ emotional readiness and create conditions that foster safety, integration, and resilience.

This deeper understanding also strengthens communication within multidisciplinary teams, making it easier to show concrete clinical reasoning behind the use of therapy animals. With clearer frameworks, practitioners can advocate for ethical AAI implementation in hospitals, schools, mental health clinics, and community settings. The ability to articulate not just that AAI works, but how it works, expands access and improves quality across the field.

Ultimately, the therapeutic power of animals does not lie in their presence alone. It lies in the dynamic, responsive, and embodiment-based interactions they share with humans. By studying these interactions with curiosity and rigor, we honor the healing partnership between humans and animals and create space for deeper, more transformative outcomes.

This article is for psychoeducational purposes only and is not a substitute for mental health treatment. For personalized support, please contact a licensed therapist in your local area.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Esther Adams, Psy.D., MSW, is a trauma-informed psychotherapist recognized for her integrative approach that blends psychology, spirituality, and somatic healing. Through her practice, Strides to Solutions, she provides EMDR therapy, resilience coaching, and innovative animal-assisted interventions, including equine and canine-supported therapy. Her work is grounded in compassion, nervous-system awareness, and practical tools that help clients build safety, regulation, and emotional resilience.

As a certified EMDR therapist, published scholar, educator, and advocate for holistic mental health care, Dr. Adams brings both clinical depth and intuitive insight to her work. Her background in psychology and social work allows her to bridge evidence-based practice with mind-body healing, meeting clients where they are and guiding them through trauma recovery, anxiety, and major life transitions. She is dedicated to helping individuals reconnect with their inner strength, restore balance, and create meaningful, empowered change.