Come to an excellent holistic rehab in Portland, OR where you can dedicate your time to getting well and putting your addiction behind you. When you’re here, you can experience something remarkable in addiction treatment: equine therapy.
Need to know more about addiction therapy programs? Call us today at 866.262.0531.
What Is Equine Therapy?
Equine therapy is a method of intervention that links clients with horses. The goal is a relaxing way to rediscover parts of yourself through the care, maintenance, and bond formed with the animal. Equine therapy is also used with war veterans, to help re-establish trust. This is especially helpful for those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD. According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health, researchers theorize that the quiet of the horse stable offers an active, outdoor-oriented, less verbal therapeutic environment.
This type of therapy is great for people who require or desire less-verbal therapeutic interventions. However, it can be used as a supplement therapy to help bolster other forms of addiction therapy.
Generally, equine therapy begins with four weeks of you and your assigned horse becoming better acquainted. This includes learning about the horse, its care, its maintenance, and horse safety issues. In a 12-week program, the remaining eight weeks are used for activities and exercises with the animal. The activities and exercises feature agreed-upon goals. This portion of the program allows the client allows you see the successful acquisition of goals through concerted effort.
How Does Equine Therapy Help?
Equine therapy for addiction helps because it encourages clients to develop healthy communication skills and teaches them how to interact with a non-judgmental being. The process of building trust between the equine and client can help those in recovery become more self-aware and boost their self-esteem. Working with horses also allows clients to practice taking risks, as horses can provide immediate feedback and require active problem-solving. This type of experiential learning helps those in recovery create new pathways to sobriety.
Ultimately, equine therapy for addiction can help clients learn how to develop positive relationships with themselves, others, and the animal they work with. It’s a powerful tool that teaches them how to take control of their lives while providing an enjoyable and therapeutic experience.
Equine therapy for addiction also provides a safe and supportive environment where clients can learn how to trust themselves and others. Working with horses requires participants to be present in the moment, which helps them stay focused on the task at hand rather than worrying about past or future issues. This can be beneficial for those in recovery because it helps them to develop healthy coping skills and practice emotional regulation.
The physical contact of grooming a horse may also provide comfort and help clients feel more connected and secure as they work through their addiction. Lastly, equine therapy for addiction provides an opportunity for clients to become part of a larger community and find support in a team-oriented setting. The bond between horse, client, and therapist creates a unique environment where clients can learn to let go of their addiction and navigate the recovery process.
How Can Equine Therapy Benefit My Recovery
Studies show that having flexibility with the modes of treatment is extremely beneficial for the client. Especially because drug addiction is such an individualized behavior. Meaning, people began to abuse drugs for different reasons and with various outcomes. Having a resource like equine therapy brings clients success who may not have benefited from other forms of therapy. In other words, it’s another tool to get you to reach the goals that you set for yourself in your sobriety.
The gentleness needed to interact with the animal helps you to learn how to breathe through stressful situations or problems. There are so many benefits to this form of therapy that we’d like you to give us a call and try it out for yourself or your loved one.
Crestview Offers The Best View For Your New Outlook On Life
Crestview is a comprehensive treatment program, highlighting the following:
Your window on life becomes clear once you’re in recovery. Come to Crestview, where we offer extended care (90-day program), dual diagnosis therapy, individual therapy, and trauma therapy — all with masters-level therapists.
Our location makes us unique. Unfortunately, there are few treatment options in the Pacific Northwest. We are here to serve this region with excellence, care, and professional diligence. In addition to the equine therapy program, which puts you as close to nature as you can get, we offer other unique outdoor activities. Though they aren’t part of our therapy program, the idea of being one with nature resonates through each. This alone has an extremely therapeutic effect. While you are here at Crestview you can participate in:
- White Water Rafting
- Skiing
- Snowboarding
Give us a call today at 866.262.0531. We’d love to show you how your therapeutic process can also be enjoyable and rewarding. Delving into the complexities that lead to drug addiction is an arduous process that requires patience, hard work, and dedication. Trying innovative and proven strategies like equine therapy will help to get your life back. Don’t hesitate to call us if you have any questions about our programs or the different types of therapeutic modalities we use. We’re looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Since 2016, Dr. Merle Williamson, a graduate of Oregon Health Sciences University, has been the Medical Director at Crestview Recovery, bringing a rich background in addiction medicine from his time at Hazelden Treatment Center. He oversees outpatient drug and alcohol treatments, providing medical care, setting policies, detox protocols, and quality assurance measures. Before specializing in addiction medicine, he spent 25 years in anesthesiology, serving as Chair of Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee and Chief of Anesthesia at Kaiser Permanente. This experience gives him a unique perspective on treating prescription drug addiction.
