Equine Assisted Psychotherapy - EAP

There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man. - Winston Churchill

EQUINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY - EAP

DEFINITION

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)  is defined as an interactive process in which a team of a licensed mental health professional, an equine specialist, and a horse  partners with a client to address psychotherapy goals.  Sessions allow for clients to learn about themselves and others in order to analyze and adjust their beliefs, behaviors, habits, and thoughts as needed for their personal growth and/or emotional healing.

GOALS

1. Empower clients to meet and overcome challenges for personal growth
2. Maintain client centered focus
3. Stay solution focused
4. Offer trauma informed care
5. Set up and allow for experiential learning
6. Include the client in setting their goals
7. Be team centered with parents
8. Incorporate outside agencies goals and directives
9. Maintain safe, healthy boundaries and accountability for the client, horse, and professionals
10. Adhere to industry based philosophies and ethics
11. Incorporate research and evidence based practices and processes​​
12. Maintain confidentiality of client according to HIPAA

Benefits

Couples
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy can help couples address a variety of behaviors and problems that create dysfunction in a relationship.

The couple will meet with our clinical team to discuss difficulties of current concern or areas the couple would like to work on.  Equine Assisted Therapy can assist couples in:

• Improving your communication
• Developing empathy towards one another
• Increasing your intimacy
• Pinpointing ineffective parenting skills
• Highlighting a couple's strengths
• Reminding you of the reasons why you are together
• Bringing fun and excitement to your relationship

BENEFITS

Families
There are many stress factors that effect family dynamics and relationships in our current times. Financial difficulties, time pressures, social media, sexual dynamics, the internet, drug abuse, addictions, school difficulties, work place stress are just a few factors that can negatively effect a family.
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Family dynamics can be explored safely and enjoyably through Equine Assisted Therapy.

EAP can assist a family with:

• Having fun together
• Improving their communication
• Pointing our their strengths
• Developing empathy
• Encouraging team work and collaboration among family members
• Highlighting inefficient discipline techniques

Individuals or Groups

• Build self-awareness necessary for healing emotional wounds and/or personal development
• Increase social and emotional skills
• Develop skills for goal setting and methods of accomplishment
• Increase conflict resolution skills
• Develop ability to self correct and regulate stress response system
• Increase school attendance and grades
• Decrease bullying and behavior problems
• Increase ability to focus and attend
• Improve brain function by increasing cross brain connections and expansion of neoplasticity of the brain
• Improve  skills for healthy relationships with self, others and animals
• Building mindfulness skills
• Develop healthy connections through attachment and detachment
• Strengthen emotional intelligence skills
• Increase resiliency skills
• Build confidence
• Build trust
• Learn to face your fears
• Learn how to set boundaries and say no
• Change unproductive patterns
• Develop new coping skills

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THE PROGRAM

​A horse, licensed therapist and horse professional conduct EAP.
EAP may be used with children, adolescents, and adults to treat:

• behavioral issues
• ADHD
• substance abuse
• eating disorders
• abuse issues
• depression
• anxiety
• relationship issues
• communication needs
• attachment concerns and disorders
• Post Traumatic Stress and trauma issues

EAP may also be used in counseling, coaching and learning sessions:
Parenting 
Foster Care
Times of Transition
​Spiritual Growth

Sessions are typically 55 to 90 minutes and best if held for a minimum of 8 weeks.

RESOURCES​ ​

• Natural Lifemanship- naturallifemanship.org- The New Standard in EAP.  "Connection with self.  Connection with others.  A life filled with connected relationships the way it was intended." 
• EAGALA -eagala.org- A Global Standard in Therapy and Personal Development "Professional experiential therapy that works.Client-centered and solution-oriented."
• Parelli Institute-parellifoundation.org-"Helping create a better world for horses and humans…"