• Home
  • Common Issues
    • Mood
      • Depression
      • Anxiety
      • Panic
      • Social Anxiety
    • Relationships
      • Couples Counseling
      • Physical Intimacy Issues
      • Finding the Right Relationship
      • Family Issues
    • Coaching
      • Career
      • Life Coaching
      • Weight Management & Fitness Coaching
    • Other
      • Medicare and Senior Issues
      • Child and Adolescent
      • Christian Counseling
      • Chronic Pain and Medical Issues
      • Medication Evaluation and Management
  • About Therapy
    • Session Formats
      • Individuals
      • Couples
      • Kids and Teens
      • Families
      • Canine Counseling
    • Therapy Styles
      • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
      • Family Systems (Psychodynamic)
      • Christian Counseling
      • Meditation and Mindfulness Training
      • Hypnosis Therapy Technique
    • FAQs
      • What is the difference between a psychologist and a counselor?
      • What is your confidentiality policy?
      • Does therapy really work?
      • How long will I need to be in therapy?
      • How often should I come?
      • How can I measure my progress in therapy?
      • What if I don’t share the same belief system or life circumstances as my therapist?
      • Can I use my insurance?
  • Inspiration
    • Articles
      • Blog
        • Practicing Vulnerability in Your Relationships

        • Using Distraction as an Avoidance of Emotion

        • Tips for Managing Daily Activities while Struggling with Depression

        • Friendships: How to manage your boundaries and enjoy them more!

        • Recognizing Burnout and the Importance of Work-Life Balance

    • Quotes
      • InstagramInstagram has returned invalid data.
    • Videos
      • Videos
        • Understanding Guilt and How It Works

        • Sexual Dissatisfaction

  • Checklist
    • Adult ADHD Self-Evaluation
    • Anxiety Self-Evaluation
    • Bipolarism Self-Evaluation
    • Depression Self-Evaluation
    • Panic Attack Self-Evaluation
    • Relationship Health Self-Evaluation
    • Social Anxiety Self-Evaluation
    • Sexual Dysfunction Self-Evaluation
  • About Us
    • Whole Life Philosophy
    • Staff
      • Heather Robbins, Ph.D., LP
      • James Robbins, MA., LPC
      • Leslie Scott, MS, LPC
      • Steve Reedy, MA, LPC, RMT, NMT
      • Breanna Katz-Estrada, MSW, LCSW
      • Emily McGlothlin, MS, LPC
      • Jon Johnston, MA, LPC
      • Kelly Kay Wynn, MS, MSW, LCSW
      • Marilyn Powell, Ph.D.
      • Diane Williams, MSW, LCSW
    • News
    • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Rates
    • Insurance
      • Fees & Insurance
      • Medicare Part B
      • Blue Cross and Blue Shield
    • Location
    • Appointments
      • Schedule a Consultation
      • Scheduling Hours
      • Scheduling Policy
  • Social & Contact
    ‪(972) 755-0996

Dallas Whole Life Counseling

Licensed Psychologist and Therapists

Top 10 psychologists in Dallas, TX 2016 Top Counseling & Mental Health in Dallas

Schedule a Consult

The Mental Health Benefits of Pet Ownership

December 17, 2014 by James Robbins, M.A., LPC

Dec 17, 2014

Pets have been proven to help people live healthier lives. It’s long been known that pet owners enjoy a number of therapeutic and health benefits, such as reduced stress and plenty of exercise to name a few. But these benefits are not limited to physical health; there are mental health benefits of pet ownership, too.

The most common benefit that pet owners swear by has to do with their pets’ unconditional love and constant companionship. Having a source of companionship is important for people who live alone, and having a pet close by to talk to, play with, and even fuss over provides them with a healthy dose of social interaction—even if it’s not with another person. For pet owners who are shy or suffer from social anxiety when around other people, this is actually more therapeutic since a loyal pet, such as a dog or cat, won’t trigger anxiety attacks.

