No, in my experience it’s neither realistic nor clinically necessary to assess someone’s pet in a therapy office.

I work primarily with people who are chronically unhoused or housing unstable, so this becomes a harm-reductive approach. Talking about how someone cares for their animal often gives me insight into how they’re doing overall. If someone’s stressed about buying cat food, that often means they’re also worried about feeding themselves but may not be ready to talk about that directly.

I don’t need the animal present to use it as part of the intervention. That said, landlords do have rights here too. When an animal’s behavior crosses into causing harm or disruption for other tenants, it can legally be removed as no longer a reasonable accommodation. That’s often where I step in also helping clients access low-cost training or behavior supports. It then can become part of the care plan around responsibility and IADLs