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Facilitating change in a client's dysfunctional behavioural pattern with horse‐aided psychotherapy. A case study
Author(s) -
Johansen Siv G.,
Arfwedson Wang Catharina E.,
Binder PerEinar
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
counselling and psychotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.38
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1746-1405
pISSN - 1473-3145
DOI - 10.1002/capr.12078
Subject(s) - dysfunctional family , psychology , thematic analysis , psychotherapist , interpersonal communication , therapeutic relationship , recall , clinical psychology , social psychology , qualitative research , cognitive psychology , social science , sociology
Aim The aim of the study was to describe how therapeutic interaction with a horse has the potential to provide opportunities to work with relational issues for a client with a background of parental substance misuse and severe trauma in childhood. Background Psychotherapy facilitated by horses uses the client/horse relationship as an aid for breaking dysfunctional behavioural patterns. The key therapeutic element is to use the horse's high sensitivity and responsiveness to human body language as an aid to improve awareness of emotions, bodily responses and communication. Methodology A single case study with in‐depth interviews was conducted using Interpersonal Process Recall to reveal subjective configurations of events in therapy and their corresponding reflections. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the material. Findings Four themes were found in the analysis. The client displayed dysfunctional behavioural patterns in the relationship with the horse. The negative reactions and uncooperativeness the client got from the horse aided the client in changing to more constructive behaviour. Implications This study may give increased awareness of the benefits of psychotherapy facilitated by horses.