Soothing stress with horses and dogs
Understanding the impact of CPTSD on student life and examining how animal-assisted therapy can help
“I can’t handle this.”
“Things will never get better.”
“No one can be trusted.”
These aren’t just passing thoughts — they’re the daily reality for many living with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). For those with Complex PTSD (CPTSD), the pain runs even deeper. Unlike PTSD, which often stems from a single traumatic event, CPTSD develops from ongoing, repeated trauma, often beginning in childhood.
CPTSD: A Breakdown
The impact of CPTSD can linger for decades through feelings of fear, shame, addiction, fractured relationships, and a constant sense of being “behind” in life. For students balancing academic pressure, jobs, and personal challenges, untreated trauma can make university feel overwhelming, even impossible. This is especially true, when symptoms begin creeping up in early adulthood, where many are beginning their academic journey and don’t even know they have this diagnosis and why they are suddenly struggling and cannot keep up with peers.
While PTSD is widely known, CPTSD is less understood. It often develops in people who grew up in unsafe homes, where abuse, neglect, or loss was a daily reality. Researchers measure these experiences through the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) questionnaire. The higher the score, the greater the risk of depression, heart disease, addiction, shortened life expectancy, and even decreased attainment of higher education.
Students with high ACE scores may find themselves struggling not only with mental health but also with trust, focus, and belonging. What looks like procrastination or “burnout” can, in fact, be the body responding to trauma.
At the University of Toronto (UofT), the challenge can be magnified. UofT is known for its intensity: long hours, competitive grading, and an institutional culture that prizes academic achievement above almost everything else. For students with CPTSD, that culture can feel especially punishing.
When mental health is treated as secondary to grades and research, students may internalize the belief that their struggles are personal failures, not systemic issues. Instead of being met with compassion, many feel like they are “falling behind” compared to peers. This mindset only deepens the shame and hopelessness already tied to trauma.
The Potential Role of Equine and Dog Therapy
Equine therapy has been studied as an adjunct treatment for PTSD. The PTSD Association of Canada highlights how horses’ powerful electromagnetic field and calm rhythms can regulate human emotions, lowering stress and building trust. One pilot study even showed significant reductions in anxiety and trauma symptoms in first responders after just eight weeks of equine-assisted therapy.
Not every campus can offer horses,but some, like UTM, have introduced weekly dog therapy sessions. Research suggests animal-assisted therapy reduces cortisol, boosts mood, and helps students reconnect socially. For someone with CPTSD, these moments of relief aren’t just comforting; they can be life-saving.
CPTSD isn’t rare. It often hides behind addiction, academic struggles, or “bad attitudes.” It shapes how students show up in classrooms, friendships, and jobs. By expanding access to alternative therapies like equine programs, therapy dogs, or simply more trauma-informed campus care staff, universities like UofT could better balance their academic intensity with real pathways for nurturing talent and potential.
