How do Horses Help Kids with Emotional and Behavioral Issues?
Kids with emotional and behavioral issues can be difficult to work with.
Most of them are slow to trust adults, and may be unwilling to trust anyone at all. In addition, if the emotional or behavioral issues are caused by abuse, the child could be angry and prone to emotional outbursts.
Cognitive therapy that includes an equine assisted program can be of great benefit to this type of person.
There are several aspects of cognitive/equine assisted therapy that work well with kids who have emotional and behavioral issues. One of the simplest aspects is diversion.
When a young person is focused on grooming, feeding, or exercising a horse, his/her focus is no longer on his own issues and problems.
Far from being a "means of escape", caring for the horse provides an often-needed respite for the person's emotions and intellect.
It can actually help the person feel refreshed and energized because the mind has been allowed to "rest" from its current problems.
A child's responses to the horses can also provide excellent insight into the child's opinions of self and of others, especially authority figures.The open communication that's needed when learning new skills enables the therapist to "teach by example" as he communicates with his client.
The young person will likely get frustrated, giving the therapist an opportunity to discuss - and model - appropriate ways to express emotions. The communication between the therapist and horse professional can provide this same kind of example as well.
The young person may live in an environment where people yell when they disagree.
During equine assisted therapy, the therapist and horse professional could provide real-life evidence that it's possible (and more productive) for people to talk instead of yell.
Equine assisted therapy offers kids with emotional and behavioral issues a safe environment in which to work through issues of fear, anxiety, self-doubt, and poor communication.
By teaching the child how to work with and communicate with the horse, the therapist will be indirectly teaching the child how to apply these same skills in inter-personal relationships.
(Other forms of animal assisted therapy includes, Canine, Elephant and Dolphin. I've personally watched Dolphin assisted therapy and what I saw was quite impressive.)
Link: Animal assisted therapy for troubled Teens - http://www.equine-therapy-programs.c...bledteens.html
(Source)Most domestic animals also shy away from aggressive behavior. Animal assisted therapy can help a troubled teen learn that quiet, gentle behavior gets better results than behavior that is loud and aggressive.
Animal assisted therapy
Some people hear "animal-assisted therapy" and think that it means kids are simply hanging out with pets, but true AAT is a formal, planned program in which the teen participates. Interactions with the animal(s) are controlled, and are done for specific reasons.
Facilities that choose to implement animal-assisted therapy typically conduct extensive studies and develop strict rules and guidelines for their programs. Far from being haphazard, these programs are focused and intentional, and often produce marked positive results.
Counselors have seen teenagers, even teens in juvenile detention facilities, that are unresponsive to the counselor open up and actually "talk" to a therapy dog or horse. Some are so overwhelmed by a therapy dog's unconditional kindness that they break down and cry.
This kind of emotional breakthrough is vital in the treatment of troubled or at-risk teenagers, and allows the teen to begin moving toward emotional and psychological healing.