We are fortunate to live at a time when alternative treatment modalities are developing and using animals as a form of therapy, particularly in treating those with substance use and mental health concerns, is more widespread than ever. Equine Therapy, often known as Equine Psychotherapy, is one particular technique that addiction treatment facilities are currently employing. When an addiction is present, it’s common for the person to experience feelings of dread, anxiety, and worthlessness as well as a decline in self-esteem. Victoria’s equine treatment permits these sensations to come to the surface, and instead of feeling trapped by unfavorable feelings, they start to feel connected, self-assured, and focused. Anxiety reduction, impulse control, and the development of a positive identity can all be aided by this experiential therapeutic approach, according to research on its advantages.

What takes place throughout equine assisted therapy?

Horses have a special capacity for detecting human social cues and emotional needs. In equine-assisted therapy, clients engage with horses in ways that address both their physical and emotional needs as well as any habits that jeopardize their health or well-being, including addiction. Since horses can be both kind and terrifying to certain people, relaxing activities like feeding, grooming, and other repetitive contact with the animals are usually more of a focus for most sessions. These horses are carefully trained therapy animals; they are patient and receptive to ensure that every patient is safe and can engage with each animal more easily. Emotional and physical healing frequently occurs as the person forms a bond with the horse. For those healing from trauma, developmental difficulties, mental health conditions, and addiction, to name a few, this approach has been used as a successful therapy plan.

The Advantages of Horse Therapy

The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International states that horses are “very sensitive to changes in the human being,” which supports the idea that they might be therapeutic or helpful to those dealing with mental health concerns (as a predatory creature). Due to their sensitivity, horses react and behave toward people in various ways depending on the person’s emotional condition. ”

Working with a horse acts as a sort of barometer, giving the client and the therapist insight into the client’s moods and shifts within them. The horse will behave and react in a way that reflects how the human feels when they arrive at the lesson. The horse will exhibit different behaviors if the person can lessen their nervousness. Both the client and the therapist have the chance to learn new things and develop new skills as a result of this action.

Specific advantages of equine assisted therapy for rehabilitation

Working with horses can reveal feelings that a client may not be consciously aware they are feeling or experiencing, especially when it comes to recovering from addiction. The therapist gains a better understanding of the needs, feelings, and objectives that must be addressed during treatment with the patient thanks to this contact. Among the specific advantages that equine therapy can provide to persons who are recovering are:

• through increasing the sense of social and emotional support, customers will feel like they can finally rely on others for support when they need it. When addiction is present, a person experiences extreme loneliness and frequently loses their capacity to trust other people. Working with horses can help the individual reestablish their faith in social support and trust in a nonjudgmental environment.
• fostering open communication between the client and the therapist. It’s common for someone who is beginning standard therapy for substance abuse or addiction to still be in a defensive state. Most persons with a history of addiction spend a lot of time hiding the truth, telling lies, and deceiving people in order to feed their habit. The patient’s defenses ultimately come down during horse therapy, encouraging transparency. This enables the therapist to better understand the patient’s genuine emotions and mental state.
• gaining an optimistic mindset and a knowledge of self-care. An individual’s sense of hope, collective insight, and positivism are also developed through the skill-building exercises that take place during an equine therapy session, which boosts the client’s self-esteem and sense of control. The client learns the importance of self-care when they are feeding or grooming the horse, and hopefully they will apply these lessons to their own lives.
• expanding physical awareness and establishing boundaries. As substance abuse numbs all facets of life, people who are actively addicted lose their capacity for both emotional and physical feeling. During horse therapy, the patient rediscovers their ability to feel and gains a greater sense of awareness of their physical body. Their balance and posture alter as a result of the physical interaction with the horse, and they start to stand a bit taller. Horses also possess excellent instincts and are able to detect changes in their environment fast. Due to their actions, consumers are made aware that they must respect specific boundaries when interacting with these delicate animals. As a result of learning this lesson, the client will be better able to recover on a deeper level by re-establishing boundaries in their personal relationships.

Equine therapy for co-occurring disorders

As a method of treating mental health illnesses, equine-assisted therapy has a long history. This type of experiential therapy has the potential to be a very effective approach for managing co-occurring illnesses. To improve their chances of full recovery, people with co-occurring mental health illnesses must address them while they work through their substance use disorder or addiction. In order to successfully overcome your substance use problem or addiction, you can treat these mental health issues through equine therapy in Victoria.

From Horse-Assisted Learning at Hamer Since recovery is a lifelong process of development and self-discovery, (HEAL) supports the use of alternative treatment techniques while treating addiction. We provide safe horseback riding experiences, both physically and mentally. We provide people the chance to look into problems that may be troubling them or just to take pleasure in being around the horses. Helping the patient discover methods for coping with mental health problems without turning to drugs or alcohol is crucial when treating co-occurring disorders. The goals of each person’s session are taken into consideration. In order to fulfill your objectives, we will take the time to learn what you hope to accomplish. Depending on your objectives, we will assist you in planning the number and length of sessions. Please contact us at 0411 549562 for further information, or visit our website.