Therapy with horses, also known as Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) It 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 in providing support to people whose main problem we specialize in: addictions.
In this article we will see what horse therapy consists of and what benefits it brings to patients in the process of overcoming an addiction.
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 skills and establishment of emotional bonds, as well as those that have to do with 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 isometric (keeping our backs upright on top of the horse, extending our arms horizontally, etc.) and maintenance of 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.
That is why, although the root of the problem is in carrying out those actions that lead to falling again and again into addiction (smoking, injecting heroin, playing in betting houses…), there is a whole series around it. of psychological and relational aspects that are interrelated with that first element, and that reinforce it.
Ultimately, every time Quenching the desire to use or relapse becomes the addict’s number one priority.everything you do from that moment on to achieve it becomes a series of habits that erode your freedom and autonomy, causing your life to become a vicious circle of “monkey” and satisfaction of need.
Therapy with horses helps, among other things, for the person to get rid of intrusive thoughts related to consumption and get used to a new way of interacting with what lies beyond the cycle of addiction, without considering it an instrument to keep falling again and again into the behavior that is the basis of dependency.
This paradigm shift in living life comes through the adoption of habits that provide positive emotions and meaningful experiences for the person beyond the world of drugs, gambling, etc. Let’s see how it works.
Benefits of horse 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. Improves physical condition
Physical and emotional health are interconnected areas; When the body is weak, we have many fewer resources to resist the urge to relapse, since we have very little room for maneuver to manage the discomfort.
2. It allows you to relearn the establishment of emotional ties
Horses are very social animals, and they adapt to the emotional reactions they awaken in humans. It has been observed that, in many psychological and psychiatric disorders, these interactions They help patients “reconnect” emotionally with beings that are beyond their own subjectivity., breaking the vicious circle of introspection and social isolation. Starting with the easiest things, little by little you gain access to social life in contact with people.
3. They provide Mindfulness experiences
Therapy sessions with horses are, after the first stage in which you have to learn the basics, very pleasant and relaxing. This helps to create a “clean slate” regarding 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 get actively involved
Something as simple as taking an active role in an activity, which by necessity must be simple and not set very complicated and difficult-to-achieve goals, is a first step in the direction of getting used to exploring the environment in search of experiences capable of providing satisfaction outside the scope of addictive behaviors.
Are you looking for treatment for addiction problems?
If you are looking for professional support for addictive disorders (with or without substances), contact us. In CITA Clinics We have a healthcare team that includes medical personnel and psychologists with extensive experience in interventions of this type, and we offer the possibility of carrying out the treatment in our residential module located in the middle of nature in Dosrius (Mataró), a place where among the many activities Horse therapy is available from experts. To see our contact information, access this page.
