How Much Does Animal-Assisted Therapy Cost? (2026 Pricing Guide)
A complete 2026 guide to animal-assisted therapy pricing — session costs by setting, insurance coverage, equine therapy rates, and practical ways to reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
What Does Animal-Assisted Therapy Cost Per Session?
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) in a private practice or outpatient clinic typically costs $100 to $200 per session, depending on the therapist's credentials, the species involved, and the geographic area. Equine-assisted therapy — which adds the overhead of horses and a specialized facility — runs higher at $75 to $250 per session. Group animal-assisted programs in hospital, school, and residential settings often cost $0 to $80 per person, and volunteer-run pet therapy visits to hospitals or nursing homes are generally free.
$100–$200
| Service Type | Typical Cost (2026) |
|---|---|
| Individual AAT session (45–60 min) | $100–$200 |
| Equine-assisted therapy session (60 min) | $75–$250 |
| Group AAT session (per person) | $30–$80 |
| Telehealth session with AAT elements | $80–$160 |
| Initial assessment/evaluation | $120–$250 |
| 10-session package | $900–$1,800 (10% discount typical) |
Animal-assisted therapy encompasses a range of clinical and adjunctive services in which a trained animal — most commonly a dog, horse, cat, rabbit, or bird — is deliberately incorporated into a therapeutic treatment plan by a credentialed clinician. It is not the same as emotional support animals or informal pet ownership, and it is not the same as informal "therapy dog" visits, which are typically volunteer-driven.
Understanding what kind of animal-assisted service you are seeking — and in what setting — is the single most important step in estimating your cost.
What Drives the Cost of Animal-Assisted Therapy?
Several factors explain why prices vary as widely as they do:
Therapist credentials. The most important cost driver is the clinician's licensure. A licensed clinical social worker, licensed professional counselor, or licensed psychologist who has completed specialized training in AAT will charge professional therapy rates — typically $120 to $200 per session — because they are providing billable clinical services in addition to the animal component. A certified animal-assisted therapy practitioner without an independent mental health license tends to charge less ($80 to $140), but may also have more limited scope of practice.
Species and facility overhead. Dog-assisted therapy has the lowest overhead: dogs are widely available, relatively inexpensive to maintain, and can work in standard office settings. Equine (horse) therapy requires a facility, specialized staff, animal maintenance costs, and liability insurance, which is why equine therapy rates are significantly higher. Dolphin-assisted therapy programs — found primarily at licensed marine parks — can run $150 to $400 per session for highly specialized programs.
Individual vs. group. Group programs, common in schools, psychiatric hospitals, and residential treatment centers, spread costs across multiple participants and are substantially less expensive per person.
Setting. Hospital, hospice, school, and VA-affiliated programs often absorb all or most of the cost. Private outpatient practice rates are highest.
Geographic location. Providers in metropolitan areas and coastal cities charge more than those in rural or Midwestern markets.
Cost by Setting
| Setting | Typical Cost to You | Who Pays | Common Populations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private outpatient practice | $100–$200/session | Client (out-of-pocket or insurance) | Adults, adolescents, trauma survivors |
| Equine-assisted therapy facility | $75–$250/session | Client (out-of-pocket, rarely insurance) | PTSD, trauma, autism, eating disorders |
| Hospital or inpatient psychiatric | $0–$50 copay | Insurance (ancillary benefit) | Inpatients, crisis stabilization |
| School-based program | $0 | School district or grant funding | Children with IEPs or 504 plans |
| VA medical center | $0 | Veterans Health Administration | Veterans with PTSD, TBI, depression |
| Nursing home or memory care | $0 | Facility budget or donations | Older adults, dementia care |
| Volunteer therapy animal visit | $0 | Volunteer organization | Hospital patients, school children, seniors |
Private Outpatient Practice
In a private-practice setting, a licensed therapist incorporates an animal — most often a certified therapy dog — into individual or family sessions. The therapist sets clinical goals (reducing anxiety, building attachment security, processing trauma), and the animal is part of the structured intervention. A typical 45-to-60-minute session runs $100 to $200. Many therapists begin with a longer intake evaluation at $120 to $250 to assess fit, establish goals, and observe the client's response to the animal.
Package pricing is more common in AAT than in traditional talk therapy because most private-pay AAT therapists are outside the insurance system. A 10-session package may carry a 10% to 15% discount.
Equine-Assisted Therapy
Equine-assisted therapy (EAT) — also called Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) — involves structured therapeutic activities with horses, such as grooming, leading, or ground-based exercises, facilitated by a licensed mental health clinician and a credentialed equine specialist working together. It is most commonly used for PTSD, trauma, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance use recovery.
Session rates of $75 to $250 reflect the higher overhead of maintaining horses, facilities, and dual-staff models. Many equine therapy centers are nonprofits supported by donations and grants, which can make programs available on a sliding scale or at no cost to qualifying clients, particularly veterans. For a deeper look at the evidence, see our guide to equine therapy for PTSD.
