Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
What is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy?
The relationship between man and animals goes back centuries, but it wasn’t until recently that research has begun to document the important role of animals in keeping humans healthy and happy.
The special bond that people feel with horses has led to a program that has made its way into the treatment field. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is an emerging field in which horses are used specifically as a tool for emotional growth and learning.
Why horses? Horses are honest teachers with personalities (horseanalities) as varied as those of humans, therefore they react differently to each person and each action.
Horses have much to teach us about patterns of communication, behavior and relationships. Through exercises with horses individuals gain immediate feedback from the horse as it mirrors human behavior.
Horses present unconditional acceptance and experience a variety of emotions. Horses are sensitive to nonverbal stimulus and therefore provide valuable and visible lessons in nonverbal communication and body language.
As social beings, horses are able to deliver insight into group roles and dynamics. Using horses in group activities is especially powerful in teaching teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, communication, assertiveness, creative thinking, relationship building, character and confidence.
Applications in which Equine Assisted Psychotherapy has proven very successful have been in the fields of mental health therapy, family therapy and corporate team-building.
Ed Dabney is a certified facilitator of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. He would be happy to provide the horses, facility and arrange exercises to assist individual therapists and their patients or any corporate group. Please contact Ed for more details.
Please visit the following link to learn more about Equine Assisted Psychotherapy: