Here are 16 ways that equine assisted therapy can help people who are dealing with a range of mental health challenges.
For nearly three decades, equine assisted therapy has existed in various forms. While horse owners have long recognized the advantages, it has taken time and scientific evidence to persuade traditional mental health specialists to accept the concept. Know more about hamerequine assisted learning.
“Growing data supports the effectiveness of treatment with horses in a therapeutic environment,” writes Azmaira H. Maker Ph.D. in a recent article on Psychology Today. A wealth of literature supporting the therapeutic value of the human-animal relationship has arisen from studies. ”
Equine Assisted Therapy can be used to help patients with depression, anxiety, ADHD, conduct disorders, addiction, trauma, eating disorders, range and health concerns, dissociative disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other mental health problems, according to her. ” On our property we have 4 beautiful horses, Jenny, Blaze, Halo and Red. Each of our horses has individual characteristics and this adds to the unique experience that equine assisted learning provides. To know more about our herd.
The article offers 16 benefits of participating in programs led by competent and experienced equine and mental health specialists, including:
Trust: Participants develop trust in both their horse and human therapists, as well as in themselves.
Anxiety Reduction: Studies demonstrate that interacting with animals reduces physiological anxiety levels dramatically.
Depression and Reducing Isolation: People are more likely to engage in social connections with others after interacting nonverbally with horses and witnessing their unconditional acceptance.
Mindfulness: Participants must learn to be present in the moment with horses while remaining calm, focused, and fully engaged in order to develop new positive ways of being.
Self-Esteem: Participants gain confidence by taking on new tasks and mastering new abilities in a non-competitive, non-judgmental setting.
Impulse Control: The requirement to speak calmly and non-reactively with horses fosters self-control and emotion and behavior regulation.
Self-Efficacy: Developing nonverbal problem-solving skills encourages initiative and allows participants to overcome feelings of powerlessness and drive.
Positive Identity: Participants learn to bond with horses and experience sensations of being ‘liked’ and accepted via this activity.
Communication: People learn to become more aware of nonverbal indications they may be giving off, which improves self-awareness and intuition.
Growth in Nature: Most people find learning in nature to be a calm experience that encourages feelings of joy and connection.
Self-Acceptance: Participants learn to focus internally on their own level of comfort and let go of embarrassing anxieties, which is essential for growing resilience.
Social Skills: This aids in the development of a range of abilities, including reciprocity, assertiveness, involvement, and positive and negative feedback from others, including the horses.
Assertiveness: Working with a large animal like a horse can be scary, but if people learn how to do so effectively, they improve their ability to express their emotions.
Boundaries: Participants learn to function within the confines of a safe and mutually caring relationship without fear of being controlled or traumatized.
Creativity and spontaneity: By appreciating the more spontaneous parts of spending time with horses, people learn to let go of their inhibitions and rigidity, and become more creative in healthy recreational play.
Perspective and Giving: Participants learn to put their problems and negative feelings aside in order to focus on creating caring and compassionate connections with horses.