It all starts when pet owners come home from work or school, put their feet up, and go through the motion of petting or grooming their furry friend. Connecting with a pet this way relaxes both the pet and owner, and works to relieve stress and anxiety. Research has revealed that it’s not just because of the soothing repetitive motions or the distraction and companionship that this action provides; a chemical called oxytocin is involved to provide these benefits.

Commonly referred to as the “love hormone,” oxytocin is the hormone that’s related to stress and anxiety relief, and helps lower blood pressure and levels of cortisol, or the “stress hormone.” It’s also involved in social interactions, and brings about pleasant feelings of connectedness and trust between people—and, according to research, dogs as well. Simply put, the production of this hormone promotes warm, pleasant feelings for people and dogs alike, and is released during mutually pleasant human-dog interactions. It’s also one of the reasons behind the strong bond between a dog and its owner.

When considering the mental health benefits of pet ownership, oxytocin plays a huge role in all of this. The feeling of trust that pet interaction generates is also something that’s being used during animal-assisted psychotherapy sessions with patients, especially with children suffering from mental conditions such as anxiety or emotional traumas. Researchers and therapists have found that shy or distressed patients are calmer, less shy, more attentive, and generally more positive when a friendly—usually trained—pet is around during counseling sessions.

So the next time you feel a little down, lonely, or depressed, you can start by petting a dog, if not getting a dog altogether to receive a quick mood boost. In the long run, you’ll swear by the physical and mental health benefits that pets can provide you. If you’re unable to care for a pet at home for any reason, you can also volunteer at a local shelter and do some good for the community.

Are you interested in getting therapy or professional counseling to help you with an issue or a particular challenge in your career or personal life? Talk to us at Dallas Whole Life Counseling. We can help you find the missing piece and complete your life.

Filed Under: Blog

About James Robbins, M.A., LPC

James Robbins is a licensed professional counselor, published author and co-owner of Dallas Whole Life Counseling. He has over 15 years of experience helping people in various life stages that come from a wide variety of cultural, economic and family backgrounds. Learn more about his background by clicking here.

Search the Site

Latest Blog Posts

  • Practicing Vulnerability in Your Relationships
  • What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
  • Using Distraction as an Avoidance of Emotion
  • Tips for Managing Daily Activities while Struggling with Depression
  • Friendships: How to manage your boundaries and enjoy them more!

Contact Us

Admin Offices
Dallas Galleria Tower One
13355 Noel Road
Suite 1100
Dallas, Texas 75240

Virtual Sessions
Licensed phone and video sessions are available throughout Texas by appointment.

Phone & Email
‪(972) 755-0996‬
contact@dallaswholelife.com

Office Hours
Mondays: 9:00AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesdays: 9:00AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesdays: 9:00AM – 8:00 PM
Thursdays: 9:00AM – 8:00 PM
Fridays: 9:00AM – 5:00 PM
Saturdays: 9:00AM – 5:00 PM
Sundays: Closed

Common Issues

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Couples Counseling
  • Physical Intimacy Issues
  • Panic
  • Senior Issues
  • Child & Adolescent
  • Christian Counseling
  • Career Coaching
  • Life Coaching
  • Social Anxiety
  • EMDR
  • Family Issues
  • Grief Counseling
  • Weight & Fitness
  • Eating Disorders
  • Chronic Pain
  • Medical Issues

Office Hours

Main Office: (972) 755-0996
Mondays: 9:00AM – 8:00 PM
Tuesdays: 9:00AM – 8:00 PM
Wednesdays: 9:00AM – 8:00 PM
Thursdays: 9:00AM – 8:00 PM
Fridays: 9:00AM – 5:00 PM
Saturdays: 9:00AM – 5:00 PM
Sundays: Closed

Location

Dallas Galleria Tower One
13355 Noel Road, Suite 1100
Dallas, Texas 75240
*Licensed phone and video sessions available in Texas.

Follow Us

Contact Us

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Dallas Whole Life Counseling | 6380 Lyndon B Johnson Fwy., Suite 299 | Dallas, TX 75240 | (972) 755-0996Copyright © 2023. All Rights Reserved. Website by Rokkit Marketing.