Animal assisted therapist
Also known as: animal assisted intvervention professional
About this occupation
Animal assisted therapists provide support to individuals with cognitive, motoric, or social-emotional disabilities through animal assisted intervention. They involve pets and domesticated animals in a specific intervention plan such as therapy, education, and human service, and aim to restore and maintain the patients` well-being and recovery.
A specialisation of recreational therapist.
Essential skills and knowledge
- assess the patient's therapeutic needs
- recruit animal handlers
- select therapy animals
- instruct animals for therapy purposes
- animal therapy
- provide health education
- maintain healthcare user data confidentiality
- listen actively
- develop a collaborative therapeutic relationship
- interact with healthcare users
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Therapists, All Other (O*NET 29-1129.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
US median pay: US$77,930 a year (2025), 22,640 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.