Can Equine Therapy Help With Issues of Mental Health?
When it comes to issues of mental health, it is important to utilize as many means, methods, and modalities as possible to heal at the cellular level. Many people rely on just one or two types of treatment and expect a full, well-rounded recovery. While this may work for some, it is important for others to have a recovery plan that is much more comprehensive and takes from all areas of treatment, including more exclusive types of treatment like equine therapy.
Healing Issues of Mental Health at the Cellular Level
Issues of mental illness (in two categories) remain highly prevalent in the U.S. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), “Mental illnesses are common in the United States. It is estimated that more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (57.8 million in 2021). Mental illnesses include many different conditions that vary in degree of severity, ranging from mild to moderate to severe. Two broad categories can be used to describe these conditions: Any Mental Illness (AMI) and Serious Mental Illness (SMI).”
It should also be noted that co-occurring mental illness and addiction are also very high. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “7.7 million adults have co-occurring mental and substance use disorders… Of the 20.3 million adults with substance use disorders, 37.9% also had mental illnesses. Among the 42.1 million adults with mental illness, 18.2% also had substance use disorders.”
Regardless of whether one is struggling with mental illness, addiction, or co-occurring disorders, it is important to treat them with the goal of healing at the cellular level at the forefront. However, what exactly does healing at the cellular level look like?
Healing at the cellular level is all about healing holistically, healing every aspect of the Self (the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual). When one of these components goes unaddressed, the others cannot fully heal. To address these issues, one also has to focus on two levels of healing: the external and the internal – the underlying issues.
Getting to the Underlying Issues of Mental Health
It is critical that one treat the root/core causes of their mental health issues. Many recovery centers only focus on external behaviors. This is a fallacy. It is important to get at what is causing those behaviors – the cognitions (thoughts) and the emotions (feelings).
Getting to the underlying issues often means addressing those issues that are related to trauma and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which are much more prevalent than many people may think.
According to the peer-reviewed journal Psychological Medicine, “General population studies have shown that a large proportion of people in developed countries have been exposed to at least one TE [traumatic event] in their lifetime (estimates from 28 to 90%), with the most common events being the unexpected death of a loved one, motor vehicle accidents and being mugged.” PTSD is also a relatively common underlying issue.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the National Center for PTSD, “About 6 out of every 100 people (or 6% of the U.S. population) will have PTSD at some point in their lives.” Also, “About 5 out of every 100 adults (or 5%) in the U.S. has PTSD in any given year. In 2020, about 13 million Americans had PTSD.” One way of treating these underlying issues of PTSD is with equine therapy.
Better Understanding Equine Therapy
Equine therapy has both shown positive effects and is gaining in popularity. According to the peer-reviewed journal Nursing Open, “Currently, there are 4,800 certified instructors and 881 therapeutic riding centers around the world. The Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International claims to have helped 66,000 children and adults physically, mentally, and emotionally each year.” Also, “The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health reported that between 2002 and 2012, 33.2% of US adults used complementary health approaches for physical and psychological therapy.”
Essentially, equine therapy is very much what its moniker conveys. It is the use of horses and horseback riding to heal from issues of addiction and mental illness (as well as other physical applications). Equine therapy also offers a vast array of benefits.
Some of the benefits of equine therapy are as follows:
- Improved communication skills
- A better understanding of essential life skills
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- A reduction in depressive symptoms
- Increased accountability
- Physiological benefits
- Better connections to nature
- Increased feelings of happiness and belonging
- Reduced cravings for alcohol and substances
- A reduction in the rates of relapses
Regarding that last benefit, many people don’t realize just how prevalent relapse currently is in the U.S. According to the peer-reviewed thesis Addiction Relapse Prevention by Doctors Guenzel and McChargue, “One primary concern in addiction treatment is the high rate of relapses within a short period after even the most intensive treatment. Many studies have shown relapse rates of approximately 50% within the first 12 weeks after completion of intensive inpatient programs that often last 4 to 12 weeks or more and can cost tens of thousands of dollars.” These rates are all the more reason to focus on comprehensive recovery plans.
