Pet-assisted psychotherapy.

This qualitative study explored the utilization of pets by psychotherapists in their clinical practice with clients who suffer from mental disorders. The sample consisted of 13 master and doctoral level practitioners in social work, marriage and family counseling, psychology, and psychiatry who volunteered to be interviewed regarding their work. The results provide a descriptive overview of the psychotherapists' utilization of pets and their attitude toward this technique. The participants consistently reported that pet-assisted psychotherapy is an effective and efficient technique which can be used with a wide range of clinical problems, age groups, and in diverse practice settings.