Experiential therapy focuses on relearning behavioral, emotional and cognitive processes through actively “doing” instead of just talking. This type of therapy provides the opportunity to be “living through” experiences rather than only discussing them to gain deeper understanding and increase skill generalization.
At the collective, we provide both equine-assisted DBT skills groups and equine-assisted individual therapy. The equine-assisted DBT skills groups are run the same way as typical DBT skills training groups, building skills in all four modules of DBT (mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance) maintaining fidelity to the treatment, while also providing hands-on activities to practice the skills we’re learning. Each group begins with a mindfulness, typically centered around equine interaction, then moves to homework review, and concludes with didactic DBT skills teaching with equine experiential activities. In individual treatment, specifically trauma treatment, including horses is also incredibly beneficial. It has been found to support a wide range of treatment goals such as
- facilitating emotional processing
- promoting self-awareness
- providing the opportunity for metaphorical reflection
- allowing clients to build connection and learn to trust themselves
- setting boundaries
- promoting healthy attachment patterns
- building confidence and mastery
- increasing body awareness and mindfulness skills.
