Eating disorders are a type of mental illness that affects a large number of people. Eating disorders are one of the most deadly mental conditions, yet they may be treated. Unfortunately, eating disorders are very frequent.

In fact, it is projected that 9% of Americans will acquire an eating issue during their lives.

There are a variety of approaches to treating eating disorders, each with its own set of advantages. One treatment option for eating disorders is equine therapy.

What is Equine Therapy, and how does it work?

Equine therapy is a form of psychotherapy in which horses are used. Horses are used in the therapy process to help clients modify their behavior and emotions. These modifications are intended to help someone achieve improved emotional well-being.

Eating disorders are considered to be a mental condition. Eating disorders may appear to revolve around food or body image on the surface. However, unresolved emotions are often at the basis of an eating disorder, which someone is seeking to cope with through disordered behaviors.

When someone suffers at least two mental illnesses at the same time, they are said to have co-occurring mental illnesses. In patients with eating problems, co-occurring mental conditions are highly common.

Approximately 97 percent of patients with eating problems also suffer from another mental disease. The following are examples of common co-occurring conditions among people with eating disorders:

- Depression

- Anxiety

- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder).

- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety condition that occurs after a traumatic event.

- Alcoholism or substance abuse

Equine therapy can also assist people in overcoming the psychological symptoms of eating disorders and other mental illnesses.

What Is Equine Therapy and How Does It Work?

A mental health clinician, a horse, and possibly an equestrian specialist are all part of equine therapy. The human-horse link is used to promote healing. Equine therapy is particularly effective because of the bond that exists between the human and the horse.

The bond that participants form with the horse can be very restorative, similar to the healing component of a relationship between therapist and client. The relationship, in combination with the skills developed, is used to achieve therapy objectives.

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Equine Therapy Types

Equine treatment comes in a variety of forms. For persons seeking mental health treatment, not all types of equine therapy are used. Equine therapy can be used to treat eating disorders in a variety of ways, including:

- Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT) is a sort of therapy that uses horses or an equine-related setting to help people with mental illnesses. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology can all benefit from EAT.

- Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) is a method of teaching individuals life skills via the use of equine-related activities.

- Therapeutic Riding is a strategy that involves using equestrian riding to achieve emotional goals.

Horses have a role in all of these techniques, but in different ways. Individual or group therapy sessions can be provided by equine therapists.

Hamer Equine Assisted Learning (H.E.A.L) offers physically and psychologically safe experiences with horses. We provide participants with the opportunity to explore issues that may be troubling them or simply to enjoy being in the space with the horses.To know more what we do.

What are the Advantages of Equine Therapy in the Treatment of Eating Disorders?

Animals can also be used in other types of treatment. Horses, on the other hand, have unique characteristics that make them very effective healers. Horses are prey animals, which means that in order to survive, they must pay constant attention to their surroundings.

Horses are masters at being present and responding to nonverbal emotional cues as a result of this. Horses become a very clear mirror of people's emotional states as a result of this. This has both emotional and physical advantages.

Equine Therapy's Emotional Benefits

As previously said, horses are continuously examining nonverbal clues such as body language in order to read and react appropriately to their surroundings.

People's emotions, whether expressed vocally or nonverbally, will be reflected back to them by horses. This can be beneficial for persons who find it difficult to connect with their emotions and genuine self.

This can be beneficial for persons with eating disorders because eating disorder sufferers sometimes find it difficult to express their emotions. You have the opportunity to not only become aware of your sentiments, but also to learn how to control them, as the horse reflects them back to you.

In most eating disorder treatment approaches, learning to regulate emotions is a key therapeutic aim. This is due to the fact that disordered actions may be an attempt to cope with bad emotions. During treatment, replacing problematic eating with other coping strategies is tremendously beneficial.

Equine therapy can also provide emotional advantages such as:

- More self-confidence

- Improved trustworthiness

- Improved interpersonal skills

- Better relationship quality

Equine Therapy's Physical Benefits

Humans, on the other hand, require non-sexual touch. Hugging or touching someone's hand, arm, or upper back are examples of non-erotic touch. Equine therapy entails a lot of contact between the horse and the client.

Why is Equine Therapy Effective in the Treatment of Eating Disorders?

Certain symptoms or personality features are frequent among those who suffer from eating disorders. According to new research, focusing on personality factors that feed into disordered behavior is effective for eating disorder treatment.

Equine treatment has been demonstrated to be effective in interrupting existing habits and assisting people in developing new ones.

Furthermore, people with eating disorders frequently experience worries of abandonment in relationships or find it difficult to be emotionally close to others.

People with eating problems can use equine therapy to work through their issues and build new relational patterns. People can work past toxic feelings that arise in relationships by forming a bond with a safe being, such as a horse.

Someone can incorporate this with each new relational experience until their new relationship skills become habitual and comfortable. Equine therapy has a particular healing potential during the eating disorder recovery process because of the power of interaction and experiential learning.