Tina Howard is currently offering Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT). EAT is a form of experiential therapy that involves interactions between patients and horses. Equine Assisted Therapy is an adjunct therapy.  This means it is another treatment used together with the primary treatment. A potential client must have a primary therapist and attend at a minimum of 1 session per month to attend and participate in EAT. EAT involves activities such as grooming, feeding, haltering and leading a horse that are supervised by a mental health professional, often with the support of a horse professional. Both during the activity and after the patient has finished working with the horse, the equine therapist can observe and interact with the client in order to identify behavior patterns and process thoughts and emotions.

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The goal of equine therapy is to help the patient develop needed skills and attributes, such as accountability, responsibility, self-confidence, problem-solving skills, and self-control. Equine therapy also provides an innovative milieu in which the therapist and the patient can identify and address a range of emotional and behavioral challenges.

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What are the benefits of Equine Assisted Therapy?
Studies have indicated that equine therapy has been successful in helping patients show marked improvements in the following areas:

• Assertiveness

• Emotional awareness

• Empathy

• Stress tolerance

• Flexibility

• Impulse control

• Problem-solving skills

• Self-actualization

• Independence

• Self-regard

• Social Responsibility

• Interpersonal relationships

 

Many of the benefits of equine therapy are likely due to the nature of the animals with which the patient and equine therapist are interacting. Horses are typically non-judgmental, have no preconceived expectations or motives, and are highly effective at mirroring attitudes and behaviors of the humans with whom they are working.  While working with horses under the guidance and supervision or an equine therapist, equine therapy patients have a unique and effective opportunity to note their tendency to engage in self-defeating and otherwise negative thoughts and actions. These realizations provide excellent bases for discussion and processing both during and after the equine therapy experience.

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What Conditions/Disorders Does Equine Therapy Treat?

Equine therapy has been successfully integrated into treatment programs for adults and teens who are being treated for substance abuse, addiction, behavior disorders, mood disorders, eating disorders, learning differences, ADD/ADHD, autism, Asperger's, grief/loss, trauma, sex addiction, compulsive gambling, bipolar, depression and related conditions.

 

All sessions are offered at Little Red Barn in West Mobile on by appointments only. If you're interested in scheduling a session with Tina, please call Tina Howard at 251-308-6838 to set up an evaluation appointment or email her at thoward.eat@gmail.com