Equine therapy can help treat substance use disorders and other mental health conditions. Working with horses can be a serene and moving experience for teenagers. Teen equine therapy services at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery can help teens gain self-confidence. Call us now at 866.300.5275 for more information about equine therapy effectiveness.

What Are Equine Therapy Services?

Equine therapy services are experiential therapy options that involve interactions with horses. Horses can be valuable partners for teens struggling with mental health conditions because they offer stress-reducing effects and the chance to connect with an animal. Equine therapy treatment for teens can be helpful for:

• Substance use disorders
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Behavioral problems
• ADHD
• Eating disorders
• Grief

Equine therapy treatment for teens focuses on caring for the animal and receiving guidance from a horse trainer while enjoying the benefits that time outdoors can offer. Teens connect with the horse and themselves.

Equine Therapy Effectiveness

Equine therapy is a popular type of experiential therapy because of its effectiveness. It can offer a variety of benefits for teens.

Improves Emotional Awareness

As teens strive to communicate with the horse, they learn how to regulate their emotions, increasing impulse control and emotion regulation. This can be an excellent therapeutic option for teens who struggle with irritability, mood swings, agitation, and impulsivity.

Increases Empathy

Horses are herd animals, so they have evolved to connect easily with the moods and feelings of other horses and even people. Approaching a horse while angry or stressed will result in the horse reacting to those emotions negatively.

Teens participating in equine therapy learn to recognize how their behavior impacts others. When they learn to regulate their emotions, they will positively interact with the horses. The skills they develop in equine therapy help teens make positive changes in their everyday lives.

Improves Self Image

Working with horses can at first seem daunting, but the more a teen engages with equine therapy, the more their self-confidence and self-image improve. Seeing an emotional connection building with such a large and powerful animal can give teens the boost of confidence they need to tackle the issues they face.

Teaches Assertiveness

Horses react best to firm leadership, so equine therapy can help teens learn how to be assertive in a positive manner without resorting to aggression.

Teaches Stress Tolerance

For equine therapy to be effective, teens must be calm, fully engaged, and focused on the task. This teaches them to be in the moment, focusing on mindfulness. Over time, teens learn that not every thought needs to cause a reaction.

Decreases Feelings of Isolation

Being outdoors and with an animal like a horse can help a teen feel less lonely. They will engage with others, including the horse, the horse trainer, and the therapist, reducing feelings of isolation.

Improves Mental Flexibility

By having to engage with peers as well as an animal, teens learn how to compromise, make plans, and respond to spontaneous settings.

Creates Positive Physical Effects

Equine therapy can help lower a teen’s heart rate and decrease blood pressure, and it is an effective option for the treatment of anxiety.

Turn to Foothills at Red Oak Recovery For Equine Therapy Treatment For Teens

Equine therapy effectiveness relies on the connection between teens and horses. By providing teens a chance to engage with another being who depends on them, they can improve crucial skills like emotion regulation, assertiveness, and empathy.

It can also help with feelings of isolation by letting teens build relationships with animals and their peers.

If your teenage boy has a substance use disorder or any other mental health condition, we can help. Contact Foothills at Red Oak Recovery at 866.300.5275 to learn more about equine therapy.