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AN INTRODUCTION TO EQUINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY

 

A powerful experimental learning model to assist victims of violence and abuse with particukar focus on the youth at risk

INTRODUCTION

The American office of Justice and Juvenile detention predicts an 8% population increase in juvenile detention centres between 1995 and 2015. Within the South African situation research indicate that youth are exposed to very high rates of violence much of which occurs in the family home. It appears that an unfortunate result of the legacy of apartheid is creation of a situation in which many SA families consider physical violence as a socially acceptable means of problem solving and conflict resolution (Leoschut, 2006). Sadly it would appear that violence in the home is the norm rather than the exception for many youth in SA.

Youth at risk are defined as youth who fail to succeed in life. Success is seen as the ability to support themselves as an adult and the capacity to engage in rewarding relationships with others. (Rak & Patterson, 1996) There are a number of risk factors which hinder a child’s success; such as poverty, physical or learning disabilities, a victim of crime abuse and neglect, or parents with substance abuse. (Autry, 2001)

The American coalition for juvenile justice (2000) has found that 50 – 75% of the juveniles in the justice system experience mental disorders. It would appear that the behavioural, emotional and developmental needs of the youth are currently not being met.

THE NEED FOR THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT

Leoschut’s findings confirm that where domestic violence is regularly experienced by young people, the adult family members are unable to adequately meet the needs of these youth as they themselves are caught up in the cycles of violence. This lack of parental support is of grave concern, because many SA youth don’t have access to support systems outside of their immediate families and thus rely on their parents or caregivers for emotional support following traumatic events. This finding calls for the implementation of psycho-social support structures to be established outside of the home.

What should a therapeutic support structure for youth look like? There are a number of traditional therapeutic approaches available in working with youth at risk; however Small & Memmo, 2004 propose that integrated models of therapy are the most effective in improving the life chances of this population.

However, Latessa, states that talk therapy with adolescents does not work. In addition he highlights a number of different therapeutic approaches that also don’t work - don’t reduce recidivism rates in the population. Some such programs include; fear inducing prevention programmes, non-directive approaches, talk therapy through to punishment and incarceration.

He stresses that treatment is more effective than punishment, but not all treatment programs are equally effective. Latessa identifies the characteristics of effective programs as incorporating the following:

  1. Structure social learning - providing opportunities for the learning and modelling of new skills
  2. Cognitive behavioural approaches - that target criminogenic risk factors.
  3. Family based approaches - programs train families on appropriate techniques and skills in order that they may learn new ways of behaving.

EAP incorporates a variety of therapeutic strategies, and as such is an integrated approach to therapy. It encompasses a number of traditional therapeutic processing skills, combined with the selection of adventure – based as well as equine – based activities. Thereby creating a therapeutic milieu where learning about self is maximised and individuals are able to recognise dysfunctional patterns of behaviour and thus have the opportunity to explore the development of healthy relationships. In essence equine assisted psychotherapy happens in the moment where individuals receive immediate direct feedback from the horses and they have the opportunity to explore alternative behaviours and experience the effects thereof.

EQUINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY

In the light of the current situation world wide, mental health professionals are constantly searching for more effective interventions in the prevention and management of the emotional and behavioural problems that youth at risk are presenting. Current significant research has shown that Animal Assisted Therapy as a therapeutic modality is gaining widespread acceptance in this field. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is an example of Animal Assisted Therapy.

EAP is a non-traditional approach to mental health care, where the therapeutic intervention goes beyond the clinical treatment of disorders, and harnesses the strength of the individual to facilitate the prevention and resolution of emotional and behavioural difficulties.

This experiential approach utilising horses allows clients to become aware of their thoughts, words and actions, thereby providing the tools through which individuals can better manage their lives and foster better relationships, whilst simultaneously teaching positive problem solving, conflict resolution, communication and social skills; as well as self confidence.

