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Guardian Recovery Adolescent can help your teen take control of their lives, putting them on a path to a brighter future filled with possibility.
The Horse-Human Connection
Horses have a unique way of connecting with humans, making them incredibly valuable in therapy. They can pick up on emotions, often sensing them before we say anything. When a teen works with a horse, they quickly realize how much the horse seems to understand their mood—whether they’re feeling anxious, sad, or calm. This special connection helps teens feel more understood and safe, allowing them to explore their emotions in a non-threatening way. The beauty of this connection is that horses don’t judge. They simply react to what they sense, which can give teens a clearer understanding of how their feelings are showing up. If a teen feels tense or stressed, the horse might become uneasy or pull back, showing them how their emotions impact the space around them. This honest, non-verbal feedback helps teens better recognize and manage their emotions, helping them gain control over their responses. Over time, this bond becomes more than just about the horse—it’s about learning how to manage emotions, build trust, and develop patience. For teens, the horse-human connection is a powerful way to work through challenges and begin healing in a safe, supportive environment.Core Principles & Methodology
Equine-assisted therapy is built on key principles that make it a powerful tool for teens. One of the main ideas is that it’s hands-on and interactive. Instead of just talking about feelings, teens learn through doing—whether grooming, leading, or caring for a horse. This experience helps them understand how their emotions appear and how they can begin managing them. At Guardian Recovery, each equine therapy session is tailored to meet the teen’s unique needs. The focus is on creating a safe, nurturing space where they can build emotional resilience and self-awareness. This hands-on, personal experience with the horses helps teens move forward in their healing process, allowing them to grow emotionally and connect with their strengths.Different Types of Equine Therapy Approaches
Equine therapy can be approached differently, depending on what works best for each teen. Options include:2- Ground-Based Equine Therapy In this approach, teens interact with the horses without riding them. They may groom, lead, or spend quiet time with the horses. This hands-on work helps build trust and emotional awareness. One of the most powerful aspects is how horses reflect the teen’s emotions. For example, if a teen is anxious, the horse may act restive or pull away, showing the teen how their feelings impact the environment. It’s a great way to connect with and understand emotions in a real, immediate way.
- Equine-Assisted Learning This therapy focuses on teaching practical skills, like communication and leadership, through interaction with horses. Teens work with horses on challenging tasks, such as guiding the horse through obstacles or making decisions during an activity. These sessions help teens learn more about themselves, improve emotional regulation, and gain confidence in handling difficult situations.
- Therapeutic Riding While this approach isn’t used at Guardian Recovery, it can still be helpful for some teens. Therapeutic riding involves horse riding and can help build physical strength, coordination, and focus. It also boosts self-esteem and confidence as teens work on controlling the horse and establishing a bond. This type of therapy can be especially beneficial for those who respond well to physical activity.
Neurological Benefits for Teens
Equine therapy offers some amazing benefits for the brain, especially for teens who may be dealing with stress, anxiety, or trouble managing their emotions. Here’s how working with horses can help the brain: 3- Lowering Stress—Spending time with horses helps calm the nervous system. When teens interact with horses, their brains release chemicals that make them feel relaxed and reduce stress. This helps teens feel less anxious and more in control, making dealing with tough emotions easier.
- Better Focus—Working with horses helps teens practice staying in the moment and paying attention, which can help them build focus that can carry over into school and other areas of their lives, especially when dealing with stressful situations.
- Learning Emotional Control—Horses show teens how their emotions affect others. For example, the horse might act jumpy if a teen feels anxious. This allows teens to notice how their feelings show up and helps them learn to control them better. Over time, this strengthens the brain’s ability to regulate emotions.
- Building Self-Awareness—Horses reflect teens’ emotional states, allowing them to learn more about themselves. This helps teens understand how they react to situations and build more confidence. It also helps them make better choices in their relationships and daily lives.
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Psychological Advantages
Equine therapy offers teens a unique way to explore their emotions and improve their mental health. Horses are incredibly sensitive to human emotions and act as a mirror for how teens feel. When teens interact with the horses, they begin to notice how their emotions show up in real time through the horses’ responses. This helps them understand their feelings more clearly and learn how to manage them. Teens also build confidence by caring for the horses and navigating the activities. This sense of accomplishment boosts self-esteem, giving them a healthier outlook on their ability to handle challenges.
