The Use of Equine Therapy in Addiction Treatment

Holistic addiction treatment is at the core of Purpose Healing Center’s process in Scottsdale. And in addition to established treatments like Intervention, Intensive Outpatient Treatment, Partial Hospitalization Program, and Sober Living Facilities, we offer unique modalities such as equine therapy, sometimes called horse-assisted therapy.

This type of therapy falls under the umbrella of Animal-Assisted Therapy, in which a person interacts with an animal, such as a therapy dog, in order to help process psychological and emotional issues, in addition to traditional therapies.

Benefits of Equine Therapy for Addiction

While equine therapy is a fairly recent development in treatment for psychological issues, studies suggest that it can be very beneficial. One study published in 2015, found that horse-assisted therapy (HAT) significantly helped young adults with substance abuse issues when combined with traditional methods of healing.

This study used both horses and other farm animals as a comparison. It indicates that Animal-Assisted Therapy, especially that which includes horses, when used in combination with other forms of therapy, can significantly improve a person’s self-esteem and ability to deal with difficult situations. Since drug and alcohol addiction is classified as a mental health disorder, and since many people who struggle with addictions also suffer from another mental issue, this study suggests that equine therapy can be useful to people undergoing addiction treatment.

Equine therapy focuses on teaching people how to interact with horses. Since horses are pack animals, they are able to sense and respond to other animals’ feelings, including humans. Specifically, they are able to detect when a person feels scared, angry, happy, sad, or nervous. So equine therapy can be useful to people going through addiction treatment.

Equine Therapy In Scottsdale and Phoenix

Equine therapy is a great option for people looking for therapies to complement their addiction treatment. We offer equine therapy for addiction in Scottsdale and Phoenix. Along with traditional addiction treatment and therapy, equine therapy can give a person the confidence and skills they need to live a fulfilling life free from addiction. If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction and looking for ways to get help, contact us at Purpose Healing Center today. Were here 24 hours a day to answer your questions.