All About Animals Animal-Assisted Therapy

05/03/2026

New Research Highlights the Power of Animal-Assisted Therapy

A recent study has reinforced what we see every day at ATL — animal-assisted therapies can have a meaningful, positive impact on autistic children’s development.

The research highlights improvements in:

- Social skills and communication
- Anxiety reduction and emotional regulation
- Emotional wellbeing
- Engagement and motivation

Animal-assisted therapy provides a safe, supportive environment where children can build confidence, connection, and regulation skills — often in ways that feel more natural and less clinical.

At ATL, we are committed to improving the accessibility to evidence-informed, compassionate therapy that supports children and families to thrive.

You can learn more here:

https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/68630?fbclid=IwZnRzaAQEaldleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeVsr5DU3rCGJAm1KMBUKd6tvP5AjjjaSj7hsS-eUTKa8x-zwhH2xqBUYrRgo_aem_bATlqKerJQVoKBrh5v8mnQ

05/03/2026

New Research Alert!
We’re excited to share a groundbreaking study on animal-assisted services in farm settings that highlights how integrating global perspectives, social work, ecological approaches, and animal welfare can support animal, human, and environmental wellbeing together.

This open-access research emphasizes:

A holistic model combining One Health principles and UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Integration of the Five Domains of Animal Welfare into intervention design.

Aims to improve wellbeing for humans and animals alike through thoughtful farm-based interactions.

Calls for future outcome-based studies that look at measurable benefits across all participants in these settings. 

Read more: https://doi.org/10.1079/hai.2024.0026

At ATL, we champion research that keeps ethical care and mutual respect for animals and people at the heart of therapy and community programs.

05/03/2026

Human-animal interaction (HAI) and nature-based activities are essential pieces of the comprehensive therapeutic programming for students with special needs ...

16/02/2026

Research Spotlight- Children with ADHD often face challenges with executive functioning, self-esteem, and learning — which can also place significant stress on families and caregivers.

New research highlights the impact of horse-based interventions when combined with speech therapy.
In a six-month study involving children with ADHD:

• All participants showed improvement
• Children who participated in horse-based intervention + speech therapy showed greater gains in executive functioning and self-esteem
• Caregivers reported a greater reduction in stress and burden

These findings suggest that horse-based interventions are a meaningful, evidence-informed complement to traditional therapies — supporting not only children, but their families as well.

At Animal Therapies Ltd, we continue to advocate for safe, ethical, and evidence-based animal-assisted services that enhance wellbeing across the lifespan. Read more here:

https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-8533549/v1.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com

10/02/2026

Occupational therapists (OTs) focus on supporting people to participate in everyday activities that are meaningful to them — and, in some practices, animals may be thoughtfully incorporated to support this goal.

When used ethically and within scope, animals can help OTs support outcomes such as emotional regulation, sensory processing, motivation, social participation, routines, and skill development. Interactions with animals may be embedded into functional activities like grooming, feeding, walking, observation, or structured tasks aligned with a client’s therapy goals.

In occupational therapy, animals may support:
• Sensory regulation and calming
• Engagement and motivation in therapy activities
• Development of routines, responsibility, and independence
• Social interaction and communication
• Participation in meaningful occupations

Occupational therapists who include animals do so with clear therapeutic intent, informed consent, appropriate training, robust risk management, and a strong focus on both client safety and animal welfare.

Animals are never a replacement for professional skill — they are a carefully integrated support within evidence-based OT practice.

AnimalTherapiesLtd

03/02/2026

Farm animals can play a meaningful role in animal-assisted services across learning, therapy, and wellbeing — offering experiences that are grounding, relational, and deeply human.

Depending on the qualifications of the practitioner, interacting with animals such as sheep, goats, cows, chickens, and alpacas can support emotional regulation, reduce stress, and build confidence.

Their slower pace, predictability, and responsiveness invite presence, patience, and connection.

In animal-assisted learning, farm animals can help participants develop responsibility, communication skills, and practical learning through care routines and observation.

In therapeutic settings, they may support emotional expression, sensory regulation, and feelings of safety — particularly for people who find traditional talk-based approaches challenging.

In wellbeing programs, time spent with farm animals can foster calm, connection to nature, and a sense of belonging.

When incorporated ethically, safely, and with the right professional oversight, farm animals can enrich animal-assisted services in powerful and unexpected ways. Sometimes wellbeing grows quietly — in paddocks, barns, and shared moments of care.

01/02/2026

For people experiencing deep distress, isolation, or suicidal thoughts, feeling seen and safe can be life-saving. Animal-assisted therapy can play a powerful supporting role.

Animals offer a calm, non-judgemental presence. They don’t ask for explanations or demand words when none are available. This can help reduce feelings of loneliness, ease anxiety, and create moments of emotional grounding during overwhelming times.

Through structured, evidence-informed animal-assisted therapy delivered by registered health professionals, individuals may experience:
• Increased emotional regulation
• Reduced stress and physiological arousal
• A sense of connection and purpose
• Greater engagement with therapeutic support

Animals can act as a bridge — helping people stay present, feel connected, and take the next step toward help.

While animal-assisted therapy is not a standalone solution, it can be a meaningful part of a broader, person-centred suicide-prevention approach.

Sometimes, hope begins with a quiet presence and a shared moment of calm.

09/12/2025

Many trauma-informed animal-assisted service providers avoid the word “obedience” when talking about training — and there’s a good reason.
“Obedience” implies power, control, and compliance. But healing work with animals is built on choice, trust, and partnership.

When we shift the language, we shift the relationship: from demanding a behaviour to inviting connection.

By focusing on communication, emotional safety, and mutual respect, we support both the human and the animal in showing up as regulated, empowered partners in the work. It’s not about control — it’s about collaboration.

02/12/2025

01/12/2025

Animal Therapist Ltd — Statement on the Productivity Commission Final Report

It’s time we name it: the national mental health plan is failing the people who need it most. The Productivity Commission’s final report has made clear what many working in — and supporting — mental health have known for too long. 

➡️ For the estimated 500,000 Australians living with psychosocial disability — who are not eligible for the NDIS — the system remains fragmented, inaccessible, and unaffordable. 

➡️ Despite increased funding and promises, the Agreement has made minimal real impact: services remain uncoordinated, with unclear roles for governments, weak accountability and no measurable outcomes.

➡️ Many are still left waiting — through crisis after crisis — with no adequate pathway to support, recovery or community-based care. That’s unacceptable.

At Animal Therapist Ltd, we believe mental health support must be inclusive, consistent and continuous — especially for those with psychosocial disability.

We call on all levels of government to urgently co-design with ATL a new, genuinely integrated plan with people with lived experience, carers, and animal-assisted mental-health providers at the table. 

We stand with everyone left out by this system. Because good mental health — and good care — means no one gets left behind.

27/11/2025

A friendly reminder …

27/11/2025

Young Australians are facing significant mental health challenges. One in five young people experiences mental illness, including anxiety, depression and substance abuse disorders.

A groundbreaking Victorian trial found that group-based ‘nature prescriptions’ – where health practitioners prescribe nature-based activities for patients – can deliver compelling results and value for money.

Conventional therapies can be costly and frequently involve long waiting periods. In contrast, spending time in nature offers an alternative that is affordable, widely accessible, and grounded in a long-standing truth: being in natural environments supports our well-being.

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