Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy as a Creative Relational Approach to Treating Clients With Eating Disorders

Amy’s Story: An Existential-Integrative Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy Approach to Anorexia Nervosa

“…There are differing approaches, belief systems, methods, and acronyms that describe and define what, how, and why this is a valuable process for different populations (Hallberg, 2008). Equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFP) views the horse as a cofacilitator in the therapeutic encounter and emphasizes the innate wisdom of the horse and the power of an authentic other bearing witness (Rector, 2005) since horses live in the here-and-now and respond authentically to their environment in a naturally embodied way (Lac, Marble, & Boie, 2013). Sessions may include both a licensed mental health professional and an equine specialist, but the therapist can also be dually credentialed as the equine professional.…”