Patient Rights Healthcare Team What Is an Equine Therapist? By Antigone Orfanos linkedin Antigone Arthur is a former writer for Verywell Health who covered career information for therapy professionals. Learn about our editorial process Antigone Orfanos Fact checked by Fact checked by Sheeren Jegtvig on February 29, 2020 Shereen Lehman, MS, is a healthcare journalist and fact checker. She has co-authored two books for the popular Dummies Series (as Shereen Jegtvig). Learn about our editorial process Sheeren Jegtvig on February 29, 2020 Print Equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFPT), also known as horse therapy and equine-assisted psychotherapy, is a form of psychotherapy that uses horses as an instrument for therapeutic healing. EFPT has been found to be particularly effective for people with autism spectrum disorders, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as other behavioral and communication problems. Tom Ervin / Getty Images Concentrations Equine-facilitated psychotherapy has been found useful for treating people with: Autism spectrum disordersAttention deficit disorderBehavioral problemsTraumatic and/or abusive pastsPost-traumatic stress disorderDepression AnxietyCommunication DisordersProblems forming and maintaining relationships Some suggest that equine therapy works much like cognitive-behavioral therapy. The therapist uses the horse's movements and behaviors, and the client's interpretations of those movements as a mechanism to monitor, explain and change negative patterns of thinking that may result in communication difficulties, relationship problems or an otherwise unhealthy lifestyle. In CBT therapy, a similar model is used to transform negative thought patterns into positive ones. Horses have been found to provide tremendous and instantaneous feedback, so they have become very useful as a vehicle for healing and therapy. Much like dogs are very social and accepting animals, many therapists and clients find horses demonstrate the same personality traits, allowing clients to engage in relationships that feel safe and free from criticism. This makes clients more eager to consider a relationship without fear of rejection, abandonment or criticism, something that a client may otherwise have to face in a traditional relationship. Equine therapy also helps many patients learn to trust. This can be helpful for individuals struggling with trauma issues, or clients that have dealt with trauma in the past. This can make developing trust challenging. Procedural Expertise During a typical equine therapy session, a client may groom a horse, feed it, walk with it and engage in games with horses. A licensed therapist will work along with a horse professional to conduct therapy sessions. Both during the activity and after the patient has finished working with the horse, the equine therapist can observe and interact with the patient in order to identify behavior patterns and process thoughts and emotions. Training and Certification There is no specific independent certification that is required in order to practice EAPT. However, individuals who offer mental health therapy or psychotherapy (with or without equines) must be properly credentialed and legally qualified to practice in their state or other jurisdiction. Only properly credentialed therapists can call their services Equine-Facilitated (or Assisted) Psychotherapy. The Certification Board for Equine Interaction Professionals (www.cbeip.org) is the only independent board certifying EFPL practitioners, which they do through “competency-based” testing. The CBEIP is independent in that the board is not part of any other certifying organization (i.e. they do not market EFPL training themselves). The computerized tests are designed for either therapist in mental health (MH) or education professionals (ED). Both categories have significant prerequisites in order to register for the examination. This Board does not certify horse specialists or riding instructors — they only certify the mental health providers and educators conducting EFPL Equine therapy is a form of rehabilitation therapy. It is somewhat new and is considered to be a growing and expanding field. Employment opportunities may exist at horse stables, at horse tracks and training areas and at universities where access to horses and stables is readily available. Training institutions and farms may be another outlet to investigate equine therapy. Job duties for an equine therapist may include job duties similar to rehabilitation or psychotherapist. A Master's Degree in counseling and licensure as a counselor is probably necessary for the state you plan to work in if you plan to practice as a licensed counselor. The National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy provides more information for individuals interested in careers in equine therapy or for clients interested in therapy. Therapy with animals is becoming more popular, along with many other alternative forms of psychotherapy including art therapy and dance/movement therapy. A Word From Verywell Is there evidence to support equine-based therapy? Typically, doctors and therapists rely on what is called evidence-based practice before putting something into motion "officially." If you plan to practice equine-based therapy, know the American Psychological Association refers to equine therapy as an evidence-based practice. The scientific evidence supporting horse therapy suggests benefits, although the evidence provided may be anecdotal. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Borgi M, Loliva D, Cerino S, et al. Effectiveness of a Standardized Equine-Assisted Therapy Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord. 2016;46(1):1-9. doi:10.1007/s10803-015-2530-6 Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Brief Interventions and Brief Therapies for Substance Abuse. Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 34. Chapter 4—Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Additional Reading The Certification Board for Equine Interaction Professionals. https://www.cbeip.org Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association. https://www.eagala.org Borgi, M., Loliva, D., et al. Effectiveness of a Standardized Equine-Assisted Therapy Program for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord (2016) 46: 1. doi:10.1007/s10803-015-2530-6