About Equine Therapy
Equine Therapy (also referred to as Hippotherapy, Horse Therapy, Equine Assisted Therapy, Equine Assisted Leadership, Equine Assisted Learning and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy) is a form of experiential therapy that involves interactions between a therapy provider, a horse specialist, a client/clients, and horses. It can be delivered individually or in groups. Sometimes the therapy provider and equine specialist are the same person and sometimes they are not – depending on the training, model and experience of the Equine Practitioner. South Coast Psychology Equine Assisted Therapists are trained in either Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP), Equine Assisted Learning (EAL), Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT) and/or are experienced Horse Specialists. The two main modles of practice are EPI and EAGALA. We also have Counsellors, Social Workers, Coaches, Psychotherapists and Psychologists who work with trained Equine Specialists to deliver Animal Assisted Therapies to their clients. Equine Assisted Therapy involves activities (such as engaging with, grooming, feeding, haltering and leading a horse, as well as some projective and mounted experiences) that are designed by a mental health professional in conjunction with a horse professional to work with clients. Both during the activity and after the client has finished working with the horse, the Equine Assisted Specialist and Therapist can observe and interact with the client in order to identify behaviour patterns and processes, thoughts and emotions. The goal of Equine Assisted Therapy and learning is to help the client develop needed skills and attributes, such as emotion regulation, confidence, relationship skills, responsibility, self-confidence, problem-solving skills, and self-control. Equine Assisted Therapy also provides space in which the mental health therapist and the client can identify and address a range of emotional and behavioural challenges through the observations of the equine specialist and the interactions between the horse/s and the client/s.
Benefits
of Equine
Therapy
Studies have indicated that Equine Assisted Therapy has been successful in helping patients show marked improvements in the following areas: Assertiveness, Emotional Awareness, Empathy, Distress Tolerance, Flexibility, Impulse control, Problem-solving Skills, Self-actualization, Independence, Self-regard, Social Responsibility, and Interpersonal Relationships.
Many of the benefits of Equine Assisted Therapy are likely due to the nature of the animals with which the client, mental health practitioner, and Equine Assisted Therapist are interacting. Horses are typically non-judgmental, have no preconceived expectations or motives, and are highly effective at mirroring attitudes and behaviours of the humans with whom they are working.
While working with horses under the guidance and supervision of an Equine Specialist and a mental health practitioner, Equine Assisted Therapy clients have a unique and effective opportunity to note their tendency to engage in self-defeating and otherwise negative thoughts and actions. These realizations provide excellent bases for discussion and processing both during and after the Equine Assisted Therapy experience
About
Animal Assisted Therapy is a therapeutic intervention that incorporates animals, such as horses, dogs, cats, and birds, into the treatment plan.
The client, therapist, and/or any specialist, and animal work together in therapeutic activities that are outlined in a treatment plan, with clear goals for change, measurable objectives, and the expectation of identifiable progress toward the treatment goals. The therapy can take many forms, based on the client, the animal, and the goals for treatment.
Animal Assisted Therapy is used to enhance and complement the benefits of traditional therapy
When it's Used
Animal Assisted Therapy can be a useful intervention for some individuals or groups. It can help with a variety of experiences and conditions including: every day problems and personal development as well as working with emotional and behavioral and physical problems in children and people experiencing; Stress, Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, Autism, ADHD, Addiction, Schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other mental health and medical conditions.
Animal Assisted Therapy
How It Works
Animal Assisted Therapy is rooted in the bond that can develop between people and animals. Animals can provide a sense of calm, comfort, or safety and divert attention away from a stressful situation and toward one that provides pleasure. Animals can help combat loneliness and boost social support, both through interactions with the animal and interactions that involve other people. Animals can lead people to get more physical activity than they would otherwise. Advocates of Animal Assisted Therapy say that developing a bond with an animal can help people develop a better sense of self-worth and trust, stabilize their emotions, and improve their communication, self-regulation, and socialization skills.
OUR SERVICES
South Coast Psychology has a number of Equine Services, the roles of specific Equine and Human Psychological treatment providers vary within our services.
EQUINE EXPERIENCE
Equine experiences can be relaxing and enjoyable with or without specialist therapeutic input. South Coast Psychology equine specialists, offer Equine experiences with our herd of 13 horses Hannah, Latte, Castle, Toby, Taco, Palle, Possum, Leo, Sweet Pea, Panda, Smokey, Ricco and Tilly.
Other therapists also bring clients to experience the horses which supports the work they are doing in their room based practices.
The cost of these equine experiences are $65+GST.
Please contact us for more information.
EQUINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY
South Coast Psychology has registered mental health practitioners trained in Equine Psychotherapy. Psychologists Diane Gillespie, Cassandra Rolston, and counsellor Kate McKay are trained in Equine Psychotherapy utilising Gestalt Psychotherapy Models and methods of the Equine Psychotherapy Institute (EPI). They use this model in working with a number of mild to severe mental health conditions.
The cost for Equine Psychotherapy ranges from $125 - $200+GST depending on the profession of the therapy provider. Sometimes this can be funded if certain criteria are met. Please contact us for more information.
EQUINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY
South Coast Psychology has registered mental health practitioners trained in equine psychotherapy. Psychologists Diane Gillespie, Cassandra Rolston, and counsellor Kate McKay are trained in Equine Psychotherapy utilising Gestalt psychotherapy models and methods of the Equine Psychotherapy Institute. They use this model in working with a number of mild to severe mental health conditions.
The cost for Equine Psychotherapy ranges from $125 - $200+GST depending on the profession of the therapy provider. Sometimes this can be funded if certain criteria are met. Please contact us for more information.
EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING AND THERAPY GROUPS
Group Therapy provides insight, awareness and development. These could be family whānau groups or any other kinds of interpersonal grouping. Our Equine Providers work with you to establish the best possible experiences for your specific groups and the outcomes you are looking for.
ACC Approved Equine Assisted Learning Groups
We use Equine Assisted Learning for these groups because it is a skill building approach that is useful adjunct to the evidence based treatments such as CBT, Integrated Trauma Focussed Therapy (Briere), and EMDR. We have an approved ACC ISSC provider and an Equine Specialist to lead these groups.
According to contemporary literature, Equine Assisted Learning is a skill-building method where people work with horses to achieve particular personal or professional goals. A client will work with a facilitator who makes a lesson plan based on what the person wants. The facilitator will guide the group through numerous experiences in horse-human interactions, wisdoms and care, and observing horse behavior.
Please contact us for more information.
EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP
South Coast Psychology has numerous Equine Assisted Learning facilitators (EPI) and Equine Specialists (EAGALA) who use horses and other animals in their work with people either as counsellors, therapists, personal development coaches or mentors. We use Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Models developed from either the EPI or EAGALA Equine Assisted Therapy Models in working with people and blend these with Trauma Informed and Kaupapa Māori practices models and traditions to provide a unique healing and learning experience.
Please contact us for more information.
CORPORATE
TEAM-BUILDING
Working with horses, through observations, interactions, activities, and tasks and then processing this with our psychologists help teams come to mindful awareness which allows cohesive team building. We will work with you to meet the needs of your team.
Please contact us for more information.
EQUINE ASSISTED CLINICAL & TEAM SUPERVISION
Our trained clinical and team supervisor, Psychologist Diane Gillespie, uses horses to provide an Equine Assisted clinical and team supervision space.
Please contact us for more information.