Horses are known for their therapeutic value. As animals with a remarkable ability to sense your emotional state, they offer support seemingly customized to your needs, whether it’s by being quiet and attentive or playful and charming—or anything in between. They also are known to have a positive impact on things like blood pressure and stress. Equine therapy for mental health and substance use disorders is gaining traction all across the country with proven results. To learn more about equine therapy in Asheville, NC, reach out to Insight Recovery Center.
When you call us at 828.826.1376, we can discuss the benefits of equine therapy for addiction and answer your questions about how it works. A holistic psychotherapy that is also an experiential modality, equine therapy can support your recovery in numerous meaningful ways, here amidst the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina.
Drug Awareness in Buncombe County
The Health and Human Services department of the Buncombe County government is not only aware of the local statistics around addiction and drug-related deaths, but they are also actively working to mitigate the crisis. Prevention, harm reduction, treatment, public awareness, and more are all matters being addressed by the communities in Buncombe County such as Asheville.1
Providing access to information about treatment and how to promote awareness is important. At Insight Recovery Center, we provide evidence-based treatments including traditional psychotherapies like dialectical behavior therapy as well as supportive and experiential therapies that address the whole person and seek to boost confidence, optimism, mood, and mental and physical strength. Equine therapy for addiction is one of the most effective of these.
What Is an Equine Therapy Program?
Many people assume that to receive benefits from equine therapy, you have to be a rider with horse experience. Not true. Equine therapy can include horseback riding but does not have to. In fact, in most cases, it does not. It is mostly about spending time with these remarkable animals in a closely supervised, safe setting like an equine therapy center or horse farm. Just as important as the horses are the trained therapists and equine specialists who work with you.
Activities associated with equine therapy are often divided into three categories—grooming and horse care, ground exercises, and mounted exercises. You will never be required to mount or ride a horse to benefit from equine therapy. When desired by the client, riding is always an option when appropriate.
This therapy is not a hobby. It is a recognized therapy for addiction recovery and is overseen by a medical professional and/or licensed psychotherapist.
Grooming and care:
- Involves feeding, brushing, currying
- Builds trust
- Promotes responsibility
- Creates a bond with the horse
Groundwork:
- Includes leading and halting the horse to build strong communication and confidence
- Improves physical communication through lunging—when you lead the horse in a circle around you while holding a lead rope
- Develops problem-solving and partnering with a horse while creating and navigating obstacle courses
Riding:
- Builds confidence and a feeling of control
- Develops physical and emotional balance
- A trail ride leads to relaxation and well-being and offers a feeling of hope and possibility as you guide your horse through nature
Equine therapy complements and supports the other addiction recovery therapy or therapies that you receive. It supports your well-being by reducing stress, supporting mindfulness, and helping you center. Horses do not judge, criticize, or question. They offer their focused compassionate presence and interact with and hold space for you.
Equine Therapy Program in Asheville, NC – Call Today
There is a region in the foothills of North Carolina known as Tryon Horse Country where Asheville is nestled. Insight Recovery Center’s location in this part of the state, with the benefit of nearby pastoral beauty, the famously gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains, and access to trained therapy horses, makes equine therapy an ideal modality to offer our clients.
To learn more about equine therapy, as well as all our therapies that will help you get a healthy start on recovery, call 828.826.1376 today or use our online contact form to connect with us.
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