Abstract
Equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) has emerged as a promising, evidence-based intervention for the treatment of trauma and stressor-related disorders. This experiential therapy offers an option for clients whose traumatic experiences render traditional talk therapies ineffective. Initial research on the most robust model of EAP, developed by the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA), indicates strong, positive effects for children, adolescents and adults who have experienced trauma. EAGALA was designed to allow for rigorous evaluation of efficacy, a clear theoretical base, standardized implementation, and ongoing training for practitioners. As the primary providers of mental and behavioral health services in the United States, social workers are keenly aware of the need for a portfolio of treatment methods to manage the increasing demand for services. EAP has emerged as an important addition to this portfolio, providing options for some the most vulnerable client populations.
Highlights
Equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) has emerged as a promising intervention for the treatment of trauma and stressor-related disorders
Individuals face a higher risk of suffering from substance use disorders, depression, and trauma and stressor-related disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
In addition to the effects that trauma has on the brain, trauma lives in the muscles, bones, and the neurons serving the musculoskeletal system. van der Kolk (2014) explains that when the limbic system is repeatedly triggered during stress responses, there is an increased risk that it will remain on and leave the body in a hypervigilant state
Summary
Humans have relied on horses for thousands of years, using them as a primary means of transportation on fields of battle and agriculture. The transparency of communication from prey animals living in a state of heightened awareness may paradoxically create a sense of safety in clients, especially those who have survived trauma, and allows space for nonjudgmental self-examination. As Hayes (2015) states, Many humans with certain types of emotional damage experience positive feelings of familiarity as they unconsciously identify with the two primary equine survival traits of hypervigilance and herd-dynamic-based social skills. These shared traits and interspecies identification can create mutual feelings of safety, acceptance, and compassion for both human and horse. EAP works with this mutuality to nurture the safe space initiated by the connection between clients and horses
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