Equine Assisted Couples Therapy: An Exploratory Study

Equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP) is an emerging experiential methodology
that has recently gained recognition as a method for addressing a range of presenting
problems for a wide variety of client populations. Couples therapy is one area that the
practice of equine assisted psychotherapy has recently gained traction. This study
describes the practice of equine assisted couples therapy in terms of practitioner
characteristics, approach to treatment, therapeutic goals and outcomes. Mental health
professionals currently using equine assisted psychotherapy to treat couples share their
experiences and perspectives to provide an overview of this emerging modality.