Equine Facilitated Therapy for Complex Trauma (EFT-CT)

Abstract

Emerging research suggests that Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) may be beneficial for traumatized youth. In addition, complex trauma (i.e., multiple and/or prolonged developmentally adverse traumatic events which are typically interpersonal in nature) treatment research is still growing and there is a need for the development and examination of novel treatments for youth with complex trauma histories. The current article describes a promising EFP model for this population called Equine Facilitated Therapy for Complex Trauma (EFT-CT). EFT-CT embeds EFP practices within Attachment, Regulation and Competency (ARC), an extant evidence-based complex trauma treatment framework for children and adolescents. The authors provide three case studies using both observational data provided by clinicians, as well as longitudinal measures of psychosocial functioning, to illustrate the potential promise of EFT-CT. The article concludes with a discussion about implications for EFP treatment and research.

Demographic and Psychosocial Factors Associated With Child Sexual Exploitation

“…Risk factors associated with CSE must be addressed to prevent this type of sexual violence and to provide pathways for recovery for affected young people. The present study reports findings consistent with research that suggests early experiences of sexual violence may distort interpersonal relationships, 86 , 87 , 88 normalize sexual risk, 89 strengthen stereotypes regarding sex and violence, 90 and perpetuate ongoing repeated exposure to violence and/or abuse. 91 According to our meta-analytic results, adolescents or children presenting to primary or tertiary services with risky sexual behaviors, prior exposure to sexual violence online and offline, and mental health risk factors associated with trauma warrant further assessment for CSE.…”

Equine‐assisted therapies using horses as healers: A concept analysis

“…The therapeutic use of horses is categorized as alternative, complementary or integrative therapy by several authors without delineating which term applies (Borgi et al, ; Naste et al, ). Homnick, Henning, Swain, and Homnick () published a study on therapeutic horseback riding as a complementary therapy.…”

Application of Attachement Theory to Equine-Facilitated Therapy

“…Where touch may have been threatening, violent, painful, or altogether absent for at-risk youths, the horse serves as a safe physical contact void of other humans. The size difference between newborn and mother proposed by Winnicott is similar to the youth and horse, thus mirroring the touch that should have been present and setting a new foundation to form a relationship (Burgon 2011;Naste et al 2017). A primary component of the equine partnership is physical touch and sensitivity.…”

“…Attachment theory as applied in EFT has been explicitly in prior research literature by Bachi (2013), Naste et al (2017), Carlsson (2016). Bachi et al (2011) also published a clinical trial for a 14-participant study on the influence on selfimage, self-control, and trust which utilized attachment theory as the theoretical framework.…”

“…A key therapeutic quality horses provide is the ability to mirror (Naste et al 2017). Horses have an uncanny ability to read and react to human's body language with quick response that they appear to mirror the person they are interacting with.…”