In a recent Chewy.com article, Manhattan Mental Health Counseling founder and licensed psychotherapist Natalie Buchwald, LMHC-D, explains how pet companionship can support emotional well-being. Even brief moments of cuddling, stroking, or sitting with a pet can help many people feel calmer and more connected.
How Pets Can Support Mental Health
Pets can provide routine, touch, movement, companionship, and a sense of responsibility. These small daily interactions may help reduce loneliness, soften stress, and create a steadier rhythm during difficult periods.
Pet companionship is not a replacement for therapy, but it can be part of a broader mental health plan. If anxiety, depression, grief, or chronic stress is affecting your daily life, working with a therapist can help you understand the pattern and build more durable coping skills.
When Pet Companionship Is Not Enough
If you feel persistently overwhelmed, isolated, numb, irritable, or unable to function, support from a clinician may be appropriate. Manhattan Mental Health Counseling offers online therapy in New York for people dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, stress, and relationship concerns.
The original Chewy article includes Natalie Buchwald’s comments on the mental health benefits of pets and why simple contact with animals can feel regulating.