Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is a powerful psychotherapeutic approach that utilizes horses as part of a therapy team. The other members of the team are a licensed mental health professional and an equine specialist professional.
Working with horses can help you to discover and overcome unhealthy patterns and behaviors. This is because the horse, as a non-verbal communicator, gives immediate feedback about your actions and body language through what is called mirroring. Horses are exceptionally sensitive and are able to mirror emotions as well as behavior. We learn what is going on with our human clients by watching what the horses are doing.
Equine assisted psychotherapy can assist you with:
Problem solving
Communication skills
Relationship building
Confidence
Self control
Trust
Setting healthy and safe boundaries
Calming the nervous system
And with trauma symptoms:
Irritability and anger
Sleep difficulties and constant fatigue
Difficulty concentrating, remembering and thinking
Depression
Withdrawal from social activities and friends
Problems at home
An increase in accidents
An increase in taking unnecessary risks
Physical complaints and medical illness or fear of medical illness
A significant increase in the use of alcohol and other substances