We have known the therapeutic benefits of animals in psychiatric settings for centuries. Combine this with humans’ connection to horses, and the popularity of equine-assisted therapy (EAT) makes sense. This animal therapy approach has shown promise in recent years. While it’s unlikely to replace medications, EAT can be a powerful tool for improving mental health or treating dual diagnosis disorders.
Transformations at Mending Fences in Florida understands the importance of offering a variety of therapeutic approaches. Even the best treatments for mental health and substance abuse disorders don’t always work on their own or for everyone. Equine-assisted therapy is just one of the many experiential therapies that help us create the right individualized treatment plan for every client.
Therapeutic approaches that involve horses go much further than just having patients pet the animals. Equine-assisted therapy is an umbrella term that describes a variety of experiential treatments that involve different activities with horses. The therapists who provide this service undergo training in EAT and the traditional mental health field.
Those who experience this therapy will often groom, handle, observe, engage in groundwork or ride the horse. Terminology is not yet consistent across the field due to its relatively new use, but there are common terms that describe separate types of mental health therapy that fall under this umbrella. The following have garnered the most frequent usage:
*Note: Our clients do not ride the horses in our equine-assisted therapy program
These equine-assisted therapy terms describe a large portion of therapeutic offerings involving horses, but many other approaches exist. Additionally, some of these treatments go by other names depending upon the practitioner. This approach has found use in the treatment of anxiety disorders, dementia, trauma, drug abuse, eating disorders and other mental health issues.
Modern mental health therapies often haven’t undergone the amount of research conducted on traditional therapies. This is true with EAT, but new studies are frequently emerging. One area where the debate seems to have settled is the fact that horses offer therapeutic benefits simply by being around. In fact, this is true of just about any animal.
Fortunately, equine-assisted therapy seems to function in more dynamic ways than traditional animal-assisted therapy. The exact mechanisms of how this works constitute a minor mystery in the field, but this doesn’t mean much to those who benefit from the therapy. The big takeaway from many studies is that EAT should serve as a complementary intervention to other treatments.
Transformations at Mending Fences has long understood the importance of combining therapies for maximum effectiveness. None of our clients are exactly the same, so it’s important to individualize treatment plans. Contact us today to learn more about our approach. We’ll craft a customized therapeutic approach that focuses on your specific needs.
Therapies involving equine activities have shown promise in treating a variety of mental health and dual diagnosis disorders. This is because the activity provides several significant benefits. Once you understand exactly what equine-assisted treatment can provide, it becomes clear why it’s so beneficial:
Something about having a majestic living being involved in therapy makes the entire process so much more effective. Therapeutic approaches involving horses won’t remove the necessity of medication for those who need it, but it serves as a powerful tool in psychotherapeutic regimens.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to treating mental health disorders. Some need to enroll in a residential program while others can recover through outpatient treatment. The backgrounds, experiences, lifestyles and symptoms specific to a person can have significant effects on the best treatment plan. This is why it’s so vital for treatment facilities to provide a range of therapeutic offerings, and equine-assisted therapy has recently shown increasing promise.
Our mental health clinic in Morriston, FL focuses on offering the best path to treatment for all our clients. This means that – if researched therapies prove helpful for some people – we ensure our clients have access to them. Undergoing treatment assisted by these majestic creatures isn’t right for everyone, but for many, it can mean everything as a complementary intervention.
Contact our admissions team today to learn more about our equine-assisted therapy and how it can help you take your life back.
Sources
Psychology Today
Nursing Open
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6917924/
Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2012-07424-003
Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry
