The Mental Health Benefits of Having a Pet
The Healing Power of Pets
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are still navigating heightened stress, anxiety, and emotional fatigue. While therapy and medication remain essential tools for recovery, there’s another often-overlooked source of support: pets. Whether it’s the loyal presence of a dog, the soothing nature of a cat, or the gentle quiet of a rabbit or bird, animals offer a kind of emotional companionship that speaks directly to our deepest psychological needs, connection, comfort, and purpose.
And this connection isn’t just sentimental, it’s backed by science. According to a feature from the NIH News in Health newsletter, researchers supported by the National Institutes of Health have found that interacting with animals can decrease levels of cortisol (a key stress hormone) and lower blood pressure, while simultaneously increasing feelings of social support and elevating mood. The article highlights programs where animals are introduced into therapeutic environments, including hospitals and mental health clinics, because of their demonstrated ability to reduce anxiety and promote healing in high-stress settings. Read the full newsletter here.
What lies at the heart of this calming effect is what scientists refer to as the human-animal bond—a mutually beneficial relationship that can stabilize our nervous system and ground us in moments of distress. Pets introduce routine into our lives, offer reliable companionship, and provide nonjudgmental presence—an antidote to the isolation and unpredictability that often accompany anxiety or depression.
Pets aren’t a replacement for therapy, but they can be powerful partners in healing. Their presence can anchor us when our thoughts spiral, remind us to step outside when we’ve withdrawn, and nudge us toward moments of mindfulness and care.
How Pets Support Emotional Health
1. Companionship Without Conditions
Unlike humans, pets don’t care about your productivity or your resume. They’re not tracking your flaws or waiting for the right words. They show up for you. This kind of unconditional presence can be incredibly healing, especially for people navigating depression or self-worth struggles. For many, it’s a reminder that they’re still lovable, still worth caring for, even when their mind tells them otherwise.
2. A Reason to Get Up in the Morning
One of the hardest things about depression is the lack of motivation. Pets, especially those that require daily care like dogs, cats, or rabbits create an external structure. Feeding times, walks, clean-up, and vet visits become small tasks that inject rhythm into an otherwise unstructured or overwhelming day. These tasks can foster a sense of accomplishment and purpose, even on the hardest days.
3. Easing Loneliness and Emotional Isolation
Loneliness is a growing public health concern, particularly in urban environments and post-pandemic life. Pets help fill emotional gaps left by disconnection from others. A dog curled up on your feet or a cat softly purring beside you can make a home feel lived-in and a person feel less alone.
4. Daily Touch and Soothing Presence
Petting a dog or a cat has been shown to lower heart rate, reduce blood pressure, and stimulate the release of endorphins. This kind of tactile reassurance especially for those who don’t receive regular affection from other humans can be deeply grounding. The physical contact and predictable presence of a pet helps regulate the nervous system, offering a natural buffer to stress and anxiety.
5. Quiet Companions During Mental Storms
For people who experience intrusive thoughts or emotional overwhelm, animals often offer a sense of safety. They don’t interrupt. They don’t offer unwanted advice. They just stay. For many, that’s the most healing part.
In one client’s words shared with NuHu therapist Steele D’Silva (Qualifying):
“My dog doesn’t care how many times I cry in a day. He doesn’t ask why I’m tired or judge me for skipping a shower. He just wants to sit with me and sometimes that’s more help than any words.”
Whether you’re struggling with a depressive episode, burnout, or grief, the emotional stability a pet can provide may help you ground yourself enough to take the next step forward.
No judgment. No questions. Just quiet company on the hard days.
Emotional Support, Routine, and Recovery - How Pets Shape Daily Mental Wellness
The emotional benefits of pet ownership run far deeper than cute moments and companionship. For many people, especially those struggling with anxiety, depression, or chronic stress, animals act as a subtle stabilizer, creating predictability in the day, offering unconditional affection, and restoring a sense of connection with the world. In this section, we’ll unpack the lesser-known mental health advantages that come from the daily rhythms of caring for a pet, and how this bond can influence long-term psychological healing.
The Power of Routine and Structure in Pet Ownership
One of the most overlooked benefits of having a pet is the natural structure it brings to daily life. For individuals struggling with depression, especially those experiencing low motivation or executive dysfunction, it can be hard to get out of bed let alone organize a healthy routine.
But a pet doesn’t wait for you to feel better. It needs to be walked. Fed. Cared for. This consistent, low-stakes accountability nudges many pet owners into a healthier rhythm without force or guilt.
“I had a client who said their dog basically saved their life, not through anything dramatic, just by making them wake up and go outside every morning. That one habit helped them reset,” says Steele D’Silva, a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) at NuHu Therapy, reflecting on what clients often report in sessions.
