Integrating Horses into Healing – Cheryl Meola

Detailní popis produktu

A comprehensive guide to the healing potential of horses, combining therapeutic practice, equine welfare, professional experience, and scientific understanding.

Integrating Horses into Healing: A Comprehensive Guide to Equine Assisted Services brings together leading practitioners, researchers, veterinarians, equine professionals, and pioneers in the field of equine-assisted services (EAS).

Edited by Dr. Cheryl Meola, this multidisciplinary reference explores how horses can be ethically and effectively incorporated into psychotherapy, counselling, rehabilitation, coaching, and educational programmes.

Rather than presenting a single therapeutic method, the book introduces a broad range of approaches, examining their practical applications, professional responsibilities, and the importance of respecting horses as active partners in the therapeutic process.

What You'll Discover

• The Therapeutic Nature of Horses – Exploring human–horse relationships, communication, and the foundations of equine-assisted services.

• Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy – Approaches including Natural Lifemanship, relational equine-partnered counselling, and the HERD Institute model.

• Trauma-Informed Practice – The integration of horses into trauma processing, EMDR, and other therapeutic approaches.

• Hippotherapy and Rehabilitation – The role of equine movement in occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech-language therapy.

• Equine Behaviour and Welfare – Understanding horses' emotional, social, and cognitive needs while protecting their wellbeing in therapeutic environments.

• Professional Wellbeing – Recognising the emotional demands placed on practitioners and supporting sustainable professional practice.

• Developing Equine-Assisted Programmes – Practical considerations for establishing organisations, evaluating outcomes, and managing nonprofit or commercial services.

A Strong Emphasis on Equine Welfare

One of the book's particularly valuable contributions is its attention to the horses themselves.

Dedicated chapters explore equine communication, advocacy, emotional development, and the responsibilities of equine professionals. The authors emphasise that ethical equine-assisted services must consider the wellbeing of both human participants and their equine partners.

Who Is This Book For?

This publication is especially relevant for psychotherapists, counsellors, psychologists, occupational and physical therapists, equine-assisted learning facilitators, horse trainers, researchers, and students preparing to work in this developing field.

It also provides valuable insight for organisations establishing or improving equine-assisted programmes.

An essential professional reference for those who want to integrate horses into therapeutic work responsibly, with equal respect for human healing and equine wellbeing.