Hospital and Inpatient Settings
Hospital-based therapy animal programs are primarily visit-based rather than clinical-session-based. A handler brings a certified therapy dog to visit patients in psychiatric units, pediatric wards, cancer centers, or emergency departments. These visits are typically provided by trained volunteer teams — such as Pet Partners–registered teams — at no charge to the hospital or patient.
When a licensed clinician uses an animal as part of an inpatient psychiatric treatment plan and bills it under a recognized CPT code, patient cost is usually a standard copay under existing medical or behavioral health coverage.
Veterans Affairs (VA) Programs
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has significantly expanded animal-assisted interventions since 2019. VA medical centers and community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) offer animal-assisted therapy for PTSD, depression, traumatic brain injury, and moral injury as part of enrolled veterans' care. Enrolled veterans typically access these services at no additional cost beyond their standard VA copay structure, which may be $0 for veterans with service-connected conditions.
School-Based Programs
Schools increasingly use therapy dogs in counseling offices, reading programs, and special education settings. When incorporated into a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan as a documented support, the cost is absorbed by the school district. Parent-initiated requests for AAT in an IEP should be made in writing and trigger a formal evaluation process.
Insurance Coverage for Animal-Assisted Therapy
Insurance coverage for animal-assisted therapy in private outpatient settings is limited, but not nonexistent. Here is the realistic picture:
Most private insurance plans do not list animal-assisted therapy as a covered benefit. However, coverage can still occur in three circumstances:
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The therapist bills under their clinical license. A licensed psychologist or licensed professional counselor providing AAT may bill the session under standard psychotherapy CPT codes (90834, 90837) rather than under an "animal-assisted therapy" code. Many insurers reimburse the session based on the clinician's license, not the specific modality. Whether this is appropriate depends on the therapist's judgment and documentation practices.
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The service is part of a medically necessary treatment plan. If a physician or psychiatrist documents that AAT is medically necessary for a specific diagnosis, some plans may authorize coverage — but this requires pre-authorization and documentation.
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State mental health parity laws. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) requires that insurers not impose more restrictive limitations on mental health benefits than on medical benefits. If an insurer covers non-traditional physical therapy modalities without restriction, it may be required to apply the same standard to mental health treatments like AAT.
Equine therapy is almost never covered by private insurance in outpatient settings. The dual-staff model and the difficulty of billing under standard CPT codes are the primary barriers.
Medicaid. Coverage varies by state. Some Medicaid managed care organizations have approved animal-assisted interventions when delivered by a licensed clinician as part of a documented treatment plan, particularly for autism or trauma. Contact your state Medicaid office or your child's treatment team for state-specific guidance.
HSA and FSA accounts. When animal-assisted therapy is prescribed by a physician as part of a medical treatment plan for a qualifying condition, the out-of-pocket cost is generally reimbursable through Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). Keep the prescription letter and itemized receipts.
Cost by Condition
The conditions most commonly treated with AAT shape both the recommended intensity and the available funding pathways.
Anxiety and depression. Animal-assisted therapy is well-studied as an adjunctive treatment for anxiety disorders and depression, with a 2019 meta-analysis in PLOS ONE finding significant reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms across 49 studies. Private-practice AAT for these conditions typically runs 8 to 16 sessions. Most clients pay out of pocket or access services through a clinic that bills under standard psychotherapy codes.
PTSD and trauma. Equine-assisted therapy has the strongest evidence base within AAT for trauma recovery, particularly combat PTSD. The interaction with horses — which are highly attuned to human emotional states and respond to nonverbal cues — creates a corrective experience that complements evidence-based trauma treatments like CPT and EMDR. Veterans with PTSD may access equine therapy through VA programs or through nonprofit partner organizations at reduced or no cost.
Autism. Dog-assisted therapy and equine therapy are both used in autism treatment programs to improve social communication, reduce anxiety, and build emotional regulation skills. School-based programs and IEP funding are available when AAT is determined educationally necessary.
Dementia and memory impairment. Animal visitation in memory care settings has demonstrated reductions in agitation and improvements in social engagement. This care is typically provided through volunteer teams embedded in facility programming at no cost to residents or families.
Chronic illness and palliative care. Hospital therapy animal programs are among the most accessible forms of AAT, reaching patients during lengthy hospitalizations at no out-of-pocket cost.
Cost-Saving Strategies
Seek nonprofit equine therapy centers. A significant proportion of equine therapy centers operate as 501(c)(3) nonprofits funded by grants and donations. Many offer sliding-scale fees or subsidized rates for veterans, active-duty military family members, and individuals with financial hardship. Research centers in your area before assuming you must pay full market rates.
Ask about group programs. Group animal-assisted therapy at $30 to $80 per session delivers much of the social, emotional, and sensory benefit of individual sessions. Schools, psychiatric hospitals, and community mental health centers are the most common settings.
