Companion Animal Care Articles used with permission from All-Creatures.org

The National Link Coalition shares the reasons why therapists are encouraged to bring up companion animals with their clients.

Therapists Encouraged to Ask Patients About Their Pets
From December 2025 LINK-Letter, The National Link Coalition
December 2025

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“Pet-related discussions can help clients feel more comfortable addressing sensitive topics such as domestic violence. In these situations, they may start describing violence against their pets before feeling comfortable talking about violence against themselves. Being attentive and open when these themes emerge can open the door for clinically relevant conversations.”

That was the advice from Renata Roma, Ph.D., a clinician and researcher specializing in human-animal interactions in a May 13 Psychology Today blog encouraging therapists to discuss clients’ relationships with their pets to gain better insights, reveal emotional dynamics and enhance therapy.

Because over 90% of people consider their pets part of the family and, at times, silent witnesses to life’s most challenging and best moments, pets are a meaningful source of emotional support for children and adults. These relationships often reflect people’s emotional needs and relational patterns, she writes.

Some individuals report feeling more empathy for animals than for people, and others – especially younger generations – may even feel more emotionally connected to their companion animals than to close relatives.

Roma cites three reasons why therapists should no longer overlook the impact of companion animals on people's emotional lives:

Validation of Emotional Bonds: When clinicians open space to pet-related conversations, they may help clients feel validated. Directly asking, “Do you have a pet at home?” or showing curiosity when the topic spontaneously emerges in conversation, are simple ways to start.

Building Therapeutic Trust: People tend to be more at ease when asked about the companion animals in their lives, which can mitigate anxiety and strengthen the therapeutic alliance.

Gaining Clinical Insights: Understanding the complex interactions of pets and people, which can range from emotional and social support to pet loss and grief, can help clinicians identify potential target areas for therapy and offer key information about clients’ social support systems and ways to relate to others.

“Considering the evolving role of companion animals in families, why not include pet-related questions?” she concludes.

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Posted on All-Creatures.org: December 17, 2025
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