Benefits of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy to treat addictions

These are the positive effects of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy in cases of addiction.

Equine therapy, also known as Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP), is a resource that many health centers use in the treatment of patients. is a resource that many health centers use in the treatment of patients.

In the case of CITA Clinics, this form of intervention has proven valuable when it comes to supporting the people whose main problem we specialize in: addictions.

In this article we will see what therapy with horses consists of and what benefits it brings to patients in the process of overcoming an addiction.

What is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy?

In Equine Assisted Psychotherapy a series of activities are carried out, either in groups or individually and focused on a single patient, in which people in the treatment or rehabilitation stage interact with horses, emphasizing the development of concentration and emotional bonding skills, as well as those that have to do with muscular coordination. concentration and emotional bonding skills, as well as those related to muscular coordination..

Especially in the case of people with motor difficulties or very significant physical wear and tear, these activities also include physical exercise, which is usually of the isometric type (keeping the back upright on the horse, extending the arms horizontally, etc.) and maintaining balance.

Its positive effects on people with addictions

Addiction is a disorder whose harmful effects soon reach all areas of the life of the person who suffers from it..

This is why, although the root of the problem lies in the actions that lead to repeated addiction (smoking, injecting heroin, gambling, etc.), a whole series of psychological and relational aspects are interrelated with this first element and reinforce it.

Ultimately, every time the addict's number one priority is to satisfy the craving or relapse, everything he or she does from then on will be a priority for the addict.Everything he does from then on to achieve this becomes a series of habits that gradually erode his freedom and autonomy, turning his life into a vicious circle of "monkey" and satisfaction of the need.

Therapy with horses helps, among other things, the person to let go of intrusive thoughts related to consumption and to get used to a new way of interacting with what is beyond the cycle of addiction, without considering it a tool to keep falling again and again into the behavior that is the basis of dependence.

This paradigm shift in how we live our lives comes through the adoption of habits that bring positive emotions and experiences. habits that bring positive emotions and meaningful experiences to the person beyond the world of drugs, gambling, etc. Let's see how it works.

Benefits of equine therapy in cases of addictions This is a summary of the aspects of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy that are beneficial for patients who want to overcome addictions.

1. Improved physical condition

Physical and emotional health are interconnected areas.When the body is weak, we have far fewer resources to resist the urge to relapse, since we have very little room for maneuver to manage the discomfort.

2. It allows us to relearn the establishment of affective bonds.

Horses are very social animals, and they adapt to the emotional reactions they arouse in humans. It has been observed that, in many psychological and psychiatric disorders, these interactions help patients to "reconnect" with the emotional reactions they elicit in humans. help patients to "reconnect" emotionally with beings that are beyond their own subjectivity, breaking the vicious circle of the vicious cycle.breaking the vicious circle of introspection and social isolation. Starting with what is easiest, one gradually gains access to social life in contact with people.

3. They provide Mindfulness experiences

The therapy sessions with horses are, after the first stage of learning the basics, very pleasant and relaxing. This helps to "wipe the slate clean" with regard to the disturbing thoughts that often haunt people with addictions, an experience similar to what is achieved through classic Mindfulness.

4. It is an activity in which to be actively involved

Something as simple as taking an active role in an activity, which by necessity should be simple and not pose very complicated and difficult goals to achieve, is a first step in the direction of getting used to the activity. a first step in the direction of becoming accustomed to exploring the environment in search of experiences capable of bringing satisfaction outside the realm of adolescent behaviors. outside the realm of addictive behaviors.

Looking for treatment for addiction problems?

If you are looking for professional support for addictive disorders (with or without substances), please contact us. At CITA Clinics we have a health team that includes medical staff and psychologists with extensive experience in interventions of this type, and we offer the possibility of treatment in our residential module located in the countryside in Dosrius (Mataró), a place where among the many activities available is the therapy with horses by experts... To see our contact details, access this page.

Bibliographical references:

• Benda, W., Fredrickson, M., Flanagan, S., Zembreski-Ruple, J., & McGibbon, N. H. (2000). Animal-assisted therapy: A highly versatile modality. Complementary Medicine for the Physician, 5(6), pp. 41 - 48.
• Voelpel, P.; Escallier, L.; Fullerton, J.; Abitbol, L. (2018). Interaction Between Veterans and Horses: Perceptions of Benefits. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services. 56(5): 7 - 10.
• Signal, T.; Wilson, R.; Nelson, A. (2016). Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning. Society & Animals. 24(4): pp. 337 - 357.