Sometimes, the best doctors come with no credentials at all. The horses at Horse Sense of the Carolinas, an equine assisted psychotherapy practice, for instance, are therapists in disguise.
The facility, located in sparsely populated Madison County, offers therapeutic programs for dealing with eating disorders, anxiety, depression, trauma and post-traumatic stress. Patients do not learn how to ride on horseback; instead, equine therapy sessions function as a metaphor for life's challenges — and victories.
According to Josie Mosser, Horse Sense's administrative supervisor, patients often put on a defensive armor masking their inner turmoil. But horses respond to emotion — allowing patients to let down their guard. "If your insides don't match your outside, the horses are going to run away from you or nip at you or be very difficult to handle," explains Mosser.
Horse Sense is all about changing behavior. The programs focus on being assertive, solving problems, establishing boundaries and developing patience. "Horses don't have an agenda," explains Mosser. "They are going to be responding on whether or not they can trust the person. If the horse isn't cooperating the person has to change what they're doing."
A majority of patients that are referred to Horse Sense are at-risk youth, some who are given the option of equine therapy straight from a court counselor through the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council. But equine therapy can be used as an alternative to pure talk therapy for any number of mental health issues. "It's great for 12 year old boys with ADHD who can't sit on a couch for an hour but who can come out and work with a horse," says Mosser. "Sometimes patients will be resistant at first. But after a few warm up sessions with the horses they'll end up bonding."
Horse Sense of the Carolinas is a leading resource for equine facilitated therapy professionals. For more information, call 828-683-7304 or go to www.horsesenseotc.com.
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