Reptiles are helping patients manage anxiety.
Reptile-assisted sessions help mental health patients manage anxiety and mood
A therapy programme using geckos, snakes and other reptiles is being rolled out across wards at Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, with early findings suggesting measurable benefits for patient wellbeing.
The initiative, based in Maidstone, is delivered in partnership with the National Centre for Reptile Welfare and has already supported around 70 patients. The sessions involve supervised interaction with animals including geckos, bearded dragons, tortoises and snakes.
Staff leading the programme report that the intervention can reduce anxiety, interrupt intrusive thought patterns and improve mood.
Vikki Buxton-Helyer, who runs the sessions, said patients often respond positively to the experience.
She told the BBC: "They find the animals really calming. People are scared of snakes, and actually they're beautiful creatures that do have feelings and deserve as much love and care as we give our mammals."
According to the trust, reptiles offer a distinct therapeutic profile compared with more traditional animal-assisted interventions. Their slow, deliberate movements can promote grounding, while the tactile experience of holding an animal may provide a sensory “reset”, helping patients remain present and regulate emotional responses.
Graham Blackman, acute deputy service director at the trust, said: "I've seen patients who are usually anxious or withdrawn become engaged and relaxed during the sessions.
"The team is now launching a research project to explore how reptile therapy specifically supports patients navigating trauma and self-harm."
The sessions can also build confidence, allowing patients to try something unfamiliar in a controlled environment or gain genuinely therapeutic benefits through interaction.
The trust is now exploring expansion of the programme across additional sites, as well as a formal research study to better understand its clinical impact.