Skip to content
Contact
All posts

Benefits of Equine Therapy

Picture of Stonewater Recovery By   ·  2 minute read
At Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center, we specialize in teen mental health therapy for boys. One of the therapeutic treatment methods we utilize as part of our substance use treatment programs is equine therapy. Everyone's therapy journey is different, and we're here to help you find the best treatment program for your son because we genuinely believe that the next chapter of your son's life can begin right here. An equine therapy program is a treatment therapy program that teaches your child how to care for another creature and focus on their goals. During the introductory sessions, he will become familiar with our horses, learn the basic skills necessary to care for the horse, and grasp the basics of horse behavior. To learn about how an equine therapy program can assist in your child's recovery process, call Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center today at 662.373.2828.

How Equine Therapy Can Help

There are many benefits of an equine therapy program. Your son will experience:
  • Increased trust
  • Reduced anxiety
  • Fewer feelings of depression and isolation
  • Increased confidence
  • Control over his impulses
  • Better problem-solving skills
  • Improved communication skills, including non-verbal
  • Setting healthy boundaries
  • How to put aside selfish needs and put that energy into nurturing another creature
This therapeutic modality helps build self-efficacy and increase confidence. It can also open up communication lines and make your teen more comfortable opening up to his therapist. In addition, this process can decrease your son's isolation. He'll know that he's not alone because he's working with other people towards his goals. At the same time, he is improving social skills and building empathy and compassion, both of which are important to the recovery process. As a result, he will build relationships with the people around him, as well as the horses.

Working With the Horses

It's important to know that your son has to earn the right to participate in our equine therapy program. The first step is proving that he's trustworthy and can talk through building goals as part of his recovery. Once he's built the lines of communication and trust, he can start working directly with the horses. As a parent, one of the essential milestones you look for in your child's therapy is seeing that he is able to accept himself and what he has done. This acceptance is a critical step to then being able to move past these factors. He'll begin to set boundaries for himself and work towards the goals that he puts in place. With an equine therapy program, he'll realize that he controls his choices and that those choices ultimately affect the outcome. He'll learn to control his impulses, and an equine therapy program will help him to put things into perspective. Equine therapy can help treat a number of conditions and disorders, including:
  • Substance use disorders
  • Depression, anxiety, PTSD, stress
  • Trauma
  • Eating disorders
  • Behavior disorders
  • Learning challenges
  • ADHD

Contact Us To Learn More About Your Son's Treatment Options

A good relationship with their horse can be a powerful predictor of how successful your child's treatment will be. He can build a positive view of himself, as well as get emotional support. Plus, we've seen that as a result of our equine therapy program, many boys stay in treatment longer, which increases their chances of completing a full treatment program. If you are looking for non-traditional therapy options for your son, we encourage you to consider Stonewater. We offer a variety of programs, including:
  • Adventure and nature therapy programs
  • Art therapy program
  • Music therapy program
  • Yoga therapy program
  • Pet Therapy Program
Contact us today at 662.373.2828 to speak with our team to learn about all of the programs available to help your child, including equine therapy.