Volunteer therapy animal programs. If your goal is comfort, social connection, or emotional support rather than structured clinical treatment, volunteer therapy animal visits through organizations like Pet Partners, Therapy Dogs International, or your local hospital volunteer program may meet your needs at no cost.
University and training clinics. Graduate programs in counseling, social work, and psychology that offer specialized AAT training sometimes operate supervised community clinics at reduced rates. The therapist-in-training works under direct supervision of a licensed clinician, and session quality is carefully monitored.
Bill through the therapist's license. If your AAT provider is a licensed clinician, ask explicitly whether they intend to bill under standard psychotherapy codes. Many do, which can bring the session cost closer to what you would pay for any other outpatient therapy session.
HSA/FSA reimbursement. Request a letter of medical necessity from your prescribing physician and submit AAT session receipts to your HSA or FSA plan administrator. This effectively reduces your after-tax cost by 22% to 37% depending on your tax bracket.
Frequently Asked Questions
In most outpatient private practice settings, animal-assisted therapy is not explicitly covered by insurance. However, if your therapist bills the session under their clinical license using standard psychotherapy CPT codes, reimbursement may be possible. Equine therapy is rarely covered. VA programs and hospital-based programs are typically covered through existing medical benefits. Always call your insurer and ask about specific billing codes rather than asking whether 'animal-assisted therapy' is covered.
Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a structured, goal-directed clinical intervention delivered by a licensed mental health professional who uses an animal as part of a documented treatment plan. A therapy animal is a certified animal (not a pet) that visits hospitals, schools, or nursing homes with a trained volunteer handler — not a clinician. An emotional support animal (ESA) is a pet that provides companionship and is prescribed by a mental health provider as an accommodation but does not perform clinical work in sessions. AAT is the only one that constitutes a clinical treatment.
The number of sessions depends on your treatment goals and the condition being addressed. Adults using AAT as an adjunct for anxiety or depression typically attend 8 to 16 sessions. Trauma treatment programs incorporating equine therapy often run 10 to 20 sessions. Children in school-based AAT programs may participate across an entire academic year. Your therapist will set measurable goals and assess progress at defined intervals.
Yes, substantially. Dog-assisted therapy in a private office setting runs $100 to $200 per session. Equine therapy runs $75 to $250 and sometimes higher, reflecting the cost of horse care, specialized facilities, dual-staff models (licensed therapist plus credentialed equine specialist), and liability insurance. However, many equine therapy centers are nonprofits that offer sliding-scale fees, which can bring the cost below what you would pay for standard outpatient therapy.
Yes, in many schools. Therapy dogs are increasingly used by school counselors and psychologists in sessions with students experiencing anxiety, trauma, or social difficulties. When AAT is documented in a student's IEP or 504 plan as a necessary support, the school district funds it. Contact your child's school counselor or special education coordinator to ask what animal-assisted programs are available.
Look for a licensed mental health professional — a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), licensed professional counselor (LPC), or licensed psychologist — who has completed formal post-graduate training in animal-assisted therapy from an accredited program (such as the Human-Animal Bond Institute or Pet Partners' professional training). Both the clinician and the therapy animal should be credentialed: animals should be registered with Pet Partners, Therapy Dogs International, or a comparable organization, which requires temperament testing and health certification.
Medicare does not cover animal-assisted therapy as a standalone outpatient mental health benefit. However, hospital-based therapy animal programs are available to Medicare beneficiaries in inpatient settings at no additional cost because they are part of facility programming rather than separately billed services. Veterans enrolled in VA health care may access animal-assisted programs through the VA system.
Yes. Volunteer therapy animal programs through organizations like Pet Partners provide free visits in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and community settings. Nonprofit equine therapy centers often offer sliding-scale fees. University training clinics may provide supervised AAT at reduced cost. VA-enrolled veterans can access animal-assisted interventions through VA medical centers. School-based programs are available to qualifying students at no cost through IEPs or 504 plans.
The Bottom Line
Animal-assisted therapy costs $100 to $200 per individual session in private practice, but the more important question is which setting and funding pathway applies to your situation. Veterans enrolled in VA care, children receiving school-based services, and hospital inpatients often access animal-assisted interventions at no additional cost. Nonprofit equine therapy centers, group programs, and university clinics offer meaningful cost reductions for private-pay clients.
Insurance coverage in outpatient settings remains limited, but billing under your therapist's clinical license can unlock reimbursement. For families managing out-of-pocket costs, HSA and FSA accounts provide an effective tax-advantaged discount.
To learn more about how animal-assisted therapy works and the evidence behind it, see our overview of animal-assisted therapy benefits or our guide to equine therapy for PTSD. For a broader cost comparison across therapy modalities, see our general therapy cost guide.
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Animal-assisted therapy can meaningfully support recovery from anxiety, trauma, PTSD, and more. Connect with a qualified clinician to explore your options and costs.
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