Animal/Pet Therapy | Addiction Recovery Guide

Holistic approaches are part of many recovery programs.
They can help you heal and grow through all stages of recovery.

Animal/Pet Therapy

Being with animals can be good for your health – helping you feel more at ease, lightening your mood and reducing pain and stress. You may find that you are coping better with life and developing more patience, trust and compassion.

Pet Partners

A leading international resource for the human-animal bond and its positive effect on your health. Their web site provides information on animal-assisted therapy, articles on the health benefits for different groups of people, volunteer opportunities and training information.

Therapet Animal Assisted Therapy

This non-profit organization supports the use of animals in healing and rehabilitation. Their web site describes the nature and benefits of animal-assisted therapy as well as their training programs, seminars, books and videos on the topic.

Equine Therapy at Addiction Treatment Centers

Equine-Assisted Therapy (or Horse-Assisted Therapy) is used to help people with physical disabilities, depression, anxiety, and addictions. Forming a relationship with an animal helps you feel less alone and builds your confidence, trust, patience, and self-acceptance. It also fits well with the 12-step approach - you need to let go of control to develop a connection between you and the horse, similar to you and a higher power.

Residential Treatment Centers offering Equine Therapy

Cirque Lodge
Cottonwood
English Mountain Recovery
Hazelden
The Meadows
Recovery Ranch
Sierra Tucson
Touchstone Ranch

Research Studies
Research Studies
Studies have found that Animal-Assisted Therapy helps adults treated for substance use disorder in residential treatment programs, in those mandated to treatment through the criminal justice system, and in teens and young adults treated in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

The use of horse-assisted therapy was studied in young adults during an 18-month substance use treatment program. Those who took part in the therapy spent more time in treatment and more often completed treatment, an indication of higher success rates.

Kern-Godal AE, Walderhaug AE, Ravndal E. Substance use disorder treatment retention and completion: A prospective study of horse-assisted therapy (HAT) for young adults. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice10 (21): 1-12, 2015.

People in group treatment for substance use disorder felt less stressed, more positive about the work and more involved in treatment if a therapy dog was part of the session. This points to the ability of animal-assisted therapy to increase treatment success.

Wesley, M. C., Minatrea, N. B., & Watson, J. C. (2009). Animal-assisted therapy in the treatment of substance dependence. Anthrozoös, 22(2), 137–148.
Acupuncture
Aromatherapy
Biofeedback
Creative Arts Therapy: Art, Dance, Drama, Music, Poetry
Coloring Therapy
Gardening
Guided Imagery
Herbal Therapy
Homeopathy
Hypnosis
Journaling
Massage Therapy and Bodywork
Meditation/Mindfulness
Nature
Nutrition
QiGONG
Yoga

Pet Partners

Therapet Animal Assisted Therapy

Equine Therapy at Addiction Treatment Centers

Residential Treatment Centers offering Equine Therapy

Research Studies