EQUINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY ...

involves the use of horses to treat psychological issues, and integrates equine activities with therapeutic theories and methods.  It is different than the traditional office therapy model, and takes treatment into a new context - an arena with horses.  EAP places therapy into a more relaxed environment that opens up new possibilities for quickly, directly and effectively addressing mental health issues. 

IS EXPERIENTIAL ….

Carl Rogers once said, "If I can provide a certain type of relationship, the other person will discover within himself or herself the capacity to use that relationship for growth and change, and personal development will occur."  EAP provides this type of relationship by creating "in the moment" interactions with the co therapist – the horse – where the horse helps to bring out the individual’s true feelings, thoughts and behavior patterns in a spontaneous way, thus helping to break down defense barriers.  This type of experiential therapy helps to make right-brain information that is mainly non-verbal (thoughts, memories, emotions) conscious to the left-brain where it can then be verbalized and processed. In other words, it helps to make the unconscious conscious.

TEACHES HUMAN SKILLS, NOT HORSE SKILLS

EAP does not require any knowledge about horses; the focus is on learning new human skills, not horse skills.  Therapy sessions are conducted with a professional treatment team consisting of a licensed mental health professional, equine behavioral specialist and one or more clinically chosen horses.  These sessions are individually designed, and use carefully chosen activities to address identified mental health issues and to recreate situations similar to home, at work and in relationships.   

PROVIDES METAPHORICAL LEARNING

Within this interaction with a horse, the individual is provided opportunities to become more self-aware and to understand the metaphor of how interacting with the horse applies to “real life” situations.  Which horse they pick, how they work together as a team or individually, what type of communication they use, how they problem solve, how the horse responds to them and how they treat the horse – every aspect of this process is discussed in a therapeutic fashion after the activity.  By understanding how their behavior affects the horse, an individual can begin to see how their behavior affects others, and ultimately why people respond to them in certain ways. They also become aware of the negative beliefs and self-sabotaging behaviors that keep then stuck, and are then given the opportunity to find solutions to create change. 

PRACTICE NEW SKILLS

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy also allows for immediate integration and practice of new ways of being.  Because of the “in the moment” demands that interactions with horses require, the individual can practice new coping skills and behaviors in a safe environment with the horse before having to use them in the real world.  EAP can create immediate change thereby reducing required time to achieve desired results.