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Equine Therapy: Mental...
It can get overwhelming dealing with life’s struggles, but Sierra Recovery is here to help. Through different therapies, such as equine therapy, our team is here to help you process what has been weighing you down and set the foundation for a more fulfilling life.
What Is Equine Therapy?
Equine therapy is a holistic approach that involves working with horses to achieve healing. It’s conducted in a safe space so that you feel more comfortable dealing with the animals.
This type of therapy emphasises your relationship with the horses. Horses are excellent at mirroring emotions and can pick up cues from humans. So for example, if you’re stressed, then the horse may also feel stressed and not ready to come up to you.
This makes equine-assisted therapy a great tool for balancing your internal state and teaches you emotional regulation through feedback from the animals. What the horse feels is often a reflection of your emotions, so you’ll learn how to respond appropriately for a better relationship with the animal.
Horses and Mental Health Healing
Horses are sensitive animals, and that should always be kept in the back of your mind when working with them. Equine therapy is a relationship-based kind of therapeutic approach It only works if you actively learn how to empathise with the animal.
For example, horses are known to be calm creatures. It can be difficult to connect with them if you aren’t calm yourself.
Working with horses doesn’t necessarily mean you have to learn how to ride them. Many of the therapeutic programmes are done from the ground. It is more about learning how to connect and communicate. Research has also shown that there are benefits to simply being in the presence of horses and basic activities such as brushing them or being around them can improve stress and lower cortisol levels.
Since it’s a more hands-on approach, you can pick up on skills more quickly. It can also be a more enjoyable way of processing emotions and feelings compared to traditional psychotherapy.
Who Benefits from Equine Therapy?
At Sierra Recovery, equine-assisted therapy caters to people going through different kinds of challenges. You may benefit from it if you have:
Anxiety and Depression
People with anxiety and depression can feel more calm when they deal with horses. The activities during this therapy focus on how horses sense the emotions of those around them. As such, it can help you be more present in the moment.
Substance Abuse Struggles
This therapy can also be integrated into substance abuse treatment since this disorder may stem from dealing with difficult emotions. Connecting with horses may make it easier to deal with sad emotions, opening up space for healing and recovery.
Trauma
People with trauma often struggle with building trust with others and verbally processing their emotions. Through this therapy, you’ll learn how to build trust by working with an animal that requires you to be more patient and consistent. It will also provide an outlet for processing emotions that don’t rely on words or talking.
Low Self-Esteem
The activities done during this approach are designed to help you slowly accomplish a certain goal. This can make people with low self-esteem feel more accomplished. Building a relationship with the horse can be a rewarding process and can be of great help to those struggling with self-doubt.
Equine-Assisted Activities
As mentioned earlier, it’s not necessary to have equestrian skills to benefit from equine therapy. Therapy sessions consist of different activities you can do with horses to help you feel better and improve your overall well-being.
Horse Herding
Managing a horse requires you to be in control of your emotions since horses are highly sensitive animals. You’ll learn how to be steady and composed as you work with the horse. Horse herding also gives you a sense of accomplishment, which is important for working on self-esteem issues.
Horse Grooming
Grooming a horse is a hands-on activity that allows you to connect with the horse. Brushing their coats or cleaning their hooves may seem repetitive, but they do help with staying present and calm. It’s a way to practise mindfulness while building responsibility.
Horse Bonding
In many cases, simply bonding with the horse can help you build trust and connection. Over time, as you earn the horse’s trust, you’ll feel more safe and valued. These animals are intuitive, and bonding with them can help you heal emotionally.
Horse Leading
Horse leading is when you guide a horse through different tasks. These tasks may be challenging, but they’ll teach you patience and problem-solving skills. Communication is also important in horse leading since this is how you guide the horse to do what it needs to do.
Other Holistic Approaches at Sierra Recovery
Here are some other holistic treatments we may incorporate into your programme for a more comprehensive recovery journey.
Yoga
Yoga is an ancient practice that helps you improve your strength and flexibility. It also has several benefits when promoting a sense of calm. By holding different poses and incorporating breathing exercises, you can slowly improve your overall health and well-being.
Mindfulness and Meditation
Mindfulness and meditation are practices that help you stay more present. There are times when we are caught up in the mistakes of the past and the worries of the future. Practising mindfulness and meditation can help you achieve better mental clarity and control your emotions.
Art Therapy
Art therapy is a type of holistic treatment that uses art to help you explore your emotions through art. Different activities, such as painting, drawing, or pottery, can be a good emotional release if you experience feelings of anxiety or depression.
Nutritional Counselling
Struggling with mental health conditions and other substance abuse disorders can have a negative effect on your physical health. With nutritional counselling, you’ll learn how to improve your diet so that you get the essential nutrients for optimal health.
Factors to Consider Before Equine Therapy
While equine therapy comes with several benefits, there are still a few factors to consider before determining whether this type of approach is right for you.
One of the first factors to consider before this therapeutic approach is your goals. What are you hoping to achieve after completing a certain number of sessions?
This could make your sessions more goal-oriented and not just a time for bonding with the horses. Some people may want to feel less anxious by the end of the treatment, while others may want to have a newfound sense of accomplishment.
Physical and emotional readiness are also two considerations you need to keep in mind before the treatment. For example, some people may have physical limitations that can make it difficult to work with horses. Mobility issues might make it difficult to groom a horse, while allergies can impact daily participation.
Some people may also not be comfortable with working around horses. Although it’s possible to overcome this fear, it’s important to see whether this is going to be a big hurdle to receiving treatment.
Comprehensive and Flexible Treatment
At Sierra Recovery, we value providing treatments that make healing possible. Our team incorporates different types of evidence-based and holistic therapies so that you get the best recovery experience possible.
Sierra Recovery also values flexible treatment. This means we will always make an extra effort to personalise your treatment programme to fit your needs and goals. Throughout your journey, we will conduct regular check-ins to see your progress to help us determine whether a certain treatment approach is working or not.
As we strive to provide the best possible care, we will always make it a point that our therapies address your current situation.
Explore Equine Therapy At Sierra Recovery
If traditional psychotherapy seems to not work for you yet, or if you want to explore alternative approaches, then you may want to reach out to us at Sierra Recovery and explore the benefits of equine therapy for mental health.
We use this type of holistic treatment to help you improve mood regulation, your relationship with others, and your overall well-being. Our team is here to make you feel more in control and confident.
There’s no need to feel like you’re always living in the shadow of your negative emotions. Our team is always more than happy to help. We’re just a phone call or email away from helping you live a healthier and happier life.
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