Animal Soul

What is Animal-Assisted Healing (AAH)?

Animal-Assisted Healing (AAH) is a guided interaction between people and trained or shelter-supported animals designed to improve emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Unlike clinical therapy, AAH focuses on casual, comforting, non-judgmental companionship and joy.

Benefits of Animal-Assisted Healing (AAH)

Mental Healing

Reduce Anxiety & Stress: Interacting with calm animals lowers cortisol levels and soothes the nervous system.

Emotional Regulation: Petting or sitting near animals fosters mindfulness, helping clients with anxiety, trauma, or depression feel present and grounded.

Non-Verbal Communication: Especially helpful in autism, trauma, or developmental delays—animals don’t expect words, allowing trust and connection to build safely.

Emotional Healing

Unconditional Affection: Shelter animals don’t judge—this nurtures self-worth, empathy, and a sense of being loved, even in emotionally complex spaces.

Companionship: In settings where people feel isolated (e.g., old age homes or rehab clinics), animals ease loneliness and spark joy.

Emotional Expression: Clients often open up more easily when an animal is present; this can complement therapy sessions.

Physical Healing

Movement & Motor Skills: Stroking, grooming, or walking dogs encourages physical activity—important in recovery (e.g., hospitals, rehab).

Sensory Integration: For neurodiverse children or those in learning centers, sensory-rich, calming textures and warmth from animals can aid integration and calm dysregulation.

Motivation for Physical Therapy: Clients are often more motivated to move or reach when interacting with an animal is involved.

How Animal Soul Can Help

At Animal Soul, we bring the healing presence of animals into environments where comfort, connection, and emotional support are most needed. Through our Group Animal-Assisted Activity (AAA) visits to hospitals, children’s homes, and elderly care facilities, we foster moments of joy, calm, and companionship.

For individuals facing more delicate circumstances—such as trauma, terminal illness, or emotional distress—we offer private, one-on-one comfort sessions tailored to their unique needs. Our custom programs, featuring carefully selected therapy dogs and shelter-supported animals, are designed to support therapeutic goals, promote emotional resilience, and encourage meaningful interaction.

We also work hand-in-hand with educators and caregivers to integrate animal-assisted support into broader wellness and development frameworks, ensuring each encounter is purposeful, respectful, and deeply nurturing.

In Which Environments Animal Soul Can Help

Animal Soul creates safe, enriching spaces where the presence of animals supports emotional well-being, connection, and healing across diverse environments. In mental health clinics, our mindful animal interactions—such as seated petting and emotional check-ins—gently ground clients and enhance therapeutic engagement.

Within old age homes, our programs offer reminiscence therapy, guided dog walks, and group visits that ease loneliness and spark joyful memories. In hospitals, both for children and adults, our animals provide gentle, low-energy tactile interaction, bedside comfort, and storytime that lifts spirits and soothes anxiety. In children’s homes and schools, we focus on empathy-building through supervised play, animal care routines, and nurturing bonds.

In therapy settings, our animals are integrated into counseling sessions, offering co-regulation and support during somatic healing or bodywork—creating a calm, trust-filled atmosphere where emotional safety and growth can flourish.

Animal Assisted Healing (AAH) Sessions Pricing

Session may include gentle petting, storytelling, guided emotional activities and intuitive interaction with the animals for mental stimulation & healing. 

Group Sessions (Institutions - Hospitals, children's homes, old age care, clinics)

45-minute AAH Group Session

1 Animal up to 8 people

R950-00

90-minute AAH Group Session

1 Animal, up to 8 people (can include small breakout interactions)

R1500-00

Printed take-home mental activity sheets

R200-00

Private Comfort Visits (Individuals or Families) For Palliative care, emotional support, special needs children

30-minute AAH Session

At home or a facility

R600-00

60-minute AAH Session

At home or a facility

R950-00

Outreach Sponsored Programs

(Funded by donors or NGO’s for underserved communities)

Sliding Scale: R400-R750 per session, depending on location & Transport

Please contact Jemma on info@animalsoul.co.za before making payment to book a date.