Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (Eap) In The Treatment Of Military Service Members With Ptsd And/Or Tbi: A Pilot Study, Kimberly Freisenbruch, Carolyn Rutledge

College of Health Sciences Posters

Military members, whether active duty, retired, or separated from service, are at increased risk for developing physical and mental disabilities due to their military service, especially if combat was involved. Equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) is a therapeutic intervention that uses horses, trained equine therapists, and mental health professionals in a non-riding environment. Horses respond to very slight changes in their environment, and these responses may help to provide insight into how EAP patients communicate, set boundaries, and confront issues created by TBI and PTSD-related injuries.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the efficacy of equine therapy on military members’ …