Integrated Counseling and Wellness Equine Therapy
At Integrated Counseling and Wellness, we are always looking for the best ways to help our clients. Equine assisted psychotherapy, also known as EAP or Animal Assisted Interventions in Counseling (AAI-C) , has been used for ages, dating all the way back into ancient Greek literature. As centuries have passed, equine therapy has gained more and more popularity and has proven to be a great way to help people with a multitude of disorders and disabilities. We are now offering equine therapy groups and workshops at a barn offsite to give our clients a whole-body approach to counseling and wellness.
What is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy?
Equine therapy is beneficial for all kinds of different mental health disorders, making it a great solution for animal lovers, especially. Spending more time with animals has been proven to help reduce stress for people all over the world. Equine therapy is good for physical and emotional disorders, and it involves a session of therapeutic activities with horses.
The connection between the horses and humans can help to promote physical and emotional healing. The outdoor setting provides space for EAP to take place, and it gives clients a sense of responsibility for themselves as well as the horse they are working with. During EAP, clients learn to regulate their emotions in order to promote harmony in the bond with the horses. There is a direct transfer of energy between the horse and human that promotes mutual respect and understanding.
Integrated Counseling and Wellness’s equine assisted therapy consists of tending to the horse to help form deeper bonds. Learning to handle and complete obstacles and maneuvers on the ground allow for humans to engage with the horses. Equines possess a unique characteristic to immediately pick up and mimic a human’s heart rate variability (HRV) (Mistral, 2007). Human’s HRV is linked to their emotional well-being and stress level. This ground-breaking information and their general stoic nature identify equines as a therapy animal of much value in the therapeutic counseling relationship.
Who is Equine Therapy For?
Equine therapy works well for anyone struggling with their mental health. Because spending time with animals proves to lower stress in humans, equine therapy is a great opportunity for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed by the stress or ups and downs of life.
When you feel out of control or like the ground beneath you is slipping out from under you, it’s important to find ways to feel grounded once again. Because of the bond and energy shared between the human and the horse, you can experience that kind of grounding you need to begin healing.
More on Equine Therapy and Integrated Counseling and Wellness
Our team of professional counselors are here for you. Equine therapy is a small part of a larger picture.You will be working with a counselor who can help you work through your struggles during groups or workshops so you are not alone. We believe that this method is best coupled with other counseling services to give you a well-rounded toolkit for managing your mental health.
At Integrated Counseling and Wellness we are dedicated to providing you with the most up-to-date, innovative counseling services available so you can feel comfortable and find the healing you need. Our expert staff is here for you at every turn, welcoming you to take the next steps toward leading a happy and fulfilled life with the tools to help you cope with whatever life throws your way.
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, know that you can always reach out to the team of expert counselors at Integrated Counseling and Wellness for help. We work hard to provide our clients with the best care possible. To learn more or meet with a counselor, schedule your first fifteen minute consultation online, or give us a call.
REFERENCES
Mistral, 2007 from http://horseconnection.com/heart-to-heart-a-quantitative-approach-to-measuring-the-emotional-bond-between-horses-and-humans-august-2007/
