Katherine Compitus, New York University – “Cow Cuddling” Mental Health Therapy Shows Promise

On New York University Week: Dogs aren’t the only animals that help out with therapy.

Katherine Compitus, clinical assistant professor at the Silver School of Social Work, examines another.

Katherine Compitus is a Clinical Assistant Professor at NYU Silver School of Social Work and the Coordinator of the School’s Westchester and Rockland County, New York Campuses. She is a Colombian-American doctor of clinical social work, licensed bilingual clinical social worker, and biopsychologist. Her research focuses on trauma studies, specifically within the human-animal bond, with a focus on the disproportionate systemic oppression of people of color. Dr. Compitus is the author of the Zooeyia blog on PsychologyToday.com where she discusses crisis intervention in the human-animal bond and she is the author of The Human-Animal Bond and Clinical Social Work Practice (Springer, 2021).

“Cow Cuddling” Mental Health Therapy Shows Promise

As a researcher exploring the potential of including cattle in human therapy, I was pleasantly surprised by the results of a recent study I led on bovine-assisted therapy, otherwise known as “cow cuddling.” Our investigation, published in the journal Human-Animal Interactions, revealed fascinating insights.

We conducted our study at Surrey Hills Sanctuary in New York State, with 11 volunteers ranging in age from 13 to 79 who interacted with two young Holstein steers, Magnus and Callum. Our goal was to examine the behavioral and cognitive traits of therapy cattle and explore the potential benefits of bovine-assisted therapy for both humans and animals.

What struck us most was the unexpected preference the steers showed for interactions with women. While all human participants generally reported positive experiences, women and girls described more instances of the steers licking them, accepting food, and responding to training attempts. In contrast, men were more likely to perceive some of the steers’ behaviors as potentially aggressive.

We were particularly intrigued by the strong attachment behaviors reported by female participants towards the steers. This gender difference raises interesting questions that we’re eager to explore in future studies, such as: Are the animals naturally more drawn to women, or are women more likely to initiate and encourage these interactions?

Our findings indicate that spending time with farm animals like cattle may indeed hold potential therapeutic benefits.  In addition, people who live in rural areas with limited access to in-person psychotherapy may benefit from engaging more with animals.

With further study and refinement, bovine-assisted therapy could become a valuable tool in promoting mental health and well-being for a diverse range of individuals.