Additionally, equine therapy helps improve communication skills. Teens must learn to communicate nonverbally with the horses, paying attention to body language, tone, and subtle cues. This fosters better listening and more mindful interactions, which can carry over into their relationships with others. The calming presence of the horses also supports emotional regulation, helping teens manage stress and anxiety. Many teens report feeling a sense of peace and calm after each session, which contributes to their overall emotional growth and resilience.
Treatment Applications
Equine therapy is a flexible and effective treatment option that can be applied in many different ways to support teens in their recovery. Whether helping with emotional regulation, building trust, or improving communication, the horses play a key role in each session.Â
At Guardian Recovery, we tailor the experience to fit each teen’s needs. The hands-on activities allow teens to work through issues like anxiety, depression, and trauma in a safe and supportive environment. It’s not just about bonding with the horses; it’s about learning valuable life skills that teens can carry with them beyond therapy.
Integration With Traditional Therapy
Equine therapy works well alongside traditional therapy, like talk therapy. At Guardian Recovery, we integrate equine therapy into a teen’s overall treatment plan, offering a well-rounded approach.Â
While talk therapy helps teens process their thoughts and emotions, equine therapy helps them connect with those feelings more immediately and hands-only. The horses provide a unique opportunity for teens to practice skills like trust, emotional regulation, and communication in real-time. This combination helps teens talk about their challenges and experience personal growth in ways they can directly feel and see.
Finding the Right Program
Choosing the right equine therapy program for your teen is important. A good program should help your teen feel safe and supported while they work on themselves. It should be designed just for them, focusing on their specific challenges and helping them build trust and emotional control. A quality program also depends on the people involved. Therapists should know how to guide their teens with care and expertise.
At Guardian Recovery, we ensure each session is tailored to your teen’s needs. We use horses to help teens understand their feelings and actions in a way that feels real and personal. Additionally, we ensure our team works closely with your teen, making sure their time with the horses supports their overall treatment. The horses offer calm, honest feedback that helps teens see and understand their emotions. With this approach, your teen can heal and grow in a way that feels right for them.
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Changing lives by providing comprehensive support and rehabilitation, empowering individuals to overcome addiction and regain control of their health and well-being.
Boca Raton Adolescent Center
Boca Raton, Florida
Montville Adolescent Center
Towaco, New Jersey
New Pathway Counseling — Pine Brook Â
Pine Brook, New Jersey
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Deciding to place your child in a behavioral health treatment program is undoubtedly one of the toughest choices a parent can face. The most effective way to alleviate your fears is to have a reliable partner in adolescent care. When you connect with the right professionals and a supportive organization that guides you through this challenging period, the weight of stress and uncertainty begins to lift. In its place, hope, reassurance, and healing can flourish, empowering you to restore balance to your lives.
Guardian Recovery is your ally in adolescent care. We’re deeply committed to supporting adolescents at every stage of their recovery journey—and to supporting their families during this challenging time.
Reach out now for a free and confidential conversation. Staff can listen to your concerns, answer your questions, discuss treatment options, and more. During the no-obligation call, they can even collect information to verify your insurance benefits for you and/or they can discuss alternative payment options if needed.
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Disclaimer: Does not guarantee specific treatment outcomes, as individual results may vary. Our services are not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis; please consult a qualified healthcare provider for such matters.
- Ayala MD, Carrillo A, Iniesta P, Ferrer P. Pilot Study of the Influence of Equine Assisted Therapy on Physiological and Behavioral Parameters Related to Welfare of Horses and Patients. Animals (Basel). 2021 Dec 10;11(12):3527. doi: 10.3390/ani11123527. PMID: 34944303; PMCID: PMC8698107.
- Rankins EM, Quinn A, McKeever KH, Malinowski K. Ground-based adaptive horsemanship lessons for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled pilot study. Front Psychiatry. 2024 May 28;15:1390212. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1390212. PMID: 38863605; PMCID: PMC11165701.
- Hoagwood K, Vincent A, Acri M, Morrissey M, Seibel L, Guo F, Flores C, Seag D, Peth Pierce R, Horwitz S. Reducing Anxiety and Stress among Youth in a CBT-Based Equine-Assisted Adaptive Riding Program. Animals (Basel). 2022 Sep 20;12(19):2491. doi: 10.3390/ani12192491. PMID: 36230232; PMCID: PMC9558534.
