Equine Assisted Therapy

Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT) is a particular form of Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) that incorporated the relationship with a horse in a psychotherapeutic process. It is usually done in equipe, where the mental health professional is assisted by the equine expert to ensure safety a good procedure.

In Equine Therapy activities with horses, like grooming, brushing, feeding, riding and strolling, are incorporated in more structured therapeutic models, like Gestalt, Adlerian Therapy, or Narrative Therapy. The interaction with the animal and the relationship that generates helps reduce the pressure that clients might feel in more standardized office-based therapies and settings.

Equine therapy has numerous benefits, including physical activity, distress tolerance, aggressivity modulation, increase in self-esteem, self-efficacy, independence, and emotional awareness, as well as fostering a better management of one’s vulnerability. 

Benefits of equine therapy have been observed amongst a variety of conditions including: Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Couples Therapy, Complex Trauma, Autism and Emotion Regulation. 

Lastly, it has been successfully used with all ages, making it a powerful and versatile technique.

Please contact our front staff to learn more, or if you would like to book an appointment.