EQUINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY

Mike Delaney is one of the leading practitioners of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy in the UK, treating over 500 patients in the last five years with this powerful healing and self-esteem boosting therapy. Mike's EAP skills were also used to help treat London Underground staff with substance issues following the July 2005 tube bombings.

What is…

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is an emerging field in which humans interact with horses in their natural environment as a tool for emotional growth and learning. It is a collaborative effort between a mental health professional / therapist, a horse professional and the patient.

EAP is experiential in nature; this means that participants learn about themselves and others by participating in activities with the horses, then discussing and processing feelings, behaviours and patterns.

The focus of EAP is not riding or horsemanship, it takes place purely on the ground. The therapy involves activities with the horses which will require the client or group to apply skills such as assertiveness, problem-solving, taking responsibility, relationship building and leadership.

Benefits

This alternative but highly successful treatment method rapidly breaks down defence barriers, providing immediate cause and effect situations and promoting change from dysfunctional patterns to successful ones.

EAP is a powerful and effective therapeutic approach that uses the dynamic nature of horses to address addiction and a variety of mental health and human development needs including challenging behaviour, attention deficit disorder, depression, abuse issues, eating disorders and relationship problems.

To understand more about EAP watch this short video or watch how EAP has changed the life of one of Mike's clients on the BBC documentary 'Am I Normal?'