HorseSpeak is a powerful and effective mental health intervention involving horses in ground activities and mounted in the saddle.
Under the direction of Dr. Sara Marcus, a licensed psychologist and life-long horsewoman, individual treatment goals are addressed with the aid of equine “co-therapists”.
HorseSpeak is used to help treat a number of social/emotional and mental health issues including conduct/behavior disorders, autism-spectrum disorders, trauma, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, social skills deficits, and eating disorders.
It is experiential, which means that participants learn about themselves in a hands-on environment through specific activities- planning, implementing, and processing along the way towards an intentional goal.
Some observed treatment benefits include:
• improved self-esteem and self-awareness
• developing trust in a safe environment
• providing social skills training
• encouraging sensory stimulation and integration
• combining body awareness exercises with motor planning and verbal communication
• developing choice-making and goal-setting skills
• developing sequencing and problem-solving skills
• encouraging responsibility
• promoting prosocial attitudes through caregiving experiences
