Finding a New Way Forward With Equine Therapy

When you have already undergone treatment for your mental health and/or history of trauma, it is common to still struggle. However, going back to treatment for more of the same does not always work. Fortunately, adding alternative treatments like equine therapy can help. Equine therapy is one way for you to discover a new path forward. It improves overall wellness, teaches you many skills, and could be the catalyst for change in your life. Mental health treatment at Corner Canyon Health Centers incorporates equine therapy as an alternative therapy to help you heal. 

What Is Equine Therapy?

Equine therapy, which has gained popularity in the past few years, is a type of therapy that involves you interacting with a horse. Originally, equine therapy was used as a way to heal physically. However, it is also highly beneficial for mental health and can help you heal from mental health disorders and trauma. 

There are many different types of equine therapy. Each has a unique set of activities that you do with a horse. In some forms of equine therapy, you spend time caring for a horse. This could include grooming, feeding, or barn work. However, equine therapy can also consist of activities that are created to get you to work with the horse. In equine therapy, you can also spend quality time relaxing with one or more horses. 

Regardless of the type of activity, in equine therapy, the goal is for you to work with and interact with one or more horses. The specific activities may be tailored to you as an individual. This can help you to learn specific skills. However, they may also be generalized skills that put you in a new and helpful situation that benefits your well-being and mental health. 

Benefits of Equine Therapy For Mental Health

When you are struggling with your mental health, treatment often includes a variety of therapeutic interventions. Many of these address the issues you are experiencing head-on. For example, in individual or group therapy, you will discuss feelings, challenges, and potential solutions. However, equine therapy generally has a very different feel. 

In equine therapy, the focus is on your building a relationship and working with a horse. This relationship can be incredibly powerful in healing. It provides you with a safe, supportive, and very non-judgmental space that is generally outdoors. The combination of an outdoor activity that is non-judgmental gives you space and time to process and work through difficult topics that you are addressing directly in other parts of your treatment. 

Equine therapy can also act as a place for you to reduce stress. Making changes in treatment for mental health challenges is difficult. It is common to feel immense amounts of stress. However, by working with horses, you can reduce some of this stress. This helps you to have a safe space that is not stressful. However, it can also help improve your ability to manage your stress internally. 

Healing From Trauma With Equine Therapy

When you have a history of trauma, you can experience a variety of symptoms. Complex trauma or general trauma can both cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health challenges that disrupt your life. Healing from trauma and other mental health challenges that disrupt your life. However, the process of healing from trauma is difficult. 

Working with horses can help you heal from trauma, and equine therapy is effective for both adults and young adults who are struggling with a history of trauma. One of the primary reasons why working with horses can help you heal from trauma is because it provides you with a safe space. While horses are large and sometimes intimidating animals, they are also kind, sweet, loving, and quiet. When you spend time around them, you will begin to feel more comfortable with them and have a safe space to go to when you feel triggered or upset. 

Additionally, it is common to experience mental health challenges associated with your trauma. Equine therapy helps to improve your mental health and overall well-being. Therefore, it helps you to feel better overall. In doing so, you are more likely to feel rested and ready to address your trauma more directly in other therapeutic modalities. 

Connecting With Horses at Corner Canyon

Treatment for mental health and trauma is unique to you and your specific needs. Both mental health and trauma treatment at Corner Canyon Health Centers offer equine therapy as an option. By spending time outside and with animals, you can heal. Working with horses helps to round out your experience in treatment at Corner Canyon Health Centers by offering a less direct way to approach your feelings and feel safe to relax and work through challenging parts of healing. 

When you have gone through treatment for mental health disorders or trauma, you may feel like you do not want to just repeat the process. Fortunately, you do not have to. Mental health and trauma treatment at Corner Canyon Health Centers offers a unique blend of traditional therapies and holistic healing options like equine therapy. Your treatment plan will be unique to your needs now, which is likely to be different than previous treatments you have received, and equine therapy can play an important role in your healing. It can help you to make changes that improve your mental health and overall well-being. To learn more, call us today at (877) 717-6237.