Horses react to the participants’ body language, giving immediate feedback to both the verbal and the non-verbal communication. They demand emotional and behavioural consistency, as well as require individuals to be actively engaged in activities in an open and honest manner. Participants learn that if they want to change the horse’s behaviour they have to change their own behaviours, thoughts, and feelings. It has been speculated that no animal is more sensitive to human moods and non-verbal communication than a horse. The equine - human bond mirrors the inner private world of the individual.

SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT FOR EAP

The field of equine assisted psychotherapy is an emerging field and there is a growing volume of scientific research becoming available. In the fore front of this research is the topic of EAP as an effective therapeutic intervention with the population of youth at risk. (Trotter, 2006, and Chandler, 2005)

Trotter, 2006, compared equine assisted counselling to in-school guidance and counselling with a group of youth at risk. His results showed that the equine assisted counselling group showed significant increase in seven behaviour areas that the in-school guidance / counselling group did not. In addition the EAP group showed significant improvements in overall behaviour, increased positive behaviours and a decrease in negative behaviours.

The equine assisted counselling group showed a significant decrease in the internalization of behaviour problems, they showed an increase in their ability to internally cope with their problems, appeared less nervous and lonely, cried less, and showed gains in those positive behaviours associated with less anxious children. This is important as internalizing behaviour problems often go unidentified and untreated in children and adolescents until they become serious or even deadly. In the light of the growing trend of suicide amongst adolescents it is critical to the field of mental health to identify proven treatments that significantly improve internalising behaviour problems. A further benefit of EAP is that it has been shown to also reduce externalising behaviour problems in children and adolescents, where they show a reduction in hyperactivity, aggression, and other conduct related behaviours.

Chandler, 2005, has shown that an equine assisted counselling programme for male and female juvenile offenders produced new positive behaviours in the participants. The highly troubled youth were observed to show reduction and elimination in manipulative behaviours; overcome fears; display courage; develop and practice stress management and anxiety reduction skills; became less self-focussed and became more other-focussed, increased communication skills, support and help each other, as well as look out for and encourage one another.

Myers, 2008, report that statistics provided by the Geauga County Juvenile Court in Ohio showed improved recidivism rates since using the equine assisted psychotherapy substance abuse program with youth at risk. During the period January 1995 through June 2002 the programme has shown an average rate of 73.3% of clients who did not recidivate within three months after being terminated from the program.

Through all the research it has been shown that the experience of victims of abuse being able to get a 1400 – pound horse to respond to their commands in a non-threatening manner provides the ultimate sense of validation and power. In this safe environment victims of abuse are empowered to gain control over their lives. (Washburn 2004 and Bowers, 2001)

In conclusion we will present a video that describes the effectiveness of EAP and the EAGALA model as a treatment of choice for youth at risk. We strongly believe that this approach will assist in improving the mental health of South Africa’s youth at risk. EAP has relevance and needs to be considered in the selection of therapeutic modalities available to youth at risk in South Africa.

REFERENCES

  1. Autry, C.E., (2001). Adventure therapy with girls at risk; response to outdoor experiential activities, Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 35, 289 - 310
  2. Bowers, M.J., and Mac Donald, P.M., (2001). The effectiveness of equine assisted psychotherapy with at risk youth, Journal of Psychology and the Behavioural Sciences, 15, 62-76
  3. Chandler, C.K., (2005). Animal assisted therapy in counselling, New York, NY:Routledge
  4. Latessa, E,. (2005). What works and what doesn’t in reducing recidivism: the principles of effective intervention, www.uc.edu/criminaljustice
  5. Leoschut, L., (2006). DOUBLE TROUBLE – Youth from violent families: easy victims of crime?, S.A. Crime Quarterly, 16.
  6. Myers, L., (2008). Geauga County Juvenile Court Statistics
  7. Rak, C.F., & Patterson, L.E.,(1996). Promoting Resilience in at risk children, Journal of Counselling and Development, 74, 368 – 373.
  8. Small, S., & Memmo, M., (2004). Contemporary models of youth development and problem prevention; towards an integration of terms, concepts and models, Journal of Family Relations, 53, 3 - 11
  9. Trotter (2006). the efficacy of equine assisted group counselling with at-risk children and adolescents, dissertation for PhD, University of Texas


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