Small, regular actions like letting a dog out in the morning, cleaning a litter box, or preparing food create predictability. And that predictability becomes a mental anchor especially for people living with trauma, anxiety disorders, or depressive episodes.
A Buffer Against Isolation and Loneliness
Loneliness is more than a feeling, it’s a chronic stressor that has been linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and even cognitive decline. For many people, especially seniors, neurodivergent individuals, or those living alone, a pet offers a form of non-verbal companionship that is deeply grounding.
Whether it’s a cat curling up beside you after a long day, or a bird chirping excitedly when you enter the room, pets provide a sense of being needed and acknowledged. two elements that are psychologically critical for people in recovery.
Studies have shown that pet owners report higher levels of perceived social support, even when they don’t live near family or have close friendships. The emotional impact of that companionship is often underestimated in clinical conversations but is incredibly meaningful in practice.
Pets as Co-Regulators for Anxiety and Stress
Many pets, especially dogs and smaller animals like guinea pigs, act as emotional stabilizers not because they do anything complicated, but because they embody something most people desperately need: unconditional presence. They don’t judge, interrupt, or rush. They just stay and in doing so, they help calm the emotional noise we often carry around.
Dr. Ann Berger, a physician and researcher at the NIH Clinical Center, explains it well:
“Dogs are very present. If someone is struggling with something, they know how to sit there and be loving. Their attention is focused on the person all the time.”
This deep presence isn’t just comforting. It actually shapes emotional regulation. In mental health recovery whether from trauma, anxiety, or chronic stress, the ability to feel safe and co-regulated is essential. And for some people, a pet is the first “being” that helps them access that.
Studies funded by the NIH and Mars’ Human-Animal Interaction Research Program have found surprising examples of this co-regulation in action. In one study, children with autism spectrum disorder were given 10-minute play sessions with guinea pigs during the school day. The results? The children became noticeably calmer, had better social interactions, and showed more engagement with their peers.
The researchers noted that the animals offered unconditional acceptance, which seemed to act as a bridge to human connection a crucial first step for kids (and adults) who struggle with social overwhelm or emotional shutdown.
Another study showed that kids with ADHD improved their social skills and cooperation when they read aloud to real therapy dogs once a week compared to a control group that read to puppets. The children with live animals also showed fewer behavioral problems over time.
While these studies focused on children, the same principles hold true for adults. The calm, grounding presence of a pet can regulate your nervous system in the background. They invite you back into the moment without needing anything from you but your company.
And for clients navigating panic attacks, emotional shutdown, or high-functioning anxiety, that kind of subtle, steady companionship can create enough space for recovery to begin.
Movement, Nature, and the Mood Boosting Trifecta
For dog owners in particular, pets are often the gateway to physical activity and fresh air. Being outside, even for 20 minutes a day, increases vitamin D, exposure to natural light (important for regulating circadian rhythms), and encourages mindfulness through movement. Walking a dog isn’t just a task; it becomes a daily sensory break from screens, stress, and overthinking.
This dynamic plays an especially important role for clients navigating the winter blues or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which we explored in our full article on SAD and mental health. Pet routines often gently push people outside their usual comfort zones in a way that doesn’t feel like a chore.
Pets and Emotional Expression: A Safe Outlet
In therapy, emotional suppression is often a barrier to healing. Clients may struggle to express sadness, frustration, or affection due to shame, conditioning, or unresolved trauma. But pets offer a unique outlet, they allow us to express emotions freely, without fear of judgment.
Talking to a dog, crying into a cat’s fur, laughing at your ferret’s chaos, these are all micro-releases of emotion that help break the freeze state so common in anxious or depressed individuals.
This matters. Emotional expression is not just a side benefit. It is a therapeutic mechanism. For some clients, their pet is the only one they feel safe enough to be fully themselves around and that becomes the stepping stone to building vulnerability in human relationships again.
When Pets Aren’t Enough: Understanding Their Role in a Bigger Mental Health Picture
It’s important to recognize that while pets can support mental health, they are not a substitute for evidence-based therapy, medication, or professional care. In fact, many clients feel confused when they still feel down despite having a loving pet. That doesn’t mean the pet isn’t helping but it means there’s likely deeper emotional wounds, past trauma, or unresolved mental health conditions that need structured support.
At NuHu Therapy, we often encourage clients to explore the full picture: What are your coping tools? What’s working, what’s missing, and where can therapy fit in alongside the comfort of your pet?
A Practitioner’s Perspective: Dr. Berg on the Mental Health Power of Pets
If you prefer a more visual breakdown of how pets affect mental health, Dr. Eric Berg, a wellness educator with over 13 million subscribers on YouTube, created a short video that outlines several key physiological effects pets can have on our emotional state. While his background is in chiropractic and nutrition, many of the neurochemical benefits he lists echo what we see in therapy every day.