Treating Issues of Mental Health and Utilizing Equine Therapy With Other Means, Methods, and Modalities of Recovery
Equine therapy’s benefits can be greatly increased when it is used in tandem with other types of therapies. These include therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), nutritional therapy, surf therapy, nature immersion therapy, and yoga therapy.
The best type of recovery plan is one that is both individualized and comprehensive. A recovery plan should also start with a foundation of evidence-based modalities. One of these modalities is CBT.
Equine Therapy and Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is one of the most commonly used modalities in addiction and mental health recovery because it has had a long history of showing efficacy. This is especially true with one of the most common psychotherapies: CBT.
A big reason why CBT is so effective is that it treats the underlying issues of mental illness and addiction rather than the behaviors. It is about correcting one’s cognitions and emotions so that negative behaviors can eventually be mitigated.
According to the peer-reviewed journal Cognitive Therapy and Research, “Consistent with the medical model of psychiatry, the overall goal of [CBT] treatment is symptom reduction, improvement in functioning, and remission of the disorder. In order to achieve this goal, the patient becomes an active participant in a collaborative problem-solving process to test and challenge the validity of maladaptive cognitions and to modify maladaptive behavioral patterns… Although these strategies greatly emphasize cognitive factors, physiological, emotional, and behavioral components are also recognized for the role that they play in the maintenance of the disorder.”
CBT can also be highly effective with equine therapy. The reason for this is that working with horses can help open one up to the vulnerability that CBT may require (or is helped by). Another therapy that can also be an effective part of a healthy recovery plan is nutritional therapy.
Equine Therapy and Nutritional Therapy
The father of Western medicine, Hippocrates, famously said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” This is also one of our mottos at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab.
We also know that nutritional therapy is about as much as what one puts into one’s diet as one keeps out. According to the Journal for Nurse Practitioners (JPN), “Nutritional Therapy uses food to prevent and reverse diseases that plague most western societies: diabetes, obesity, heart disease, arthritis, and depression. In order for food to be therapeutic, it must be nutrient-dense, measured in part by the nutrients and anti-nutrients, contained in consumed foods. Nutrients are plant and animal sources providing macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, fat), micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, antioxidants, probiotics), and fiber,” and “Anti-Nutrients are food products that have no biological necessity.”
Here at Exclusive Hawaii Rehab, we also know that nutritional therapy is as much about satiation as it is about nutrition. That is why we only have world-class chefs on staff. They prepare some of the most amazing meals, utilizing organic local ingredients and tailoring for each client. This is important for clients who are exerting a lot of energy engaging in equine therapy for treating issues of mental health.
Equine Therapy and Art Therapy
Another highly beneficial therapy for treating issues of mental health is art therapy. This pairs well with equine therapy, as equine therapy is more active, and art therapy is more creative.
According to the peer-reviewed journal Cureus, “Art therapy uses artistic means to treat mental illnesses and improve mental health. Art has become a significant element of the therapeutic sector and is used in several recovery and treatment procedures.” Also, “Art therapy uses integrative techniques to captivate the soul, body, and mind in ways that verbal expression alone doesn’t appear to.” This type of therapy also pairs well with other experiential therapies like nature immersion therapy.
Equine Therapy and Nature Immersion Therapy
Now, equine therapy offers some benefits of nature immersion therapy as it helps one engage with the outdoors. The outdoors has been shown to be highly beneficial for issues of mental health and addiction.
According to the National Park Service, “5 minutes walking in nature improves mood, self-esteem, and relaxation. Frequent exposure to nature reduces anxiety and depression while promoting a sense of well-being and fulfillment.” Also, “Physical activity in a green space can reduce stress and lower cortisol levels by 15%.” There are also many other benefits.
According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “Besides improvements to physical and psychological well-being, exposure to natural environments has been shown to bring about positive impacts on cognitive functioning… While cognitive restoration and physiological well-being are the prominent and renowned benefits of nature exposure, there is one important construct that is often overlooked in environmental psychology research studies – that is, the human-nature relationship; also known as connectedness to nature (CN).” This CN can also be gained from surf therapy.
