Equine Assisted Psychotherapy

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is an emerging field in which horses are used as a therapeutic tool for emotional growth and learning.
EAP is a hands-on form of experiential/here-and-now therapy. It is a collaborative effort between a licensed therapist/horse professional, client, and horse.

Participants learn about themselves by participating in activities with the horse, then processing (or discussing) feelings, behaviors, and patterns that occur “in the moment” of their activities. The focus of EAP involves setting up activities involving the horses, which require the client or group to learn and apply certain skills. These skills include nonverbal communication, assertiveness, creative thinking and problem solving, leadership, taking responsibility, teamwork, confidence, and attitude.

According to the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) “Horses are very sensitive to emotional states and have a unique ability to pick up on what people are feeling.” Horses have an amazing ability to respond to human body language cues. Horses require people to be “present” and engaged in “the moment,” both physically and mentally.

This environment provides feedback in all three channels: visual, kinesthetic, and auditory. Much of traditional talk therapy is rarely taught through all three channels. Many youths make unhealthy choices because they are not good auditory learners.

EAP is especially valuable to Autism Spectrum Disorder youth because it teaches awareness of the environment and teaches the following:

• Emotional Awareness

• Appropriate Affect

• Social Cues

• Conversational Skill

• Different Types of Relationships

• Expands Interests

• Anger Management

• Change Management

Youth with attachment issues are often able to risk attachment with a horse, where it is too risky to try the same thing with a human. Once this attachment is successful with a horse many youths are able to take the next step and begin to experiment with attachment to humans.

The only way to find success with a horse is to be assertive. That means that the horse reinforces assertiveness, and conversely, that undesired traits of aggressiveness, passiveness, or passive-aggressiveness is not reinforced.

At times therapy will be conducted in a more traditional office environment. Therapy is conducted in individual, group, and family formats depending on the individual needs of our clients. These sessions are typically held once a week but more or less frequent sessions will be conducted as needed.

Please feel free to reach out to us below.

Unbridled Hope and Healing Center is a horse rescue and comprehensive therapy center focusing on providing free services for military veterans, children, couples, and families in need. Licensed treatment professionals and horse professionals will incorporate equine movement and activities (mounted or un-mounted) in an equine environment for the purpose of rehabilitating individuals and horses physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Our staff of professionals will use evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning to use horses as an integral and experiential tool for treatment in addressing:

• Veterans dealing with PTSD and other trauma issues

• Physical Disabilities

• Individuals dealing with issues of childhood trauma

• Persons suffering from depression and anxiety

• Victims and perpetrators of sexual abuse

• Cognitive disabilities

• Speech and language disabilities

• Domestic violence victims and perpetrators