> Mesothelioma

> Veterans

> Equine Therapy

Equine Therapy for Veterans

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP), also known simply as Equine Therapy, is a unique form of therapy that was developed to assist individuals with a variety of mental health problems. It has been used to treat veterans dealing with a plethora of post-deployment issues, many caused by exposure to combat situations. These include Attention Deficit Disorder, panic disorder, drug and alcohol addictions, and depression, as well as relationship problems and communication issues that affect the vets interaction with others, including their families.

Equine therapy is considered a form of alternative or complementary therapy and is often used in conjunction with other treatments for mental health disorders, including traditional psychotherapy and medications.

How It Works

Equine-assisted psychotherapy uses horses to aid patients in learning about themselves while interacting with the animals. The technique is administered by a licensed therapist and a horse professional who work hand in hand with the patient. While the therapy sometimes involves riding, it most often includes “ground” activities such as grooming, feeding, training, and other equine experiential activities that allow the patient to form a relationship with the horse, who is trained along with the therapist and horse handler to deal with those with mental health issues.

Once EAP participants are assigned a variety of tasks and complete or attempt to complete them, they are asked to discuss their feelings with the practitioner/therapist. The therapist, who observes the patient during the tasks, can also directly observe the patient’s difficulties and direct discussion towards the issues a vet is facing, including fear, lack of control, poor self-esteem, and many others.

Experts in the field note that most issues that can cloud a person’s relationship with others can be played out during an equine therapy session, including emotional reactions, choices, behaviors, and family dynamics, pointing out that the animal’s reaction to the client and vice versa can provide insight into the client’s approach and behavior, allowing the client to eventually understand what changes need to be made in order to help solve his problems.

Who Does EAP Help?

Many veterans have expressed satisfaction with Equine-Assisted Therapy. However, like all kinds of therapy, it doesn’t work for everyone. Those who have been successful with EAP note, however, that they have been able to decrease their traditional therapy sessions and have eliminated or lessened medications they were taking for certain disorders, including depression and anxiety meds.

Those who lack a fondness for horses may be hesitant to try EAP, but the therapy can indeed help vets face their fears, including fear of horses and other large animals. And through their work with the horses, vets can also learn about frustration, anger management, accountability, responsibility, and trust. Furthermore, Equine-Assisted Therapy comes in all shapes and sizes and can be designed specifically to address the issues that are most interfering with the vet’s quality of life.

Last modified: December 24, 2010.