Types of therapy
At Paracelsus Recovery, we adopt a wide range of therapy techniques, including equine therapy. Equine therapy is a type of psychotherapy that involves horses in the therapy process to help clients develop new skills that are supportive of recovery from mental health or addiction issues.
What is equine therapy?
Equine therapy, also known as “equine-assisted psychotherapy”, EAP or EAT, refers to the practice of carrying out activities with a horse while in the presence of a mental health professional. A horse trainer or equine specialist is also present. While horse riding as a physical therapy technique dates back to the times of Hippocrates in ancient Greece, equine therapy has only been widely adopted in mental health treatment since the 1990s. At Paracelsus Recovery, if the specialist psychiatrist and therapy team in charge of your treatment believes it will be beneficial for your recovery, equine therapy may be included in your treatment programme.
During equine therapy sessions, the activities undertaken may include grooming the horse, feeding it and taking it for a walk. Riding the horse is not usually part of the therapy process. In an equine therapy session, the therapist and client will explore any feelings, thoughts, memories and sensations that arise while the client interacts with the horse. The goal of this type of therapy is to help clients build self-awareness, self-esteem, confidence and empathy by caring for and being in the presence of the horse. As a result, it can be used in treatment for a variety of mental health conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, ADHD and substance abuse disorders.
What are the benefits of equine therapy?
Horses possess a unique combination of traits that make them a top choice to aid the psychotherapeutic process. For example, because horses are particularly attuned to humans’ emotions and non-verbal signals, they tend to “mirror” a person’s behaviour or emotions. This can create a sense of understanding and connection that can help the client feel safe enough to open up. It can also help them to build self-awareness through using the horse’s behaviour and interactions as a form of feedback.
Part of the power of equine therapy is that it offers a completely different way of working through issues than traditional talk therapy. By taking therapy outdoors, it offers an experiential approach: an opportunity to engage all the senses in the processing of emotional challenges. Also, the work involved in caring for a horse can be therapeutic. It helps create structure and routine as well as a sense of accomplishment. Equine therapy sessions also offer an opportunity to practise mindfulness, focusing on the present moment, while interacting with the horse.
Is equine therapy evidence-based?
While more research is needed to solidify findings, a number of studies indicate that equine therapy is effective in helping to manage several conditions.
One condition that equine therapy has shown promise as a treatment method is PTSD. For example, one study found it to be more effective than traditional talk therapy. By examining changes in brain regions that are central to fear and emotional processing, researchers concluded that equine therapy has the potential to enhance quality of life for people suffering from PTSD. Another study also found evidence of the efficacy of equine therapy in PTSD treatment. In particular, the opportunity to bond and form a connection with another being can be beneficial for PTSD recovery.
Equine therapy may also be effective in treating anxiety. For example, one study found that 6 weekly 2-hour sessions helped to reduce symptoms of generalised anxiety. One reason that equine therapy may be helpful for treating anxiety is that it anchors people more into the present moment, pulling them away from past and future worries.
In the case of ADHD, one study showed that equine therapy leads to an improvement of symptoms and another study found evidence of a general improvement of symptoms among children. In addition, equine therapy may also be helpful for treating ADHD as it offers an active experience that can help with focus, working towards goals and generating a sense of accomplishment.
Research into the use of equine therapy in addiction treatment indicates that it can be beneficial not only as a way to offer a break from normal treatment but also as a way to build a positive sense of self. Aside from this, one study concluded that equine therapy has the potential to not only have a positive impact on treatment retention and completion, but also boost mental health.
In all cases, further study is needed and equine therapy should not be used in the place of traditional talk therapy.
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