"We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence,
but we rather have those because we have acted rightly."
Aristotle 384 B.C.-322 B.C., Greek philosopher and scientist,
student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great
I have often heard people mumble about how a therapist isn't really needed, and in fact, have heard some people say that therapists actually get in the way of people in counseling. They have some horses, and have helped people in their lives, perhaps a relative or friend, and found that just BEING around the horses helped with mental health issues, and wonder why anyone needs to pay a therapist to do what the horses already do so well. After all, people admit that they felt better after coming home from Iraq and spent a lot of time with their horse. People see children blossom when they spend time with a horse. This is certainly true, and is one of the major reasons we use horses in therapy. Not everyone has access to a horse, and not all of these results are lasting or permanent. However, we would like this to be so.
There is a reason people go to a therapist's office and talk for 50 minutes. It is because they feel better when they do this (though not everyone responds to talk therapy). Now, just imagine putting the skills of the therapist with the skills of the horse... you get equine therapy. Now, we also need an Equine Professional or Equine Specialist (whichever you prefer) in the session as well, but I'll get into that next time. For now, let's think about how the therapist is helpful in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.
Now, I could get all particular about it and point out that it is called Psychotherapy, and in order to actually DO that job, you probably should be a psychotherapist. But, we shall delve a little deeper...
You can probably do some plumbing, but you may not be a plumber. You might be able to install a light switch, but you don't call yourself an electrician. You might train your own horses, but you don't tell people you are a professional horse trainer. You can help children with their homework, or teach them about something you know, but you may not be a teacher.
I have cut my husband's hair, but I'm not a barber. It came out OK, and it saved $12, so we were happy. When we have to pay that $12, however, we definitely expect that the barber is licensed, and that things are kept clean and sanitary. If we get a bad haircut, we probably won't refer our friends there, but what about if we get an infection? A license doesn't assure us that we will get a good haircut, but it does assure us that this barber is under the pervue of a licensure board. This means that if something bad happens, a customer can file a grievance with the board, and be sure that this sort of thing does not happen again. It doesn't mean that I want to go to the trouble of complaining - I don't. Application for the license both explains and maintains standards. It is just that any given barber is less likely to break a law because of the availability of this process. It keeps them honest.
The same is true for other professions, including therapists. In Montana, there is one board shared by Licensed Addiction Counselors (LAC's), Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors (LCPC's), and Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW'S). I am an LCSW. This means that I have not only completed my Master's degree in Social Work, but also that I have completed 2000 hours of supervised practice, and followed that up with a standardized examination through the ASWB (Association of Social Work Boards) that demonstrated my ability to do the work. It was no simple feat.
All these hoops are present to assure that if someone is going to get paid to help you mend your emotional well-being, then they better well know what they are doing. Just like with the barber, there is a license board with a grievance procedure to keep everyone honest. A therapist should be aware of ethical guidelines and agree to follow one or more Code of Ethics - not only because there are negative consequences, but also because it is the right thing to do. A Code of Ethics is basically rules to live by for professionals. They have to do other things too, like maintain continuing education, and practice within their scope. Scope is just a fancy way of saying 'your particular area of expertise'.
So, if you are engaged in ethical practice, then you should be practicing withing your scope. If you aren't a therapist, and you are practicing therapy (no matter what you call yourself), then you are at great risk of causing harm. You could safely say, then, that licensure is about protection of the public.
Special training is needed for any additional services you provide, such as dance therapy, art therapy, play therapy, and equine therapy. There are centers around the country and around the world that specialize in training existing therapists to perform these value-added forms of treatment. EAGALA trains, certifies, provides continuing education and support for its members. EAGALA is the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association. Their website can be found here:
My agency, Fresh Steps EAP, follows the ethical guidelines set forth by NASW (National Association of Social Workers) as well as the code from EAGALA. In fact, we are one of the few agencies in the world to hold the designation "EAGALA Distinguished Program Member".
Through EAGALA, I and my staff have received special training to use horses in therapy. As for me, my job is to make sure that clients are kept emotionally safe during these very powerful sessions. I also develop and implement treatment plans with the individual's or family's goals. I am there to provide an opportunity to process, learn, and grow, in a safe space. If I fail to do this, I am at risk of not only hurting someone, but also of losing everything for which I have worked: my career. When I proudly hang up my license as well as my special certifications, I am letting everyone know that ethics and providing the best service is not only important to me, but also that I am staking my reputation on it.
The usual answer is, it is essential to have a therapist present in any EAP or EAL (Equine Assisted Learning) session because of the powerful nature of the sessions. Emotional issues come out even when you do your best to avoid them. When strong feelings emerge, you need a therapist to handle things in a safe and respectful manner. Another point is that if you indeed are avoiding feelings, you are causing harm to the person by letting them believe that their feelings are not acceptable. They may tend to 'stuff' their feelings because it has been made clear that they should not be shared. This can be particularly harmful to children.
If you are still with me, than kudos to you! This is a very controversial subject because many horse folks are really motivated to get started doing this work, but may not have found a therapist to work with. If this is you, contact me right away! Join EAGALA, join our networking group, start meeting people in your area that are interested in sharing your passion for this work, and attend trainings and the annual conference. There is support for you, and our hope is that you start a program in your area that is fun, profitable, and successful! Trust the process!
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