Equine Therapy and Surf Therapy
Just as equine therapy has physical benefits (depending on how one engages with it), surf therapy does, too. It offers many benefits of physical activity. According to the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Psychology, “It is well-established that regular physical activity can enhance mood and alleviate mental health issues. Aerobic exercises such as jogging, swimming, cycling, walking, surfing, and dancing have all been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve mood, and lessen cognitive decline.”
Surf therapy offers many more specific benefits. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “Carefully planned water activities tailored to the needs of the individual can contribute to correct psychosocial and cognitive development. The International Surf Therapy Organization summarizes the benefits of adequately indicated surf therapy as follows: improved physical health and mobility; improved mental health, including reduction of specific symptoms, such as posttraumatic stress and depression; improved well-being (strengthening of trust and confidence, encouragement of independence, resilience and protective coping strategies) and improved social skills.”
Equine Therapy and Horticulture Therapy
Another highly beneficial therapy is horticulture therapy. Horticulture has long been used to help people find balance and get centered. This is why we utilize our incredible luxury 30-acre property to offer our clients an opportunity to cultivate some of the most amazing local plants and citrus trees.
Horticulture therapy offers a myriad of benefits. According to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, “People’s interactions with plants, through goal-orientated horticultural activities in the form of active gardening, as well as the passive appreciation of nature, could be therapeutic to people with mental disorders in many ways. First, horticulture could have emotional benefits, such as reducing stress, reducing psychiatric symptoms, stabilizing mood, and increasing the sense of tranquility, spirituality, and enjoyment. Second, it could help people to reduce fatigue and restore attention and cognitive ability.”
Equine Therapy, Yoga Therapy, and Meditation
A couple of other modalities that offer holistic healing properties, like equine therapy, are yoga and meditation.
Yoga’s benefits are vast and varied. According to the International Journal of Yoga (IJOY), “Therapeutic yoga is defined as the application of yoga postures and practice to the treatment of health conditions. Yoga therapy involves instruction in yogic practices and teachings to prevent reduce or alleviate structural, physiological, emotional, and spiritual pain, suffering, or limitations. Yogic practices enhance muscular strength and body flexibility, promote and improve respiratory and cardiovascular function, promote recovery from and treatment of addiction, reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, improve sleep patterns, and enhance overall well-being and quality of life.”
Now, meditation offers similar benefits, as well as an array of new ones. According to the International Quarterly Journal of Research in Ayurveda (AYU), “During the process of meditation, accumulated stresses are removed, energy is increased, and health is positively affected overall. Research has confirmed a myriad of health benefits associated with the practice of meditation. These include stress reduction, decreased anxiety, decreased depression, reduction in pain (both physical and psychological), improved memory, and increased efficiency.”
Treating Issues of Mental Health and Healing at the Cellular Level With Exclusive Hawaii Rehab
One’s connection to animals has long been known to be beneficial. Equine therapy just utilizes that information and takes it a step further and helps individuals heal at the cellular level. This is why we strongly believe in our use of equine therapy for recovery.
The iconic American author and philosopher Joseph Campbell famously said, “I don’t believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive.” Equine therapy certainly helps this feeling of being alive. It also reminds one that they can love and deserve to feel loved.
Now, it is important to remember that recovery is about the journey, never the destination. That journey is much more fun when taken with those we love. It is also much more fun when taken on the back of a majestic creature like a horse.
Equine therapy has many benefits for issues of mental health, especially anxiety and depression. Engaging with equine therapy can also help individuals develop the life skills that can help them maintain mental health and well-being in the long term. The key is to utilize equine therapy alongside other proven effective treatment means, methods, and modalities. If you feel like you or a loved one are struggling with issues of mental illness, addiction, or both, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this alone. For more information about how equine therapy can help with mental illness, please reach out to Exclusive Hawaii Rehab today at (808) 775-0200.