Benefits Of Equine Assisted Therapy For Women

Equine therapy for Women

EAP is a psychotherapy practice that collaborates with horses in a therapeutic capacity to treat human psychological problems in and around a barn or stable. Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) has done well not only in assisting typical clients, but also with clients that have had trouble in traditional modes of therapy.  

In fact, there are several documented successes of Equine Therapy helping those who suffer from anxiety and depression, personality disorder, trauma, and autism.

WHY A HORSE?

Horses are marvelous grand creatures that have helped and interacted with humankind since time immemorial.  The equine-human relationship transcended from being one of sustenance to one of partnership. Horses are known for interacting with humans with patience and in a non-judgmental way, without motive or expectations. Horses’ naturally high sensitivity to emotional energies enables them to react accordingly to the subtlest hints of emotions.

People can use their huge size as a metaphor in overcoming their fears and challenging situations in their lives. The whole idea in this therapy is that the woman who will be handling the horse will experience different kinds of emotions – some will be uncomfortable ones. Once these emotions are out, the therapy process begins. 

WHAT’S IN IT FOR A WOMAN?

During Equine Therapy sessions, the woman will be dealing and interacting with the horse at her own pace. In this stage, the woman can begin to figure out how to “handle a situation” without being rushed and without being judged.  The common issues that women who sought Equine Therapy have include communication challenges,  trust issues, setting boundaries, facing fears or trauma. Equine- assisted therapy has shown to have benefited women and individuals in the following ways:

  • Interpersonal skills- Horses are excellent communicators because of how exceptionally attuned they are to others’ emotions and behaviors. Working with horses enables clients to recognize their communication patterns. Seeing how the horse reacts to them allows them to see how their behavior affects others. 
  • Setting Boundaries- The straightforward nature of horses makes it clear to humans when their boundaries are crossed. This creates an opportunity for humans to adjust their behavior patterns accordingly. 
  • Overcoming Fears- The horse’s strength and size can parallel fears, lack of control trauma and feelings of inadequacy or insignificance. When clients find ways to build a relationship with the horse, they similarly process their own emotions allowing them to face their fears.  
  • Building Trust – The gentle and non-judgmental nature of horses help clients build or rebuild trust. 

 It is said that accomplishing a task involving the intimidating presence of a horse creates confidence and provides for wonderful metaphors for dealing with other more or equally challenging situations. And when a woman successfully conquers these situations, it will definitely be one worth celebrating.

Linda Thomson