The purpose of this study was to examine how facilitators of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) viewed the effectiveness of EAP on adolescents experiencing depression and/or anxiety. EAP is a form of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAP) involving horses as a therapeutic medium. With EAP, a licensed therapist and a horse professional work together in helping clients meet their treatment goals, with the horse acting as an agent of change. The goal for the client isn't to develop horseback riding skills, but to experience change within oneself and to learn and apply specific life skills.
This study was conducted in Victoria and New South Wales (Australia) with eight therapists participating. Three of the participants were registered psychologists, three held relevant undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in psychology, and two were horse specialists with qualifications in psychology. All eight of the participants were involved in offering EAP to adolescents diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety. The researchers interviewed each of the therapists using a semi-structured format. The interview questions focused on the participants' motivations for working as an EAP therapist and their perceptions about what makes EAP unique and effective in facilitating change in adolescents. The 30- to 45-minute interviews were recorded, transcribed, and then analyzed for common ideas and themes.
Three key themes were identified: the nature of EAP, clinical implications of EAP, and the practice and limitations of EAP. The experiential aspect of EAP, along with the involvement of the horse, were cited as important factors influencing the effectiveness of this approach to therapy. Most of the therapists referred to the 'non-judgmental nature' of the horse as playing a significant role in the therapy sessions. The therapists identified a range of positive outcomes for their adolescent clients, including increased confidence, self-esteem, assertiveness, and resourcefulness. They also saw improvements in emotional regulation and self-control and decreases in undesirable behaviors. A lack of public understanding about EAP was cited as a barrier to EAP being recognized and accepted as a valid approach to therapy. Further studies with more empirical evidence could add support to the use of EAP as an appropriate therapeutic intervention aimed at preventing and treating emotional disorders among adolescents.
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