HEALING WITH HORSES

Equine Assisted Therapy provides an honest, reflective, relational context in which a client can identify unhelpful behaviors. This modality can significantly improve confidence, self-awareness, empathy, and social skills. Clients are working with the animals but also working side by side with a therapist or specialist to guide the path. Additionally, horses are highly sensitive to the emotions of others around them and allow clients to work through problems without worrying about judgment. This allows the client to work on skills in a way that is less threatening than sitting in a therapy room.

Clients develop and demonstrate better balance and trust, improve self-esteem and self-efficacy, as well as improve general well-being and quality of life. Working with animals in psychotherapy allows for improvement in nurturing and empathy. As clients work with animals, they can learn to be more aware of emotions and the stress response that all people and animals feel - in a safe and nonjudgmental environment. This can help as clients generalize this skill to interacting with other people in their lives. Additionally, seeing and touching animals can trigger positive physiological changes, including higher levels of serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin. It can also lower baseline levels of the stress hormone cortisol and improve inner balance and peace.

Equine Assisted Therapy Specialists assign a horse to work with and care for the client. The specialists help client’s improve confidence, self-awareness, empathy and social skills to reduce emotional distress and create a meaningful and abiding relationship with their horse. These skills are transferrable to other relationships with family and friends to improve interpersonal relationships. Specialists teach the importance of active and reflecting listening, collaboration with the horse as an active team member and instill the belief that every individual can solve their problems with guidance to heal their soul wounds. 

Join Our Healing With Horses Program