Can stuffed animals work as a suitable replacement for Animal-Assisted Therapy?

According to this article from GoodTherapy.Org researchers are looking into the benefits of using stuffed animals for mental health treatment. The article quotes Rose M. Barlow of the Department of Psychology at Boise State University saying “Animals, live or stuffed, can aid therapy for both children and adults by providing a way to experience and express emotions, a feeling of unconditional support, and grounding.” The reference to the original study can be found below the article. What I found interesting were the comments made about the article. Commentators shared personal experiences of how stuffed animals helped relieve stress and work through negative emotions.