Helping Heal Resistant Clients and Families

Helping Heal Resistant Clients and Families

Equine assisted therapyprograms nationwide are able to provide services for individuals with numerousdifferent issues, ranging from severe drug addiction to behavioral issues. Itsdynamic and unique therapeutic approach is what makes equine therapy sosuccessful across the board. One of the most affected groups of individuals whobenefits most from this type of therapy are individuals who are resistant tonot only treatment, but to nearly everything else in their lives.

How Can Equine Therapists Help Resistant Clients andFamilies?

There are challenges withevery job, and equine assisted therapists often battle many of them on a dailybasis. However, some of the most complicated challenges can come from clientsand families who are unwilling to change their negative behaviors. Despiteputting up strong defenses, most equine therapists (along with theirfour-legged counterparts) can help begin breaking down the walls that keepclients and families consistently resistant to any form of help. Some of themany ways in which Herd By A Horse provides equine assisted therapies can helpresistant clients and families include:

·  Providing a supportive environment – Most clients andfamilies are often guarded because in their everyday lives, they feel as thoughthey have to be. This directly feeds into their resistant behaviors, howeverduring an equine therapy session, these walls are continually encouraged tocome down by providing a supportive (but not pushy) environment that helpspromote participation and clear communication.

·  Promote understanding through the horse – One of themost beneficial aspects of equine assisted psychotherapy is that horses willmimic all energies and behaviors that are surrounding them. Therefore, iffamily member chooses to remain resistant, he or she will not be able toparticipate fully the equine assisted therapy activities with his or herfamily, because the horse will grow resistant as well. This encourages aresistant family member to work to open themselves up enough to engage in theactivity at hand.

·  Encouraging fun therapy – Most families and clientswho are resistant to therapy come from a background where therapy means sittingin a room and spilling their stories. Equine assisted therapists provide a muchdifferent experience, as they work to help engage their clients and familiesinto fun activities that are designed to quietly bring out issues that need tobe addressed. The element of taking the stand is removed, and clients can havefun while developing relationships with equine therapists that promote theireventual recovery.

Resistance can come from anumber of things, such as traumatic experiences, unwillingness to get betterand thinking that therapy is ineffective. However, through participation in anequine therapy program, individuals who are struggling with resistance in theirlives can begin working with an equine assisted therapist who can help bringabout the positive change in their behaviors that are needed to help them losetheir resistance and instead, begin fostering open mindedness.

Visithttp://wwwHerdByAHorse.com for additional information on our services. ComingJune 28, 2013 Ethic- A Practical Approach Using Equine Therapy, a perfectworkshop for any therapist wanting a different approach to ethics education.PCB approved for 6 CE’s.

Written By: Michelle Bazinet,contributing writer to Herd By A Horse