WHAT IS EQUINE THERAPY IN HEROIN ADDICTION TREATMENT?
There are several therapies that can be used during heroin drug abuse treatment. Based on research, animal-assisted therapy (AAT), and animal-assisted activities (AAA) have gained a place in the world of addiction therapy due to the reported positive results.
It has long been known that animals bring some therapeutic effects to the person who’s caring for the pet. The growing trend in heroin addiction cure, includes equine therapy that is gaining popularity nowadays.
Equine Therapy Defined
Equine therapy or EAP is a therapy conducted by trained equine professionals. The therapist handles the horse and the patient together towards in order to reach the goals of the heroin addiction treatment. A mental health professional should also be present during the sessions to help the patient get cured of mental health problem, heroin addiction or both.
The goal of EAP is to help individuals gain personal development and emotional stability after battling addiction. Studies have found that people who participated in equine therapy gained a number of life changing benefits.
EAP is specially recommended for people, who have gone counseling and therapy and have not shown improvement. It is just a part of a more broad heroin addiction treatment plan.
How it works?
Equine therapy is now adapted by many heroin drug abuse treatment centers in many countries. The type of program varies on the treatment center. Just like other therapies, the needs of the patient are considered in the program.
During the heroin addiction treatment therapy, the patient works with the therapist and the addiction counselor. The patient spends several hours with the horse each session, so a close bond is developed between the patient and the horse.
The patient attends to the needs of the horse such as grooming, feeding, and exercise. Riding may or may not be part of the therapy. The patient may also be asked to learn to saddle the horse.
Therapeutic Benefits of Horses:
Horses have been used to help the patient’s conditions get better, even in the heroin addiction treatment. They have been known in the improvement of the patient’s number of withdrawal symptoms.
Results have shown how beneficial horses are when it comes to the treatment of several mental health issues, including dissociative symptoms, depression, anxiety, OCD, and dementia. People who experienced traumatic events, those with post-traumatic disorder, and borderline personality disorder may also benefit from EAP.
EAP As Part of The Cure For Heroin Addiction
Equine therapy is an effective therapy when incorporated in the heroin addiction treatment. Animals such as horses can alleviate the patient’s moods, lessens stress and alleviates pain.
Taking care of the horses during the heroin addiction cure therapy also gives recovering individuals the chance to do something worthwhile. This also gives them a sense of responsibility. A combination of EAP with other therapies provide better benefits for the patients.
