Summary Of Incorporating Animal And Equine-Assisted Therapy

Incorporating Animal and Equine-Assisted Therapy as an additional intervention within a client’s treatment plan is a fairly new concept. It wasn’t until the early 1960’s that an American psychologist by the name of Boris Levinson, discovered the possibilities of using animals in a therapeutic realm. Animal and Equine-Assisted Therapy can be useful in fostering a feeling of interconnectivity for the participant while acting as a catalyst to encourage their active participation in a treatment plan. Achieving a positive relationship between a therapy animal and a participant may be the first step in acceptance of therapy and/or guidance. Animal and Equine Therapy is designed to promote improvement in human physical, social, emotional, and/or cognitive functioning, thinking and intellectual skills. A variety of settings may be used and may be group or individual in nature.
Research developments are continually evolving. Exploring the participants’ perceptions and experiences related to Animal and Equine therapy are critical. Population expansion of participants to include Animal Assisted practitioners in settings such as outdoor centers, farms, and ranches are a cutting age tool to healthy developmental practices.
The relationship between the therapy animal and the client also facilitates the rapport between the client and the counselor. Therapy animals, such as horses, sheep, cats, and dogs, can often serve as a transitional object for the participant. This allows the participant to convey feelings through the animal, thus bridging the gap between client and counselor and easing the process of trust