Equine therapy is not just horseback riding. It’s a whole constellation of horse-related activities conducted with therapeutic intent under the direction and support of an equine therapist. Equine therapists are addiction or mental health practitioners who are either also horse specialists or work in partnership with horse experts to conduct ongoing equine therapy.
Numerous people with mental health, behavioral, developmental, and substance use disorders are helped by equine therapy every year. Horse therapy helps them find relief, balance, empowerment, determination, and self-confidence. An equine therapy program in Denver, Colorado, at Mile High Recovery Center, is ready to help you find equilibrium, sobriety, and mental health. Therefore, reach out to us by dialing 303-268-2144 or simply filling out our online form.
Equine Therapy
Addiction tears at the foundations of a person’s sense of self. An enormous part of that is the way addiction erodes personal relationships. Trust is challenged by the lying and stealing that takes place. Communication fails to work well whenever secrets and denial are a part of everyday life. Hanging onto a sense of commitment or responsibility for others becomes increasingly impossible when one driving motivation guides all your days. Fortunately, horse therapy for addiction can teach you how to rebuild the parts of yourself that have been affected by your substance abuse.
If you are looking for information about equine therapy benefits, schedule a visit to Mile High Recovery Center to learn how horses are incorporated into your recovery. You will learn to care for and groom the horses before you ever get on a horse’s back. Horses are naturally inclined to befriend humans because they recognize us as being like them in many ways, as social animals who live in bonded units (herds/families). However, they don’t trust humans without question. You inspire these special beings to trust you by taking care of and feeding them. Once trust is established, you will forge strong bonds.
7 Benefits of Equine Therapy
In forming a relationship with a horse, you learn about one another, become familiar with each other’s fears, favorites, loves, and quirks. At the same time, you find out the best way to communicate, show affection, and offer support. In equine therapy, your therapist will work beside you, processing the experience with you, observing your journey, and working with you directly based on teachable moments that arise.
Seven benefits of equine therapy in recovery are:
- Developing confidence, resilience, and assertiveness
- Feeling needed/emotional connection
- Understanding others’ boundaries and forging personal boundaries
- Learning how to release negative or toxic feelings
- Acknowledging, accepting, and developing a sense of responsibility for another
- Learning non-verbal communication skills
- Being fully present in the moment
Equine therapy benefits expand beyond the things that are easily listed here. Psychologists, therapists, and educators recognize the powerful impact horses can have on those who are vulnerable, sick, fragile, damaged, frightened, angry, or lonely. Amber Senti once said, “The horse, with beauty unsurpassed, strength immeasurable, and grace unlike any other, still remains humble enough to carry a person upon his back.” The humility and grace offered by horses inspires most humans to rise to the standard.
The fact that more and more mental health and addiction recovery treatment centers are offering equine therapy to their clients is significant.
Horse Therapy for Addiction at Mile High Recovery Center
Find out more about the benefits of equine therapy by reaching out to Mile High Recovery Center. We can explain how equine therapy is woven into your personalized treatment plan alongside other evidence-based therapies such as:
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
Use our online form to connect with someone today, or simply call us at 303-268-2144.
