Experience Equine Therapy in Utah at a Licensed Residential Treatment Center
Everyone heals in different ways, and at Legacy Outdoor Adventure, we believe that complete healing doesn’t just happen sitting in a chair inside a therapist’s office. We believe that full healing takes place through new experiences and meaningful connections. At our licensed residential treatment center in Utah, we offer equine therapy to help young adults heal through connection, movement, and the presence of horses. This type of treatment helps promote real change for young adults facing mental health and substance use challenges.
Why Equine Therapy?
So you may be wondering, why equine therapy? There is both science and soul behind equine-assisted therapy for mental health and emotional growth. Equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) is a type of experiential therapy. This means that it involves guiding an individual through experiences instead of relying solely on traditional talk therapy.
You have the opportunity to explore different emotions and behavior patterns. Throughout this process, you’ll have the chance to form a connection with a horse that will help you learn more about relationships overall. There are many research-backed benefits associated with this type of therapy. They include better emotional regulation, increased self-awareness, reduced stress, and overall greater well-being.
Many people who come to try equine therapy may be struggling with self-esteem or are in recovery from past trauma. For these individuals, trust often doesn’t come easily, and they may find themselves withdrawing from those around them. They may do this out of fear of judgment or out of fear of letting people in and getting hurt again. Even talking about their experiences can feel re-traumatizing and incredibly overwhelming.
However, horses are non-judgmental, and they don’t care about a person’s past. They also don’t care about what kind of diagnosis an individual may be struggling with. Therefore, many people may feel more comfortable being vulnerable around a horse than they do another person. This is why the presence of horses can help support trauma recovery and rebuilding self-esteem.
In order to communicate with a horse, you don’t have to use words. Body language, energy, and emotion are all things that a horse is very attuned to. As time passes and the individual continues to work with the horse, they may become more comfortable letting their guard down around other people as well. They can work towards beginning to trust again and learn how to let others in without fear of getting hurt.
You have the opportunity to explore different emotions and behavior patterns. Throughout this process, you’ll have the chance to form a connection with a horse that will help you learn more about relationships overall. There are many research-backed benefits associated with this type of therapy. They include better emotional regulation, increased self-awareness, reduced stress, and overall greater well-being.
Many people who come to try equine therapy may be struggling with self-esteem or are in recovery from past trauma. For these individuals, trust often doesn’t come easily, and they may find themselves withdrawing from those around them. They may do this out of fear of judgment or out of fear of letting people in and getting hurt again. Even talking about their experiences can feel re-traumatizing and incredibly overwhelming.
However, horses are non-judgmental, and they don’t care about a person’s past. They also don’t care about what kind of diagnosis an individual may be struggling with. Therefore, many people may feel more comfortable being vulnerable around a horse than they do another person. This is why the presence of horses can help support trauma recovery and rebuilding self-esteem.
In order to communicate with a horse, you don’t have to use words. Body language, energy, and emotion are all things that a horse is very attuned to. As time passes and the individual continues to work with the horse, they may become more comfortable letting their guard down around other people as well. They can work towards beginning to trust again and learn how to let others in without fear of getting hurt.
What Is Equine-Assisted Therapy?
Equine-assisted therapy is a hands-on, relational therapeutic approach that builds connection and insight. Sessions involve working with an equine specialist, a mental health professional, and the horse. The participant will be guided through different types of therapeutic interactions with the horse. These interactions may include things like:
- Learning how to lead or groom the horses
- Observing horses and learning how to use body language, mirroring, and feedback from horses
- Taking the time to reflect upon what happens both physically and emotionally during these interactions
There are a multitude of different kinds of benefits associated with equine therapy. It can help improve communication, emotional regulation, self-awareness, and even social skills. This type of therapy is especially ideal for individuals who may feel stuck or disconnected in talk therapy.
Our Approach to Equine Therapy at Legacy Outdoor Adventure
There are many aspects to our approach that make equine therapy at Legacy Outdoor Adventure unique. We integrate this type of therapy into a broader residential treatment program. It is used not only by itself, but also in conjunction with evidence-based modalities such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and adventure therapy. Equine therapy also involves weekly sessions that are immersive, guided, and goal-focused.
Conditions Treated With Equine Therapy
There is not just one specific type of condition that equine therapy can help with. This type of treatment can help individuals with vastly different experiences, conditions, and goals in mind. Equine therapy helps to support recovery for complex mental health and substance use disorders, such as:
- Trauma (including PTSD and developmental trauma)
- Depression and anxiety
- ADHD
- Substance use disorders
- Emotional dysregulation
- Low self-esteem and social withdrawal
- Co-occurring mental health issues
The Benefits of Equine Therapy for Young Adults
There are many different benefits associated with equine therapy, particularly for young adults. It helps foster growth, healing, and personal insight, all of which are particularly important for those still discovering themselves. This type of treatment also helps to improve self-esteem and emotional intelligence, which can be beneficial for those who may be struggling with self-worth due to past trauma or negative experiences. Equine therapy can also help to strengthen social skills and teach other life skills, which will be valuable later in life.
