Animal-Assisted Therapy (Coming Soon)

If you’ve ever felt comforted just by patting a dog or sitting with a pet, you already know the power animals can have. They don’t need you to explain yourself, they don’t judge, and they don’t expect anything other than your company
That simple, calming connection is what Animal-Assisted Therapy is all about. At Heart & Hound Psychology, we’ll soon be offering this as part of our practice here in Sydney. It’s a way of blending professional therapy with the gentle presence of a therapy dog, to make sessions feel more relaxed, natural, and supportive.

What is Animal-Assisted Therapy?

Animal-Assisted Therapy (or AAT) means having a trained therapy dog join us in your sessions. I’ll still guide the therapy as usual, but the dog will be there to offer comfort and calm.

Some people like to stroke the dog while they talk, others enjoy just having them nearby, and some find it helpful to do mindful activities — like noticing the dog’s steady breathing or warmth — as part of grounding exercises. 

It’s not about tricks or distractions. It’s about creating a space where you can feel safe, settled, and more able to open up.

Why Animals Help

Animals have a way of making things feel lighter. They don’t care about your job title, your mistakes, or the worries going through your head. They meet you where you are.

For many people, this can make therapy feel less intimidating. Studies show that being around dogs can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve mood — but most people don’t need studies to know how soothing it feels to scratch a dog behind the ears or have one quietly sit by their side.

Here are a few ways a therapy dog can help during sessions:

  • Ease anxiety – patting a dog can help calm nerves and slow breathing

  • Make opening up easier – it can feel less daunting to talk about tough things with a dog nearby.

  • Keep you present – animals live in the moment, which makes it easier for us to do the same.

  • Build trust – for those who’ve found human relationships difficult, animals can feel like a safe bridge.

Who Might Benefit

Animal-Assisted Therapy can be especially helpful for:

  • People experiencing anxiety or panic

  • Those living with depression or low mood

  • Children or teens who struggle to talk about feelings

  • People who have experienced trauma or PTSD

  • Anyone feeling lonely or isolated

  • People who find the traditional therapy room a bit too formal

Of course, it’s not right for everyone. If you’re allergic to dogs, uneasy around them, or simply prefer regular sessions, that’s completely fine. Therapy should always be about what feels right for you.

What a Session Might Look Like

Animal-Assisted Therapy sessions are similar to regular therapy, but with the addition of a therapy dog. A session might flow like this:

  • Settling in – You’ll arrive, meet the dog, and make sure you feel comfortable.

  • Talking & support – We’ll work through the things you’d like to focus on, while the dog rests nearby or interacts if you’d like.

  • Animal interaction – You might gently pat the dog, practise grounding by focusing on their breathing, or simply enjoy their calm presence.

  • Reflection – We’ll finish by talking about how it felt, and how that sense of calm can carry into your daily life.

The dog is there to support you, not to take over the session. You’re always in control of how much or little you’d like to engage with them.

Our name says it all — Heart & Hound Psychology was created with the belief that animals can play an important role in healing.

When Animal-Assisted Therapy becomes available, you can expect:

  1. A qualified psychologist leading your sessions with proven, evidence-based approaches.

  2. A carefully trained therapy dog chosen for their calm temperament and suitability for therapy work.

  3. A safe and respectful space where your comfort always comes first.

  4. Choice and flexibility – you decide whether you’d like to include the dog in your sessions or not.

Why Choose Heart & Hound

When It Might Not Be Suitable


Animal-Assisted Therapy is lovely, but it’s not always the right fit. It might not work if:

  • You have strong allergies to dogs

  • You feel unsafe or very anxious around animals

  • The focus of therapy requires a more structured, distraction-free setting

That’s perfectly okay — we’ll always find the approach that works best for you.

Coming Soon

Right now, we’re in the process of preparing Animal-Assisted Therapy at Heart & Hound. This means making sure everything is set up properly, the therapy dog meets training and welfare standards, and the environment is safe for both clients and the animal.

We’re excited to bring this to Sydney soon. If you’d like to be among the first to know when it launches, feel free to get in touch.