Graduation Year

2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor in Psychology (Psy. D.)

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to educate its readers on the utility of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy; an emerging modality of mental health treatment and to introduce a new program model for utilization of this treatment with at-risk youth. This paper is particularly focused on the use of this modality to facilitate social and emotional learning in at-risk youth. It begins by establishing the reasons that mental health providers, and American citizens on the whole, should be concerned with at-risk youth as well as defining what this term “at-risk youth” means within the context of this paper. In order to fully establish this concept the author provides several conceptualizations for understanding at-risk youth, including a statement on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and an explanation of the necessity for social and emotional learning within this population. It then transitions into explaining and defining Equine Assisted Therapies broadly; examining the history of this field and moving towards a better understanding of how Equine Assisted Psychotherapy can be used to teach social and emotional learning. This can be done through targeting four key areas of deficit found within at-risk youth: 1) building self-esteem, 2) developing empathy and trust, 3) teaching emotional control and distress tolerance through mindfulness, and 4) learning how to be a friend and have a friend through the human-animal bond. Finally, a model program design including eight sessions of Equine Assisted Therapy is presented as a template for use by future providers.

Faculty Mentor

Theresa Botts, PhD

Department Affiliation

Psychology

Committee Member

MyraBeth Bundy, PhD

Department Affiliation

Psychology

Committee Member

Melinda Moore, PhD

Department Affiliation

Psychology

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