Soul Sustenance - New University Study Finds Animal Therapy Reduces Stress for College Students

 When Emily Cochran, OTD, OTR, a 2025 graduate of Chatham University’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy program, studied the stress-reducing effects of animal-assisted interventions (AAI) in college students, her capstone project's results were so positive that the university has decided to keep the program going strong.

It all started in June 2024, when Cochran saw graduate students often struggling with the rigors of graduate programming — including withdrawing from friendships and relationships, a steep decline in social activities, and a dramatic rise in stress, anxiety, and loneliness, especially for students who had relocated. Concerned for her peers’ well-being, Cochran was inspired to seek solutions. 

While exploring the potential of a therapy program for graduate students, Cochran was inspired by her own dog Merlin, a three-year old golden doodle. Realizing that Merlin’s stress-relieving impact on her academic journey was its own form of built-in therapy, Cochran decided to clinically explore the healing potential of offering graduate students weekly interactions with animal therapy.

Inspired by her connection with her occupational therapy professor, Chatham University Assistant Professor Dr. Melissa Gett, as well as Gett’s therapy dog Ammo, Emily partnered with local therapy dog teams to create a recurring AAI program for graduate students at Chatham’s Eastside Campus. 

In Cochran’s program, groups of graduate students had sessions of direct contact with up to three participating dogs for two hours at a time. After seven weekly sessions, students reported reduced stress and a stronger sense of connection to others on campus.

Based on Cochran’s findings, Dr. Gett wants to continue working with new students, gathering data, and expanding the program. As a result, Cochran is starting new sessions of therapy visits for Chatham grad students in July and will continue to conduct and evaluate them through December. 

“I believe Emily’s program helps participants well beyond their initial moment of animal therapy contact. It’s an informal introduction into the power of therapeutic interventions, and it can also lead to individual 1:1 counseling,” says Dr. Gett. 

In addition to continuing her AAI program with Chatham’s graduate students, Cochran also works at Therapy House where the organization is exploring the possibility of incorporating animal therapy into their early intervention program for children. 

Cochran lives in Cheswick, PA, is a native of Natrona Heights, PA, and attended Highlands School District. She earned her undergraduate degree at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, Pennsylvania.