Facilitating change in a client's dysfunctional behavioural pattern with horse‐aided psychotherapy. A case study

Abstract

AimThe aim of the study was to describe how therapeutic interaction with a horse has the potential to provide opportunities to work with relational issues for a client with a background of parental substance misuse and severe trauma in childhood.BackgroundPsychotherapy facilitated by horses uses the client/horse relationship as an aid for breaking dysfunctional behavioural patterns. The key therapeutic element is to use the horse's high sensitivity and responsiveness to human body language as an aid to improve awareness of emotions, bodily responses and communication.MethodologyA single case study with in‐depth interviews was conducted using Interpersonal Process Recall to reveal subjective configurations of events in therapy and their corresponding reflections. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the material.FindingsFour themes were found in the analysis. The client displayed dysfunctional behavioural patterns in the relationship with the horse. The negative reactions and uncooperativeness the client got from the horse aided the client in changing to more constructive behaviour.ImplicationsThis study may give increased awareness of the benefits of psychotherapy facilitated by horses.