Summary Of Incorporating Animal And Equine-Assisted Therapy

Incorporating Animal and Equine-Assisted Therapy as an additional intervention within a client’s treatment plan is a fairly new concept. It wasn’t until the early 1960’s that an American psychologist by the name of Boris Levinson, discovered the possibilities of using animals in a therapeutic realm. Animal and Equine-Assisted Therapy can be useful in fostering a feeling of interconnectivity for the participant while acting as a catalyst to encourage their active participation in a treatment plan. Achieving a positive relationship between a therapy animal and a participant may be the first step in acceptance of therapy and/or guidance. Animal and Equine Therapy is designed to promote improvement in human physical, social, emotional, and/or cognitive functioning, thinking and intellectual skills. A variety of settings may be used and may be group or individual in nature.
Research developments are continually evolving. Exploring the participants’ perceptions and experiences related to Animal and Equine therapy are critical. Population expansion of participants to include Animal Assisted practitioners in settings such as outdoor centers, farms, and ranches are a cutting age tool to healthy developmental practices.
Animal and Equine Assisted Therapy
Incorporating Animal Assisted therapy components into psychotherapy could help the counselor build positive therapeutic alliances more quickly.
The relationship between the therapy animal and the client also facilitates the rapport between the client and the counselor. Therapy animals, such as horses, sheep, cats, and dogs, can often serve as a transitional object for the participant. This allows the participant to convey feelings through the animal, thus bridging the gap between client and counselor and easing the process of trust
building.
Equine Assisted psychotherapy is an emerging form of therapeutic intervention. Participants inevitably gain self-control while exploring emotional growth and development. Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) is an approach to human development through therapeutic horsemanship. Participants engage in non-riding activities and learn alternate skills to draw from when faced with challenges. In recognizing a horse’s ability to read and understand human body language, EAL can provide insights into the physical manifestations of any inner conflicts and a pathway to change the “inside” by changing the “outside.” The lesson is that the horse is doing exactly what the human body is telling them to do and if they change themselves, the horse responds differently. The size of the horse also offers an opportunity for some to overcome fear and develop confidence (KUROPATKIN, 2013). Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) involves equine activities as part of a psychotherapy session conducted by a licensed mental health counselor in collaboration with an equine specialist in mental health and learning. The focus of EAP is the client’s reactions and behaviors through the process of interacting with the horse. EAP can be used to better deal with trauma and loss, develop a sense of self, increase levels of trust, establish boundaries and create awareness of the needs of living creatures through responsible interaction with the horse.
Whatever the goals are for a particular lesson, or whatever the orientation is of a particular therapy team, the ultimate goal is to maximize each person’s functional potential. Of course an individual’s perception of accomplishment and joy in achievement is essential to any program.