Equine assisted Therapy victoria

Equine therapy is extremely useful in assisting in your personal recovery or addressing addiction and compulsive behaviors.

No matter what type of recovery is practiced; be it substance abuse, general mental health, family of origin or trauma equine therapy can be beneficial. All equine sessions are presented in a non- confrontational manner allowing your growth to be at your pace. Equine therapy is also a perfect match for individuals in 12-step recovery groups since many of the learning and therapeutic concepts in equine therapy fit into a 12- step approach and philosophy. All equine sessions are individualized to each participant’s level of acceptance, and growth potential. However, if there is a community need Equine Addiction recovery groups can be developed to reduce costs for clients.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy brings horses and humans together. By studying the interaction between human and horse in a variety of activities, the psychotherapist can gather a great deal of information about how a patient interacts with others.

This form of therapy is largely non-verbal and requires a great deal of emotional input from the patient. It’s carried out in an experiential manner, which is highly effective for those who are unable to talk about their feelings and communicate with others. The horse will react to the patient’s emotional state, offering insight and awareness for the psychotherapist to build on during rehabilitation.

Horses are prey animals. They have evolved to work together in a herd, and because of this, horses have learned to engage and bond with those around them. When you depend on a horse for practical purposes (i.e. survival), you are part of the herd – they depend on you to survive, and you depend on them. If one member of the herd is startled, the entire herd respond in the same way. For the animal, it’s a matter of life and death.

As a result, horses can respond to the emotional state of humans, without need for verbal communication. They can sense fear, anxiety and respect, and they react accordingly without the preconceptions that exist with human interaction.

Because of this sensitivity, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy helps patients understand and cater for the needs of others, without thinking about themselves first. Oftentimes, people with addictions tend to consider and attempt to fulfill their own desires.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy helps people gain self-awareness and an insight into how their actions might affect others. It helps them develop the skills they need to understand and interpret the non-verbal language of others

This form of treatment helps patients to:

• Build bonds of trust and support;
• Improve verbal and non-verbal communication within relationships;
• Gain personal insight into boundaries and relationships;
• Increase your attention span and your readiness to learn about yourself and others; &
• Build your confidence and self-esteem.

In short, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is a great way to improve communication, develop self-awareness and learn how to tend to the needs of others, without putting your own needs first. they are.