Equine‐assisted psychotherapy with traumatized couples—improvement of relationship quality and psychological symptoms

Abstract Providing care for persons with dementia (PWD) is frequently regarded as highly stressful, but how caregivers perceive care-related stressors depends on a variety of contexts. Research has demonstrated that relationship quality between the caregiver and receiver – as an important dyadic context – can influence the magnitude of this perceived distress. Using 8-day diary data from 173 family caregivers of PWD (day N = 1,359), this study examined the moderating effect of relationship quality on caregivers’ stress responses to daily behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), comparing within- and between-person effects. Multilevel models suggested differences in the association between BPSD occurrence and perceived distress of BPSD (i.e., negative within-person association, but positive between-person association). However, we found that both associations were moderated by relationship quality; that is, better dyadic relationship quality seemed to be protective against distress at both within- and between-person levels.

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Examining prisoner experience of an equine assisted psychotherapy

Therapeutic Communities The International Journal of Therapeutic Communities ◽

10.1108/tc-01-2019-0001 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (3/4) ◽

pp. 111-124

Author(s):

Shona Robinson-Edwards ◽

Stephanie Kewley ◽

Laura Riley ◽

Dawn Fisher

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Therapeutic Interventions ◽

Team Approach ◽

Treatment Needs ◽

England And Wales ◽

Content Type ◽

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy ◽

Equine Assisted

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine prisoner experience of an equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP). This paper explores the use of therapeutic interventions; specifically focussing on EAP, within this paper EAP constitutes the use of horses in therapy and involves a team approach from equine and mental health experts. Design/methodology/approach This paper took a qualitative approach; due to the exploratory nature of this study a phenomenological approach was adopted. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was deemed appropriate; the intervention took place in an adult, male, open condition prison in England (Category D) however participants who engaged in the equine intervention were from both the open prison and a nearby closed Category C prison. The equine intervention was delivered by qualified therapists who worked to help improve emotional regulation among participants with a history of drug and alcohol abuse. Findings The findings within this paper identify a strong correlation between EAP and positive experiences expressed by participants. Alternative approaches such as animal assisted therapies are worthy of consideration when attempting to support the rehabilitation and treatment needs of incarcerated clients. Participants achieved a number of goals and their confidence improved as they felt a sense of achievement. Research limitations/implications This paper demonstrates the complexities of therapeutic interventions. Research relating to EAP in the UK is few and far between, consequently understanding is limited. This paper seeks to offer an insight into this topic and build upon this research in the future. Practical implications Access to prison for research purposes is challenging. Due to the nature of this study and the resources required sometimes EAP therapy cannot be implemented in or near many prisons in England and Wales. Therefore gaining access to this prison and exploring the data is the first phase of further research in this area. Social implications Researching the way individuals experience therapeutic interventions is a “growing phenomenon”. This paper aimed to explore EAP interventions, however due to the sample size it was imperative that the role of EAP was not misrepresented. Therefore this papers intention is to raise awareness of EAP interventions and therapeutic interventions in prisons in England and Wales. Originality/value To the authors knowledge no previous study has examined such an intervention using this method and as such the findings of this evaluation are important. Moreover this paper enhances and develops our knowledge about how best to support and treat people with histories of substance use and/or mental health problems and anxiety while in prison, and the vital role such therapies may play.

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Phrasing the self is a visceral project: Exploring the therapeutics of equine-assisted psychotherapy

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e570782013-015 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Jennifer van Tiem

Keyword(s):

The Self ◽

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy ◽

Equine Assisted

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