In this 3-minute video, Dr. Berg highlights five core ways pets impact brain chemistry:
Lowering cortisol (stress hormone)
Reducing blood pressure
Increasing oxytocin (the bonding hormone, especially useful for pregnant mothers)
Boosting endorphins (pleasure + pain reduction)
Increasing dopamine (linked to joy, motivation, and mood regulation)
He also mentions that over 96% of pet owners consider their pets part of the family which speaks volumes about the emotional bond many people have with animals.
Note: Dr. Berg is not a mental health professional, and his video is for general wellness education, not clinical advice. But it offers a useful overview of why so many people feel mentally and emotionally better with pets in their lives. Dr.Berg also links all scientific data and sources in his video description.
Pet-Assisted Therapy, Emotional Healing, and When to Seek Professional Support
The comfort of a pet is undeniably powerful but for some people, it becomes more than just companionship. It becomes part of a healing process. In this final section, we’ll explore how pets are being incorporated into professional therapy settings, how you can tap into their mental health benefits more intentionally, and when it might be time to reach for additional support with or without a furry friend by your side.
What Is Pet-Assisted Therapy And Who Is It For?
Pet-assisted therapy (also called animal-assisted therapy) refers to structured, therapeutic interactions with animals led by trained mental health professionals. It’s not just about having a dog in the room, it’s about leveraging the human-animal bond to achieve specific clinical goals.
You might see this approach used with:
Veterans coping with PTSD
Children with autism or ADHD
Adults with anxiety, depression, or trauma histories
Seniors facing isolation or cognitive decline
Unlike emotional support animals, which provide comfort but require no formal training, animals in pet-assisted therapy are often certified and work alongside a therapist in carefully designed interventions. And it works. For example, some clients find it easier to discuss painful emotions when a therapy dog is present. Others might reconnect with their physical body by brushing or petting the animal during grounding exercises. These interactions can help regulate nervous system responses particularly useful during trauma therapy or exposure-based treatments.
At NuHu Therapy, while we don’t offer in-person pet-assisted therapy (our sessions are 100% virtual), we often work with clients who already have a strong bond with their pets. That relationship can become a therapeutic asset, offering comfort between sessions or grounding during anxious moments.
Reclaiming Mental Health With or Without a Pet
Not everyone has access to a pet. Allergies, financial barriers, rental restrictions, the reasons are valid. But you don’t need an animal in your home to experience what pets symbolize in therapy: presence, routine, non-judgmental acceptance, and comfort.
These are all elements we help you cultivate internally through:
Mindfulness-based techniques (like body scan meditation)
Compassion-focused therapy, where you learn how to extend gentleness to yourself
CBT and DBT tools that offer routine, emotional regulation, and grounding
And if you do have a pet? We can help you use that bond as a strength. Some clients develop anchor routines around their animals like walking their dog before therapy to calm down, or reflecting with their cat after sessions to process what came up.
In therapy, even the most ordinary parts of life like your relationship with your pet become part of your healing story.
FAQ - Pets and Mental Health
Q: Can having a pet help with depression?
A: Yes, for some people. Pets can reduce feelings of loneliness, increase daily activity, and offer emotional comfort all of which can ease depressive symptoms. But for many, therapy is still necessary to treat the root causes.
Q: Is pet-assisted therapy the same as having a support animal?
A: No. Pet-assisted therapy involves structured, goal-oriented sessions with trained animals and licensed therapists. Support animals offer general comfort and aren’t part of clinical treatment.
Q: Can virtual therapy still help if I rely on my pet for emotional support?
A: Absolutely. Virtual therapy can complement the stability and routine your pet provides. In fact, you can include your pet in your sessions if that helps you feel more grounded.
Q: What if I don’t have a pet but feel lonely?
A: Therapy can help you explore that loneliness and develop new sources of connection. While pets can be healing, they’re not the only path to emotional fulfillment.
Q: Do you offer therapy services across all of Ontario?
A: Yes. NuHu Therapy is a 100% virtual psychotherapy clinic serving clients across Ontario. You can learn more about what we offer and how we work here.
Take the Next Step Toward Better Mental Health
If you’ve been struggling with your mental health even with a pet at your side, it’s not a failure. It’s a sign that something deeper might need care. And that care doesn’t have to be scary or overwhelming. Sometimes, it starts with one small step.
At NuHu Therapy, our team of registered psychotherapists offers virtual therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma, addictions, and life transitions all across Ontario. We understand that healing looks different for everyone, and we work with you to build a plan that honors who you are, what you need, and where you’re at.
Your pet might be part of your recovery. But you don’t have to do it all alone.
🟢 Book your free 20-minute consultation today and take the first step toward healing.
