Animals and Therapy
What is Animal-Assisted Therapy?
Animal-assisted therapy is the intentional inclusion of trained animals in the therapy space to support emotional safety, regulation, and trust. Animals can help clients feel calmer, more grounded, and more willing to open up, especially when therapy feels hard to start.
At Anivana, animals are not a gimmick or a distraction; they are part of the therapeutic environment. Some clients bond deeply with the animals, and others simply enjoy their quiet presence. Both are okay.
Animals never replace therapy. They support it.
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What to Expect in Therapy
When you begin services with Anivana, you can expect a warm, respectful environment where therapy moves at a pace that feels safe to you.
Your sessions may include:
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Talking and processing in a traditional therapy format
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Optional interaction with therapy animals
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Support with emotions, stress, behavior, and relationships
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A therapist who meets you where you are, without pressure
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A focus on comfort, safety, and trust from the very beginning
Animal involvement is always optional and guided by your therapist based on your comfort and needs. You will never be required to interact with an animal if you choose not to.
Therapy here is not about “fixing” you, it’s about helping you feel safer in your world and in yourself.
Why Our Animals?
At Anivana, we work with animals you don’t usually see in a therapy office, and that choice is intentional.
While dogs and cats are wonderful companions, they aren’t the right fit for every client or every therapeutic goal. We choose animals that create calm, curiosity, and connection without overwhelming energy or unpredictability.
Our animals are:
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Quiet and low-stimulation
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Gentle and non-intrusive
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Excellent for nervous system regulation
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Especially supportive for clients who feel anxious around traditional pets
Rather than demand attention, our animals offer presence.
Rather than overwhelm, they invite curiosity.
Rather than distract, they ground.
A chinchilla’s softness, a gecko’s stillness, a snake’s steady breathing, or a sugar glider’s quiet companionship can help clients:
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Regulate emotions in real time
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Practice safe, respectful connection
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Build confidence around fear or uncertainty
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Learn emotional awareness through body sensation
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Experience comfort without pressure to perform
These animals also make therapy more accessible for individuals who:
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Are afraid of dogs or cats
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Have sensory sensitivities
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Have had negative experiences with traditional pets
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Prefer quieter, less reactive interaction
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Feel safer with animals that don’t jump, bark, or stare
Our approach is thoughtful, slow, and always optional.
Animal involvement is a support, never a requirement.
No one is pressured to touch or engage.
Therapy always comes first.
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