Equine Therapy
Equine Therapy
Equine therapy is an experiential individual or group therapy program that involves working with and caring for horses. Through this work, individuals engage in self-reflection, trust, and a sense of control over their mental health. Therapy with horses has the same goal as traditional therapy: to help people get better.
Horses are a key part of the recovery process during equine therapy. Horses are very in tune with human emotions. They can sense fear and apprehension. Individuals must let their guard down to form a relationship with their horse. In turn, clients are rewarded with a positive relationship in their lives, one without judgment or pain. Not only do horses mirror humans to create self-awareness, but they also teach individuals to depend on others by first trusting their horse. Equine therapy promotes holistic healing, stress reduction, and vulnerability management.
Aliya Health Group can help anyone overcome issues with addiction and mental health through experiential therapies like equine-assisted treatment. Reach out today and learn more.
What Is Equine Therapy?
How can working with horses help treat addiction and mental illness? It concerns how horses relate to human emotions and the bonds that develop between them and their caregivers. Through working with the animals, clients form deep bonds and better understand themselves and their role in their recovery. Equine therapy includes physical work like grooming, feeding, and exercise. This care mirrors the kind of care we need to provide ourselves as well. To illustrate, individuals in treatment get assigned a horse to work with. These creatures are both powerful and gentle. Clients slowly develop a relationship with their horse—one of trust and reliance. Each must trust the other to protect and care for them.
Equine-assisted therapy operates on the understanding that horses can reflect the truth about humans at them. Overall, the treatment is about building a relationship between humans and horses, leading to self-reflection and personal understanding. Each person who enters equine therapy brings a unique background with them, as are their struggles and challenges. Yet, it’s remarkable how working with horses creates a special place of discovery in each person who begins the treatment.
Horse therapy should be used with other evidence-based treatments for holistic healing that treat the whole self. For example, a balance of cognitive behavioral therapy and experiential therapy, like working with horses, can be combined in rehab.
Participants of equine-assisted therapy report feeling calm with the horses. During their horse therapy sessions, they can find the ability to think and react in a healthy way. Over time, working with horses allows people to feel ready to speak about bottled-up feelings and emotions in a safe space. To that end, equine therapy also takes individuals out into nature settings where they can find calm and healing outdoors. A change of scenery can often have a profound effect on changing negative thoughts and feelings about ourselves.
What Can Equine Therapy Treat?
Working with horses can promote inner peace, self-assurance, and reflection. As a result, equine therapy is an effective treatment for a variety of issues, including substance abuse and mental health issues. It has also shown promise in treating mood disorders and behavioral issues.
Equine-assisted therapy is sometimes considered a biofeedback therapy. Biofeedback therapy is a mind-body recovery process that identifies bodily responses to different stimuli. At a treatment center, biofeedback therapy includes monitors and wires tracking your physical reactions to stress. During equine therapy, the goal is to track your emotional response through the horse’s reactions.
What to Expect During Equine Therapy
Although sessions occur on ranches and farms, the main focus of equine therapy isn’t horse riding. The major focus in sessions is the bond between humans and horses. Each session includes equine specialist guidance to ensure everyone understands what they’re doing. The therapy also uses horses that are specially trained for therapy, so the animals are gentle and adaptable.
Some of the activities during equine therapy include:
- Grooming
- Feeding
- Riding horses
Along with physically caring for the horses, equine-assisted therapy sessions leave space for reflection and discussion, either during tasks or afterward. Individuals find that the peaceful atmosphere and routine of the tasks puts them in a safe and confident mental space. As such, they might access old memories or discover more about themselves in the present. Equine therapy counselors lead clients to explore insights, behaviors, and emotions and ask follow-up questions. The therapy is a collaborative one that involves active participation from both client and therapist.
Looking for Addiction Treatment Services?
If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, our admissions team is available 24/7. They are compassionate and understanding when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction. They are here to help answer your treatment questions and get you started on the path to recovery. Deciding to seek treatment for a substance use disorder can be intimidating. We are here to make this process as easy as possible. Reach out to us today to learn more about how our treatment centers can help!
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Benefits of Equine Therapy
The benefits of equine therapy are psychological, social, emotional, and physical, making it an excellent addition to an individual recovery plan. It puts into action traditional talk therapy elements, like feedback and mirroring, and interpersonal communication, with non-judgmental and unbiased partners in therapy. That leads to vulnerability management and assertiveness. More benefits of horse therapy include learning adaptability, trust, self-awareness, and mindfulness. Equine therapy can also relieve stress and muscle tension through deep breathing and emotional regulation.
Equine-Assisted Therapy at Aliya Health Group
Aliya Health Group offers equine therapy to our clients because we believe in its benefits. Evidence-based experiential therapies like equine-assisted treatment align with our holistic-approach to healing. True wellness is created through intentional physical, mental, and spiritual healing, which we can help you achieve. Our recovery programming for addiction and mental health starts with personalized care plans. Your healing will look different from anyone else’s because you bring a unique background and distinct needs. Each client has a unique path to recovery, and we help them find it.
We would love to help you get the care you need to beat your disorder! Please reach out today so we can begin the conversation about how we can help you.
We accept health insurance
We accept most major health insurance providers on both a national and local level. We currently work with the following insurance plans:
Check to see if your insurance is in-network at one of our rehab facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before entering outpatient treatment for substance abuse, most people have a long list of questions and concerns. To help you gain a better understanding of what to expect during outpatient programs, we have compiled a list of our most frequently asked questions.
Yes, our rehabilitation facilities have designated smoking areas available. However, kindly note that all cigarettes brought into the facility must be in unopened packs or cartons. The same rule applies to any cigarettes sent or brought by family or friends. Our staff will be more than happy to provide you with additional details regarding these guidelines during the admission process.
Yes, in most cases, we can offer repayment options tailored to your unique circumstances. For more details regarding personal repayment options, we recommend reaching out to our admissions team. They’ll be more than happy to assist you.
We accept all major insurance plans at our treatment locations. To learn more about insurance and treatment cost, contact our admissions team or fill out our secure insurance verification form.
Yes, we provide integrative dual diagnostics alongside a wide array of treatment modalities. Our core objective revolves around tackling addiction, while simultaneously addressing the underlying factors that contribute to substance use disorders. Our mission is to deliver effective and holistic care that encompasses both symptom management and the exploration of root causes of addiction.
In terms of cost, outpatient treatment is typically more affordable than inpatient options which require round-the-clock medical supervision. This makes it a viable solution for individuals who may be deterred from seeking help due to financial constraints.
“I highly recommend this facility for anyone needing treatment. The staff isn’t just nice and genuine there but instead one big family. Whether it’s the owner, housing manager, or a bht you get the best down to earth genuine care. The material they teach in group is very helpful also.”
