EQUINE THERAPY FOR PTSD

EQUINE THERAPY FOR PTSD

American Veterans, Blog, PTSD, Veteran Support

For thousands of years horses have been mystical, magical creatures playing the role of transportation, gladiator, companion, entertainer and more. Now they are also playing the role of psychotherapy assistant through a discipline known as Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) which is increasingly being used to treat war veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs estimates that Post Traumatic Stress afflicts as many as one-quarter of the troops returning from the Middle East, or about 300,000 men and women. The growing field of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is showing great promise in treating veterans and their families who suffer from the nightmares, anxiety, depression, anger, irritability and other debilitating effects of this invisible, yet very real disability. Preliminary Studies Validate EAP for PTSD Equine Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD has gathered the attention of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Preliminary results are favorable, suggesting statistically significant rates of change. The Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) also evaluated treatment of members of the Georgia National Guard where deployments averaged two years or more. The study revealed that 100 percent of soldiers who completed therapy had dramatically reduced stress levels. Animal-assisted therapy has shown evidenced-based efficacy in patients including war veterans with PTSD, depression, anxiety, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorders, dissociative disorders, and other chronic mental illnesses. Why Horses? According to Dr. Laurie Sullivan-Sakeada, a Utah based Clinical Psychologist and leading practitioner of EAP, horses are prey animals, and, like those who have been to war, rely on their heightened senses for survival. They react to and mirror the emotions of visitors directly, without words. Horses respond negatively to negative emotions. They respond positively to positive emotions, and they...

Therapeutic Driving With Access Adventure

Access Adventure, American Veterans, Blog, Stonewall Sporthorses, Therapeutic Riding, Veteran Support

Access Adventure enriches the lives of people with disabilities by providing outdoor recreation, open space access, education and therapy through a working partnership with horses. Our horsedrawn carriages and wagons are equipped with solar powered wheelchair lifts that can accommodate up to five hundred pounds, lifting aboard people with living with mobility challenges. Our headquarters are the 2,070 acre Rush Ranch on Grizzly Island Road, two miles south of Fairfield/Suisun. We have expanded our operations into the Napa Valley and we serve people throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Therapeutic Driving offers even profoundly disabled people the opportunity to enjoy outdoor recreation while achieving positive functional outcomes in an environment that is safe, supportive, exciting and fun. Access Adventure provides North America’s premier Therapeutic Driving programs serving hundreds of people each year. Our founder and Director of Therapeutic Horsemanship, Michael Muir is past President of United States Driving for the Disabled, Inc. We have program management, participation and oversight by credentialed therapists and medical professionals, Sharon Commisso and Tineke Jacobsen. The most important thing we do is offer hope and healing to anyone struggling to adapt to living with a significant disability. Access Adventure is approaching a decade of success with participants recovering from traumatic brain injury, people adjusting to life after a spinal cord injury and others with profound disabilities such as multiple sclerosis, polio and blindness. Our experience with innovative adaptations allows these people to enjoy driving sensitive and well-trained horses while experiencing the joy and healing power of nature and life outdoors. Access Adventure works regularly at the Veterans Home of California in Yountville, providing the...