All About Equine Therapy

Drug rehabs in San Diego like Ranch Creek Recovery are now doing all that it takes just to help their patients recover in the best way possible – even seeking the services of horses. Yes, you read that right. Horses are now becoming part of our patients’ journey to self-discovery and rehabilitation, and we call it equine therapy.

How Does It Work?

First of all, equine therapy, by definition, is the “discipline of using horses as a means to provide metaphoric experiences in order to promote emotional growth.” This activity doesn’t mean finding calm in horseback riding. Instead, equine therapy suggests setting up ground activities involving the horses, which will require the patient to apply certain skills. Equine therapy utilizes horses to build metaphorical connections between the actions of the animal and the actions of the human participant.

Benefits of Equine Therapy

Equine therapy benefits both the physical and nervous systems, and it is most especially recommended to children and adults alike with disorders such as mental and emotional disturbances (autism, phobias, psychoses), behavioral disorders (aggressiveness, nervousness, sedentary habits), developmental delays and dysfunctions with neurological motor impairment (cerebral palsy, cerebral trauma).

Equine therapy, when properly taught by certified therapists, can help a patient reap tons of benefits including self-efficacy, impulse control, self-acceptance, social skills and self-concept, among others, all of which are key in a person’s full recovery.

Ranch Creek Recovery’s facility is the perfect place to start equine therapy, and we would be very happy to be at your service. Call our treatment facility today at (951) 676-9111 or visit our website for more details: http://www.ranchcreekrecovery.com/