Animal Assisted Therapy Programs of Colorado (AATPC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to promote animal-assisted psychotherapy to facilitate healing for all people in need and for rescued animals.

Our facility, the Barking C.A.A.T Ranch, is located on a 3.5 acre urban ranch in Arvada, CO with more than 30 rescued animals and 14 clinicians. We specialize in an evidence-based practice called Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy, which is an innovative, goal-directed approach in which animals provide integral support as part of the treatment process. However, this is not simply a place where clients spend time with animals—our therapists are trained in best practices to incorporate animals into the therapeutic process in ways that make traditional therapy approaches more effective and more accessible to clients who might not otherwise seek therapy. Additionally, we provide a permanent home for over 30 rescued animals, including goats, horses, rabbits, ferrets, cats, chickens, and more. Combining the healing power of animals with professional therapists creates a truly one-of-a-kind therapy environment that embodies our motto: Rescued Animals Rescuing People.

AATPC offers several programs to support Coloradans in need of mental health services. We offer paid client sessions, low-cost sessions for cost-burdened clients, and free group therapy sessions on topics such as animal loss. We have an on-site community garden and small food pantry for clients facing food insecurity. Our Animal Hospital program supports animal care workers, including veterinarians, with therapy services. We also offer an international training program for students, clinicians, and other human service workers to provide animal-assisted psychotherapy best practices in this growing field. Our training program is one of the largest and oldest training and certification programs for professionals in the mental health field learning the specialty of animal-assisted psychotherapy.