Equine-assisted therapy
Equine-assisted therapy
Equine-assisted therapy (IPA: /ˈiːkwɪn əˈsɪstɪd θɛrəpi/), also known as horse therapy or hippotherapy, is a form of therapy that makes use of horses to help promote emotional growth and personal development. The term is derived from the Latin word "equus" meaning "horse" and the Greek word "therapeia" meaning "healing".
History
Equine-assisted therapy has roots in antiquity, with the ancient Greeks documenting the horse's therapeutic value in 600 B.C. The modern use of equine therapy has broad applications, including physical, occupational and speech therapy, as well as psychotherapy and mental health counseling.
Methodology
In equine-assisted therapy, the interaction with horses is used to provide a natural and supportive environment for the individual. The therapy involves activities such as grooming, feeding, haltering and leading a horse that are supervised by a mental health professional, often with the support of a horse professional.
Both during the activity and after, the therapist can observe and interact with the individual in order to identify behavior patterns and process thoughts and emotions.
Benefits
The benefits of equine-assisted therapy include emotional awareness, empathy, stress tolerance, flexibility, impulse control, problem-solving skills, self-esteem, confidence, and interpersonal effectiveness.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Equine-assisted therapy
- Wikipedia's article - Equine-assisted therapy
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