Why Do Animals Make Us Feel Better?

There is something profoundly wonderful about our furry, four-legged friends. Animals can provide comfort, joy and nonjudgmental support. They can also be used in animal therapy to help people build relationships, face fears and develop or improve behavioral skills.

Why Do Animals Make Us Feel Better?

According to the National Institutes of Health, studies have shown that interactions with animals have several positive health benefits including:

• Decreased cortisol levels (stress hormone)
• Lowered blood pressure
• Reduced feelings of loneliness
• Boosted mood

It’s believed that these benefits occur because interacting with an animal releases oxytocin and that owning a pet, such as a dog, will help increase physical activity levels and help lower complications for those suffering from cardiovascular disease.

Who May Benefit From Animal Therapy?

Owning a pet can provide general health benefits, such as helping to increase activity levels and decrease loneliness. But those struggling with bigger issues might see better results with guided animal therapy, such as equine therapy.

Animal therapy may be recommended for a variety of mental health conditions and can help people achieve their educational, professional or personal goals.

Animal therapy has been proven effective for many groups such as:

• Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder
• People with substance use disorder
• People with behavior issues

For instance, equine therapy can be powerful for those struggling with bigger hurdles. “By working with animals, people can discover they can change an outcome based on new behavior,” explains Mary Ann Brewer, therapeutic equine specialist at Carrier Clinic. This can help some people understand how altering their behavior or interactions can cause new and better outcomes in their everyday lives.

How Animal Therapy Can Help

Mary Ann Brewer, therapeutic equine specialist at Carrier Clinic, offers several benefits of equine therapy:

• Equine therapy can be powerful for those struggling with bigger hurdles.
  
  “By working with animals, people can discover they can change an outcome based on new behavior,” Mary Ann Brewer says. This can help some people understand how altering their behavior or interactions can cause new and better outcomes in their everyday lives.
  
  
• Animal therapy can open discussions about new concepts, such as the idea of consent or how participants' behavior affects others outside themselves.
• Animals can provide an avenue for safely conveying information previously withheld. For instance, someone may say that a certain animal has a history of abuse—but it’s not the animal who was abused but the person telling the story. “This projection allows them to convey information in a way that feels safer to them psychologically,” says Mary Ann.

The benefits of animal therapy, particularly therapies such as equine therapy, depends on the participant’s motivation. “Some make significant changes after just one session,” says Mary Ann. “Others will have a dozen sessions before changes begin to emerge.”

Next Steps & Resources:

• To make an appointment with a behavioral health specialist near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
• Learn more about behavioral health at Hackensack Meridian Health.
• Learn about the equine therapy program at Carrier Clinic.