At Animal Assisted Counseling of Indiana, therapy is about creating a space where you feel safe, understood, and supported. We provide compassionate counseling for teens, adults, couples, and families experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, grief, relationship challenges, and other emotional concerns.
Animal-assisted therapy can be incorporated into counseling when it supports your individual needs and goals, helping create connection, reduce tension, and make the therapeutic process feel more comfortable.
Animal-assisted therapy integrates the human-animal bond into the counseling process to support emotional well-being and therapeutic goals. At Animal Assisted Counseling of Indiana, our therapy dogs may be incorporated into sessions when their presence supports the individual needs and comfort of the client. Their calming presence can help create connection, ease tension, support emotional regulation, and make the counseling environment feel more comfortable and approachable.
At AACI, animal-assisted therapy is not a separate treatment or something every client is required to participate in. It is one of the ways we can enhance traditional counseling when it is helpful and appropriate for you.
Our therapy dogs can provide a comforting presence during sessions while you work with your therapist on concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, stress, relationship challenges, and emotional wellness. For some clients, simply having a dog nearby can make it easier to relax, talk openly, and feel connected during the therapeutic process.
Your counseling experience is always guided by your individual needs, preferences, and treatment goals.
People come to counseling for many different reasons. You don't need to have everything figured out—or even know exactly what to call what you're experiencing. We provide compassionate support for teens, adults, couples, and families navigating emotional, behavioral, and relationship concerns.
Animal-assisted therapy can be helpful for many different people and concerns. At AACI, it may be incorporated into counseling when it supports comfort, connection, emotional regulation, and progress toward your therapy goals.
Animal-assisted therapy may be especially helpful for teens in counseling and adults in counseling experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, grief, low self-worth, emotional overwhelm, or major life transitions. The presence of a therapy dog can help create a calmer and more comfortable space for counseling.
Some people find it difficult to relax, trust, or talk openly in a traditional counseling setting. A therapy dog can offer a nonjudgmental presence that may help reduce tension and make the therapeutic environment feel more approachable.
For clients working through trauma, loss, or painful experiences, animal-assisted therapy can support a sense of safety, grounding, and connection while difficult emotions are explored at a manageable pace.
Animal-assisted therapy may also support couples and families by helping create a calmer atmosphere, encouraging connection, and making difficult conversations feel less tense. The therapeutic process is always tailored to the needs and goals of the people involved.
Animal-assisted therapy can support the counseling process in several meaningful ways.
Creates a Calming PresenceThe presence of a therapy dog can help create a more relaxed counseling environment. For some clients, having a dog nearby can reduce tension and make it easier to settle into the session.
Supports Anxiety & Stress ReductionInteracting with a therapy dog may help clients feel calmer during moments of anxiety, stress, or emotional overwhelm and can provide a grounding presence while difficult feelings are explored.
Encourages Connection & TrustTherapy dogs can provide a warm, nonjudgmental presence that may make the counseling environment feel more approachable and help support connection within the therapeutic relationship.
Supports Emotional RegulationA therapy dog’s calm presence can provide an additional source of grounding and comfort while clients learn to recognize, understand, and manage difficult emotions.
Makes It Easier to TalkSome clients find conversation comes more naturally when a therapy dog is present. Having a dog nearby can reduce some of the pressure people may feel when discussing personal or difficult experiences.
During conversations involving grief, trauma, stress, or other painful experiences, the presence of a therapy dog can offer comfort and companionship while clients work through difficult emotions.
Supports Emotional SafetyA therapy dog can help create a sense of emotional safety and acceptance during counseling. This supportive presence may help clients feel more comfortable exploring thoughts, feelings, and experiences at their own pace.
Supports the Counseling ProcessAnimal-assisted therapy can complement traditional counseling by helping create an environment that feels warm, approachable, and engaging while clients work toward their individual treatment goals.
Counseling begins with you—your concerns, experiences, and goals. Your therapist works with you to create a counseling experience where you can feel comfortable, understood, and supported.
When a therapy dog is present, you can interact in whatever way feels comfortable to you. You may choose to pet the dog, sit nearby, talk to the dog, or simply allow the dog to share the space with you.
Sometimes the therapy dog may rest quietly nearby throughout your session. Other times, you may naturally choose to interact more. There is no required way to engage with the dog for their presence to be part of the counseling environment.
You never have to interact with the therapy dog in a particular way. Some clients enjoy having the dog close, while others prefer simply knowing the dog is there. Your comfort and personal boundaries are always respected.
At AACI, the therapy dog is simply part of the warm and welcoming counseling environment. Their presence can offer companionship, connection, and comfort while the focus of the session remains on you and your relationship with your therapist.
Whether you choose to interact with the therapy dog or simply have them nearby, your counseling remains focused on you. The relationship with your therapist, your experiences, and your goals remain at the heart of each session.
At Animal Assisted Counseling of Indiana, animal-assisted therapy is incorporated into counseling when appropriate and is not charged as a separate service. Your session fee is based on the counseling service you receive, not on whether a therapy dog is present.
AACI accepts several insurance plans, and coverage for counseling services varies depending on your individual benefits. Self-pay options are also available for clients who are not using insurance.
If you have questions about fees, insurance coverage, or what you may be responsible for paying, our office can help you understand your options before beginning counseling.
At Animal Assisted Counseling of Indiana, we believe counseling should feel personal, comfortable, and centered on you. Our approach combines compassionate, professional counseling with the unique comfort and connection that a therapy dog can bring to the counseling environment.
What matters most is your relationship with your therapist and having a space where you feel safe, understood, and supported as you work toward your individual counseling goals.
