Many individuals who struggle with addictions and trauma find it hard to recognize and express their emotions, while interacting with horses in a safe environment helps them learn how to identify, process and cope with them.
Interacting with horses during therapy sessions helps individuals build communication skills, self-control and accountability to alter negative patterns of behavior and develop empathy, compassion and flexibility.
A Safe Environment
Equine therapy involves challenging clients to move beyond their comfort zones as they groom, feed or interact with horses – an experience which fosters confidence and self-esteem in them.
Because horses are so in tune with people and their emotions, they provide a non-threatening space where participants can open up and communicate more freely. Through this interaction, participants can explore their own emotional patterns which they can then apply in human relationships.
Horses don’t judge. Instead, their reactions to someone’s behavior are honest and helpful in understanding how emotions may be misinterpreted by others. Furthermore, this teaches people when they project their own issues onto someone else – something they will carry with them throughout their lives as a valuable lesson they’ll keep remembering throughout life! People learn how to see others as individuals while developing compassion towards all individuals – eventually increasing trust with one another.
A Non-Judgmental Environment
People living with addictions, anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions often find it hard to identify and express their emotions. Horses provide a non-judgemental space where people can explore their feelings safely – helping many clients to overcome obstacles in life by connecting with the heart resonance of horses.
Horses are herd animals that provide keen insight into the environment around them and are sensitive to changes in body language, providing invaluable advice about human relationships and helping individuals discover who they really are.
As horses may be the first non-human animal that people have truly connected with and trusted, many feel sad or upset when it’s time to end the relationship or treatment process. This is an understandable reaction and does not indicate anything about its overall effectiveness; in fact, as research advances within this unique treatment option more benefits are being discovered each day!
A Connection to the Heart Resonance
Horses are extremely sensitive, often reflecting human behaviors and emotions back on us. Horses can detect predators quickly and are quick to react in unexpected situations – this makes horses an invaluable teaching tool in helping us identify our reactions in difficult circumstances.
Equine therapy is an invaluable form of help for people struggling with mental health conditions such as anxiety. Equine therapy enables participants to practice vulnerability in an accepting and non-judgmental setting and promote mindfulness. Equine therapy is an invaluable asset that can be used effectively against anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Working with horses provides individuals with a sense of accomplishment that helps boost both their self-esteem and confidence, and encourages a deeper bond with their horse, making them feel capable and secure despite whatever challenges come their way. They may even find motivation in dealing with any new obstacles that arise as a result.
A Sense of Accomplishment
HORSES provide participants with a sense of achievement and self-worth. Engaging with horses develops confidence, assertiveness, and communication skills which extend far beyond the confines of an equine therapy setting – even into other aspects of life!
Many individuals with addiction, PTSD and other mental health disorders struggle with understanding or experiencing their emotions; as a result, they may turn to drugs to numb feelings of sadness, anger and fear. Equine therapy provides a great opportunity for participants to slow down and connect with their emotions – providing a powerful means of helping overcome addictions.
Horses are highly intelligent animals. Their physical and emotional responses mirror that of those they interact with, enabling individuals to recognize repeating patterns in their relationships with others. Horses also can sense energy shifts that reflect in their movements – an ability which may help those struggling with posttraumatic stress disorder remain present while simultaneously decreasing hypervigilance.
