Equine Assisted Psychotherapy at Garfield Park Academy

Garfield Park Academy is excited to announce a new Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) program. The horses are a valuable therapeutic tool because they are "safer" than people to talk to or about. This allows us to use the horses as a tool for emotional growth and learning. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy has been found to be more effective than traditional talk therapy in working with children and at-risk youths. To ensure the emotional and physical safety of the children, EAP is a collaborative effort between a licensed therapist and a horse professional that are both certified in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.

The focus of a true Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Program is not riding or horsemanship. It is experiential in nature, which means that participants learn about themselves and others by participating in activities with the horses, and then processing feelings, behaviors, and patterns. Life patterns and issues tend to surface quickly because EAP relies on non-verbal communication skills with the horses. Non-verbal communication, assertiveness, creative thinking, problem solving, leadership work, taking responsibility, teamwork and relationships, confidence, and attitude are several examples of the tools utilized and developed by EAP.

Our Equine Assisted Therapy Program is supported by a grant from the Equus Foundation