Clearview Offers Equine-Assisted Therapy
Equine therapy aims to help girls develop needed skills and attributes, such as accountability, responsibility, self-confidence, problem-solving skills, and self-control. Equine therapy also provides an innovative milieu in which the therapist and the patient can identify and address various emotional and behavioral challenges.
Equine-Assisted Therapy activities are supervised by a mental health professional, often with the support of an equine professional. Both during the activity and after the patient has finished working with the horse, the equine therapist can observe and interact with the patient to identify behavior patterns and process thoughts and emotions.
What are the Benefits of Equine Therapy?
Studies have indicated that equine therapy has been successful in helping patients show marked improvements in the following areas:
- Assertiveness
- Emotional awareness
- Empathy
- Stress tolerance
- Flexibility
- Impulse control
- Problem-solving skills
- Self-actualization
- Independence
- Self-regard
- Social responsibility
- Interpersonal relationships
Many of the benefits of equine therapy are likely due to the nature of the animals with which the patient and equine therapist are interacting. Horses are typically non-judgmental, have no preconceived expectations or motives, and are highly effective at mirroring the attitudes and behaviors of the humans with whom they work.
While working with horses under the guidance and supervision of an equine therapist, equine therapy patients have a unique and effective opportunity to note their tendency to engage in self-defeating and otherwise negative thoughts and actions. These realizations provide excellent bases for discussion and processing during and after the equine therapy experience.
What Conditions/Disorders Does Equine Therapy Treat?
Equine therapy has been successfully integrated into treatment programs for adults and teens who are being treated for behavior disorders, mood disorders, eating disorders, learning differences, ADD/ADHD, autism, Asperger’s, grief/loss, trauma, compulsive gambling, bipolar, depression, and related conditions.
