Animal Therapy
Animal therapy uses the comfort and connection of interacting with animals to ease stress, lift mood, and rebuild trust. As part of holistic treatment in Massachusetts, it offers people in recovery a gentle, judgment-free source of support and healing.
What Is Animal Therapy?
Animal therapy, also called animal-assisted therapy, brings the calming presence of animals into the healing process. Interacting with a gentle, trained animal can lower stress, ease anxiety, and create a sense of safety and connection, often more quickly than words can.
At New Wave, animal therapy is one of the holistic experiences we offer in Massachusetts to support whole-person recovery. The unconditional, non-judgmental presence of an animal can open a door to healing for people who find human connection difficult in early recovery.
Who Animal Therapy Is For
Animal therapy is gentle and welcoming, and especially helpful if you:
- Feel anxious, guarded, or slow to trust
- Are healing from trauma or loss
- Struggle with isolation or loneliness
- Find human connection hard in early recovery
- Carry stress that eases in the presence of animals
- Respond to warmth and comfort more than words
How Animal Therapy Helps Mental Health and Recovery
The simple act of connecting with an animal produces real, measurable calm.
For addiction recovery, animals offer comfort without judgment, which can be deeply healing for people carrying shame. Caring for or simply being with an animal also rebuilds responsibility, routine, and the capacity for healthy attachment, all of which support lasting recovery.
For mental health, time with animals is shown to lower stress hormones and ease anxiety and depression. The calm, accepting presence of an animal can help people healing from trauma feel safe enough to begin to open up and reconnect.
In animal therapy at New Wave you might:
Spend calm, unhurried time with a gentle therapy animal
Practice connection and trust in a safe setting
Experience comfort without judgment or pressure
Build routine and responsibility through animal care
Use the calm of the moment to ease anxiety
Reflect on what the connection brings up
Animal therapy complements relationship-focused work like group therapy and calming practices such as mindfulness.
The Benefits of Animal Therapy
Connection with an animal can reach people when little else can.
- Lower stress and anxiety
- Comfort without judgment
- Reduced isolation and loneliness
- Rebuilt trust and healthy attachment
- Improved mood and sense of calm
- A gentle bridge back to connection
Sometimes the presence of a calm, accepting animal is exactly what makes healing feel possible again.
Explore Our Holistic Therapies
Holistic healing happens every day at New Wave, woven alongside clinical care. Explore the other practices in this approach.
Animal Therapy
Comfort and connection with therapy dogs.
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Real-life skills for independent living.
Care that feels different
We were founded by people in long-term recovery, so the way we treat you comes from having been where you are. That shows up in everything we do.
Founded by people in recovery
When you call New Wave, you talk to someone who has walked this path, not a call center. This is personal for us.
The same therapist throughout
You keep your private therapist as you move between levels of care, so your progress is never interrupted and you never start over.
Holistic care, every day
Reiki, yoga, sound healing, and mindfulness are woven into daily treatment alongside evidence-based therapy, not offered once in a while.
Meet the People Behind Your Recovery
Our licensed clinicians and team, many in long-term recovery themselves, are who you will work with at New Wave.
Angela Faccone
Co-Founder & Program Director
Charles Draleau
Executive Director
Melanie Draleau
Co-Founder & Reiki Practitioner
Ryan SmithBratton
Co-Founder & Director of Community Outreach
Danielle Visone
Mental Health Counselor & Clinical Director
Recovery That People Remember
Insurance & payment: Contact our team and we will work with you to verify insurance benefits.
Fill out our form and contact us for additional assistance
Animal Therapy FAQs
Want to talk to a real person? Call us, someone in recovery will answer.
What is animal therapy?
Animal therapy, or animal-assisted therapy, brings the calming presence of trained animals into the healing process to lower stress, ease anxiety, and build trust and connection.
How does animal therapy help in recovery?
Animals offer comfort without judgment, which helps with the shame many people carry. Connecting with and caring for an animal also rebuilds routine, responsibility, and healthy attachment.
Can animal therapy help with anxiety or trauma?
Yes. Time with animals lowers stress hormones and eases anxiety and depression, and the safe, accepting presence of an animal can help people healing from trauma feel safe enough to open up.
Do I need experience with animals?
No. The animals are gentle and trained, and sessions move at your pace and comfort level.
What does an animal therapy session look like?
You spend calm time with a therapy animal in a safe setting, connecting at your own pace and, if you wish, reflecting on the experience with support.
Is animal therapy part of treatment at New Wave?
Yes. Animal therapy is one of the holistic experiences we offer alongside evidence-based therapy as part of whole-person care.
Keep learning
Helpful, judgment-free articles on recovery, treatment, and supporting the people you love.
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Experience Whole-Person Healing
Animal therapy is one of the holistic experiences offered at New Wave. Call and we will help you begin.
- 100% Confidential
- Free Assessment
- No Commitment
- You'll talk to someone in recovery
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