Date of Conferral
2022
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Human Services
Advisor
Dorothy Scotten
Abstract
AbstractIn the existing research authors report that within the current field of equine-assisted therapy practitioners are using a number of approaches, some independently and others in affiliation with formal organizations, to treat a wide variety of issues in a very broad population. The purpose of this study was to determine what underlying thought processes guide the equine-assisted therapist’s role in the clinical process. This generic qualitative study included five participants who met the criteria of having 3-5 years of experience performing equine-assisted psychotherapy with mental health populations. Participants also met the standard of being licensed or certified in accordance with their state’s laws. Interviews were conducted using responsive interviewing and recorded with permission to allow for data analysis. The responses were examined using open coding by hand to break down the interviews into subtopics using a splitter technique. Three themes emerged from the data: a sense of belonging or connectedness, a sense of empowerment, and the clients’ overall ability to function. These findings may support social change in the growing field of equine-assisted psychotherapy by enhancing the existing knowledge base and providing a point of reference for additional studies in this area. Also, these same findings potentially could lead to the development of a specific theory that would help guide future practice.
Recommended Citation
Agayev, Marybeth, "Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy: An Exploration of the Therapist’s Clinical Process" (2022). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 12907.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/12907
