Date of Conferral

7-30-2026

Date of Award

July 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Natalie Costa

Abstract

Equine assisted therapies have been shown to be an effective treatment approach for individuals experiencing mental health issues. However, there have been rising challenges in standardization and nomenclature throughout the field. Current research supporting the benefits of equine assisted therapies is often from the client perspective. There is a gap in understanding what occurred in session that made it beneficial to their mental health. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of equine assisted therapy facilitators in terms of mechanisms that produce positive changes in their clients. The theories and concepts that ground this study include social cognitive theory and the biophilia hypothesis. Semistructured interviews were conducted and manually coded. Interview transcripts were analyzed using Moustakas’s seven step analysis including horizonalization and thematic clustering to synthesize textual and structural descriptions. An analysis of the data established the following themes: (a) meditation and grounding exercises (b) value of grooming (c) contribution of nature to the session (d) session plan with flexibility. The findings from this study suggest a combination of meditation/grounding exercises, grooming, and nature are beneficial for effective equine assisted therapy as these factors contribute to clients’ improved emotion regulation. The findings of this study contribute to positive social change by describing activities and nature based elements occurring in equine assisted therapy sessions that produce positive changes in clients’ mental health. Understanding these mechanisms may help to improve standardization in equine assisted therapy.

Download

Included in

Psychology Commons

Share

 
COinS