Palatine Equine Assisted Therapy

Equine Assisted Therapy Palatine, IL

Emotional and mental health is so important not to overlook, and the answer may be equine assisted therapy Palatine, IL residents can participate in with Lotus Wellness Center. Taking care of, working with, and riding a horse can be therapeutic in many ways, including being in the outdoors and fresh air. If you’ve been looking for unique therapy, equine therapy may be something for you to consider and talk about with a therapist. Speaking with an experienced therapist will give you the opportunity to ask questions and learn more about this type of therapy in order to determine if it might be good for you or your loved one. Contact us today to ask your questions and schedule a consultation.

Benefits of Equine Assisted Therapy

There are multiple benefits to this kind of therapy that make it effective and helpful for many patients – not to mention enjoyable! Palatine equine assisted therapy is not just for horse lovers but may be a good fit for anyone wanting to improve their mental and emotional health. Sometimes doing something new and different can be part of the therapy experience and beneficial in and of itself.

• Ownership of responsibilities
  As part of this therapy, there are responsibilities involved for taking care of an animal. Many find it rewarding to take care of a pet or animal and attend to its needs, such as washing, feeding, and watering.
• Sense of pride
  Learning something new and going out of your comfort zone is something to be proud of and equine therapy can provide you with a new sense of pride in this way.
• Patience
  Working with animals is not always easy and requires patience with the animal and yourself as you learn a new skill. Learning to practice patience can be beneficial for the avenue of life!
• New appreciation for simple things in life
  It’s so easy in this modern, fast-paced, technologically advanced world to get caught up in our electronics, websites, social media, and entertainment and forget about simple pleasures. Getting “unplugged” and outside around horses and new experiences may be exactly what you need right now to get some new perspectives on life.
• Humility
  It can be very humbling to learn something new, and sometimes that’s a good thing to remind us that we still have things to learn and experience.

This is not an exhaustive list of the benefits of Palatine equine assisted therapy but will give you an idea of some of the benefits you can expect when you participate in this type of therapy, of which there are many, many, more.

Who Can Benefit from Equine Assisted Therapy?

If the idea of integrating horses into your overall approach to wellness intrigues you, schedule an appointment to explore equine assisted therapy Palatine, IL residents recommend. All too often, equine assisted therapy is discussed in ways that lead the public to believe that only certain individuals can benefit from this resource. In reality, virtually anyone may experience significant benefits as a result of participating in equine assisted therapy through the Lotus Wellness Center.

From young kids navigating challenges related to Autism to adults recovering from substance abuse challenges, equine assisted therapy has broad-based appeal. One of the possible explanations for this reality is that the world currently moves very fast and electronic distraction permeates the experience of even the youngest among us. Slowing down, connecting with a gentle, strong, quiet non-human presence, and allowing oneself to simply “be” in the moment is an experience that can influence nearly everyone for the better.

What to Expect from Palatine Equine Assisted Therapy

There is no single approach to equine assisted therapy that is utilized with all patients. At Lotus Wellness Center, we tailor our treatment plans and resources to meet individual needs. For example, a teenager who is struggling with a history of trauma may feel subconsciously out of control at all times. Focusing on caring for a horse and contributing to meeting its needs may aid not just in satisfying a need to control circumstances in a healthy way but may also aid in grounding that teen in new ways to connect with the world more broadly.

By contrast, the need to remain calm and gentle around these great creatures may become a focus of treating an older child struggling with behavioral issues. Fostering connection can serve an older adult grappling with grief. There is really no end to the ways in which caring for these animals, learning their ways, and interacting with them in a truly connected fashion can serve individuals of all ages who are facing all different manner of circumstances.

Among the experiences regularly utilized during equine assisted therapy are feeding, watering, grooming, and exercising these compassionate creatures. If you have specific questions concerning what you or a loved one could expect from this therapeutic approach, don’t hesitate to connect with our Center so that we can provide you with personalized guidance and feedback.

Does Equine Assisted Therapy Serve as a Replacement for Talk Therapy?

For nonverbal patients, equine assisted therapy may serve as a replacement for talk therapy to a certain extent. For all patients, this therapeutic resource generally supplements additional mental and emotional health treatments. At Lotus Wellness Center, we’re very open to discussing supplemental and alternative therapy approaches designed to treat “the whole person.” Connect with our reputable and dedicated Palatine equine assisted therapy team today to learn more about whether this particular resource may benefit you and how to get started with this aspect of your broader wellness treatment plan. We look forward to hearing from you.

Speak with a Therapist

No matter your level of experience with horses, farms, or the outdoors, you can participate in equine assisted therapy with Lotus Wellness Center. Give us a call today to get answers to any of your questions to see if this sounds like something you would like to give a try! We encourage you to take full advantage of available therapies that will help you progress in your mental and emotional health. Don’t hesitate to give us a call!