Some additional benefits associated with equine therapy for young adults include:
Some additional benefits associated with equine therapy for young adults include:
- Increased self-awareness and body-mind connection
- Promotes a grounded, non-verbal therapeutic experience
- Supports trauma resolution through safe, relational engagement
A Typical Equine Therapy Session at Legacy
At Legacy Outdoor Adventure, equine therapy sessions are structured differently depending upon the participant’s specific needs and goals for treatment. For example, some people may benefit most from an individual session while others may prefer a group setting. Each therapy session will be carried out alongside an equine specialist and a licensed mental health professional. There will be continuous collaboration between the quine therapist, client, and horse, but no riding is required.
Throughout a session, the participant will learn things like horsemanship, grooming, and groundwork. All of these things are intended to serve as a powerful metaphor that is meant to represent real-life struggles. For example, grooming or providing nurturing care to a horse can help an individual practice patience and healthy boundary setting. In addition, leading a horse through an obstacle course could help them practice leadership or healthy communication.
Throughout all of these things, the individual can learn important skills that they can carry with them moving forward. It’s important to remember to focus on safety, presence, and process. The goal here is not performance.
Throughout a session, the participant will learn things like horsemanship, grooming, and groundwork. All of these things are intended to serve as a powerful metaphor that is meant to represent real-life struggles. For example, grooming or providing nurturing care to a horse can help an individual practice patience and healthy boundary setting. In addition, leading a horse through an obstacle course could help them practice leadership or healthy communication.
Throughout all of these things, the individual can learn important skills that they can carry with them moving forward. It’s important to remember to focus on safety, presence, and process. The goal here is not performance.
Why Utah? The Healing Environment of Legacy
We believe that the beautiful and awe-inspiring landscape of rural Utah provides the perfect setting for healing. Serenity, structure, and connection in the heart of Loa, Utah, are all things that you can find at our licensed residential treatment center. However, it’s not just about the scenic views. This location offers a unique, therapeutic environment where young people can step away from all the noise and distractions of everyday life, allowing them to focus fully on their healing.
At our facility, we utilize many common evidence-based treatment methods to assist those who are struggling with mental health disorders, substance misuse, or behavioral problems. However, what makes our program unique is that treatment isn’t limited to the walls of our facility, but exists beyond. The outside environment is incorporated into treatment, which allows participants to enjoy new experiences that they may have never tried before. We believe that this helps support the therapeutic progress without over-romanticizing the wilderness.
At Legacy Outdoor Adventure, we place a particular emphasis on structure, safety, and measurable healing outcomes. We understand that many of our clients may have come from a difficult background or may be in recovery from past trauma. Therefore, we want to ensure both mental and physical safety at all times. We also work to provide a structured treatment plan that is specifically tailored to each individual’s specific needs.
In recovery, having realistic and trackable goals is critical in order to ensure progress is being made. This is why we utilize ongoing progress tracking, which is done through clinical evaluations and team collaborations.
At our facility, we utilize many common evidence-based treatment methods to assist those who are struggling with mental health disorders, substance misuse, or behavioral problems. However, what makes our program unique is that treatment isn’t limited to the walls of our facility, but exists beyond. The outside environment is incorporated into treatment, which allows participants to enjoy new experiences that they may have never tried before. We believe that this helps support the therapeutic progress without over-romanticizing the wilderness.
At Legacy Outdoor Adventure, we place a particular emphasis on structure, safety, and measurable healing outcomes. We understand that many of our clients may have come from a difficult background or may be in recovery from past trauma. Therefore, we want to ensure both mental and physical safety at all times. We also work to provide a structured treatment plan that is specifically tailored to each individual’s specific needs.
In recovery, having realistic and trackable goals is critical in order to ensure progress is being made. This is why we utilize ongoing progress tracking, which is done through clinical evaluations and team collaborations.
What Makes Legacy’s Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy in Utah Stand Out?
Legacy’s equine-assisted therapy in Utah is unique because it doesn’t just involve working with horses. Rather, it’s a full-circle, evidence-based healing experience.
The following are some of the many attributes associated with our treatment program that help it stand out from others:
The following are some of the many attributes associated with our treatment program that help it stand out from others:
- Licensed RTC + evidence-based modalities + equine-assisted therapy
- 21 hours of clinical therapy weekly
- Trauma-informed, outcome-informed, individualized treatment plans
- Integration with adventure therapy, EMDR, and long-term recovery support
- A commitment to high integrity, long-term success, not short-term stabilization
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do you accept insurance?
Do clients ride horses?
How does equine therapy fit into the broader program?
Is equine therapy safe for people with no horse experience?
What if I have physical limitations?
If you’ve tried many different kinds of mental health treatment before and are ready for something new and unique, consider equine therapy. Call our team at Legacy Outdoor Adventure at (435) 836-2272 today to learn more.
