Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Coaching: An Evidence-Based Framework

"We are used to thinking of horses as helpful, noble, mysterious even; what is less commonly considered is that they are also embodiments of a deep wisdom. A horse will not judge those it encounters; it lives in the present; it cares nothing for status; its thoughts are private and opaque – though one senses the thinking nevertheless. This helps to make the horse a remarkable animal in one respect in particular: they are – for us humans – supremely therapeutic. Observing and connecting with these animals allows us to connect with parts of ourselves which may have been neglected or unhelpfully split off. If you look at a horse for five minutes, a tiny part of its tranquil and noble soul takes root in you. All this is especially true for those who struggle with language; those who cannot easily connect the inside with the outside. In situations where the standard 'talking cure' won't work, perhaps with children with autism, teenagers, soldiers with PTSD, prisoners, and others, connection with horses provides a royal road into the unconscious – and to the rediscovery and articulation of disavowed parts of oneself. The genius of equine therapy is that the horse at the centre of the therapy invites talk, but does not itself require it to communicate. This is a brilliant book for psychotherapists who may like horses but have never yet considered the role they can play in their profession; and it's a book for animal and horse lovers who knew that relationships with these creatures were therapeutic but had never quite found the words to express it." –Alain de Botton, philosopher and author "The sections on working with alcohol dependent prisoners and bullying contain practical information that equine therapists can use." –Temple Grandin, author, Animals in Translation "As a psychiatrist and psychotherapist I have seen first hand the power of equine-assisted psychotherapy on the patients in my care. The field is still poorly understood within wider mental health provision, and this book helpfully addresses this gap. The author introduces the reader to differing ways in which horses may be usefully involved in addressing problems of communication, relationships, addiction, challenging behaviour and other difficulties facing people presenting with mental health problems. I strongly recommend this book to anyone working in mental health or with an interest in training in this field." –Dr Az Hakeem, Consultant Psychiatrist & Medical Psychotherapist