Before Your Session 

Prior to your first Palatine equine assisted therapy session, make sure you have basic knowledge about how to properly interact around horses. Learn how to safely approach a horse and familiarize yourself with how to handle one. This will help you become accustomed to horses during your sessions.

Riding horses can also be a part of the therapy session if you are comfortable doing so. If you are used to being around horses and are used to riding then, you can even bring your own equipment to use on the horse.

Equine Assisted Therapy and Emotional Health

As an experienced therapist who specializes in Palatine equine assisted therapy can tell you, equine assisted therapy offers a host of benefits for people who are going through cognitive, emotional, and behavioral struggles. Horses are highly intelligent animals, and there have been studies that suggest they can detect human emotions like happiness, fear or sadness. Caring for horses or even just being around them can help a patient build their emotional skills, build spatial awareness, manage their anxiety, emotions, and help them improve their ability to connect with others.

Should I Try Equine Assisted Therapy? 

Equine assisted therapy is not just exclusively for horse or animal lovers. It may be a good treatment option for you if you are open to being around animals and caring for one. Horses are gentle animals but it requires a lot of skills to properly care for one and handle them properly and safely. Through this form of therapy, you can build skills such as concentration, spatial awareness. You can also learn methods for how to manage your emotions and behavior. When you work horses, you learn how to trust one another and build a unique bond. You can learn more about the many benefits of equine assisted therapy by speaking with a trained therapist.

Approaching a Horse 

For people who do not have a lot of experience with horses, starting equine assisted therapy can be a little nerve-wracking. You may wonder if the horse will respond well to you or if it will be easy to establish a bond. There are some things that you can think of to make your experience a little easier to get used to. First, take deep breaths and be calm. Horses can tell if you are hesitant to approach them, and if you are experiencing negative emotions such as stress or fear. Try to be as calm as possible when you approach a horse so that it will be calm and relaxed as well when it approaches you. You do not want to do any sudden movements that can spook the horse or cause it to be afraid of you.

Schedule Your First Appointment 

If you are interested in learning more about equine assisted therapy and what it can offer you, schedule an appointment with a therapist to see if the treatment is suitable for you. Find out if therapy that involves horses is suitable by calling for more information.

How to Prepare For an Equine-Assisted Therapy Session

A form of therapy that is unfamiliar to many people is therapy that involves horses, as a therapist who offers equine-assisted therapy Palatine, IL residents seek can tell you. Working with horses can be challenging, and it requires a great amount of skill, knowledge, patience, and emotional intelligence. This kind of therapy is beneficial not just for animal lovers, but for patients who are seeking to improve their skills in making connections, building relationships, and managing their behavior and emotions. If you are not sure what to expect from equine-assisted therapy, there are some things you can do to prepare for your first session.

Calm your nerves 

If you are not used to being around animals, the thought of being near horses for a therapy session can make you feel nervous or anxious. It is natural to be nervous, so before your session, take steps to calm your nervousness. Horses can sense whether people are stressed, so if you are stressed they will notice and may become uncomfortable around you. You may struggle to build a connection with them if you show fear or anxiety. The more calm and relaxed you are, the better your first session will go and it will make it a little easier to build a natural bond with the horse.

Learn basic behavior around horses 

Prior to your first therapy session, it is a good idea to read up on how to act around horses. This is especially helpful if you are feeling a little nervous before your session. You should build a basic understanding of how to approach a horse, pet them, walk them, and feed them. Learn the basics of taking care of horses, communicating with them, and training them.  While the therapist will be ready to assist you with all of these topics, you should take the time to become familiar with the proper etiquette around horses.

Ask the therapist many questions 

At Lotus Wellness Center you can ask a therapist who specializes in Palatine equine-assisted therapy about topics you would like to learn more about regarding the treatment. It is a unique form of therapy that is not as well-known. If you are new to it or have questions about horses, the benefits of this form of therapy, or other general questions, the therapist will be glad to answer them. Many patients receiving this treatment have not been around horses or are even seeing a horse for the first time, so it is normal and encouraged to ask engaging questions so that the experience is helpful for you.

Have fun

An important thing to remember about equine-assisted therapy is to have fun. Being with animals should be a relaxing and enjoyable experience. While you are there for treatment, you are also there to build a connection with the animal and enjoy each other’s company. Being with horses allows you to appreciate life and see it from new perspectives.

See if therapy involving horses may be right for you if you are going through anxiety, emotional or behavioral issues. If you would like to learn more about equine-assisted therapy and its many benefits, talk to a trusted Palatine equine-assisted therapist now.