Equine-Assisted Mental Health Interventions

"This text truly offers a new level of understanding for how horses can contribute to human health and healing. Equine-Assisted Mental Health Interventions, powered by more than 40 authors and leading equine specialists from a kaleidoscope of transdisciplinary perspectives, explains the many practical applications and skills needed for incorporating equine therapy into numerous critical therapeutic interventions. This practitioner-friendly and comprehensive book might be the closest opportunity to being offered personal guidance and mentorship from leading experts. Their ideas and knowledge are generously shared with close attention to safety, well-being, and ethical considerations for the human and equine participant. This book will undoubtedly influence the next generations of students specializing in our academic programs at the University of Denver."

Philip Tedeschi, executive director, Institute for Human-Animal Connection, clinical professor, Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver

"Animal-assisted therapy has historically been an important part of mental health treatment. In Equine-Assisted Mental Health Interventions, editors Kay Sudekum Trotter and Jennifer N. Baggerly have collected a treasure trove of experts who expound on the uses of horses to work with clients experiencing a wide variety of disorders. This book not only covers equine-assisted treatment of common problems such as anxiety and depression, it also lays out treatment strategies for helping individuals suffering from major maladies. This text is a must read for anyone interested in or involved in animal-assisted therapy."

Samuel T. Gladding, PhD, professor of counseling, Wake Forest University

"As interest in the field grows rapidly, the professional practice of mental health involving animals requires thoughtful, up to date, and diverse resources. This book provides one such resource on the involvement of equines in psychotherapeutic work. I am impressed that it starts with excellent chapters on ethics and theory, followed by the application of equine-assisted mental health practice to a wide range of problem areas. The chapters provide theoretical backgrounds, specific program descriptions, practical details, and case material, all of which are invaluable for both experienced clinicians and novices interested in the responsible, ethical involvement of equines in their work."

Risë VanFleet, PhD, RPT-S, CDBC, CAAPT-I, International Institute for Animal Assisted Play Therapy™ , coauthor, Animal Assisted Play Therapy

"Rich in information and clinical case applications, this compilation contains valuable information for clinicians and other professionals. If you had any doubt about the usefulness of equine-assisted therapy for a range of mental health disorders, look no further!"

Nina Ekholm Fry, MSSc, CCPT, director of Equine Programs and Equine-Assisted Mental Health, Institute for Human-Animal Connection, University of Denver

Kay Sudekum Trotter, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S, NCC, CEIP-MH, is a licensed professional counselor supervisor, author, speaker, and consultant, as well as the founder of Kaleidoscope Behavioral Health in Flower Mound, Texas, where she has developed and taught animal-assisted therapy workshops. Dr. Trotter’s groundbreaking research led to one of the first published studies on the effectiveness of equine-assisted mental health. She is the author of Harnessing the Power of Equine Assisted Counseling: Adding Animal Assisted Therapy to Your Practice.

Jennifer N. Baggerly, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S, is a professor of counseling at University of North Texas at Dallas, a licensed professional counselor supervisor, and a registered play therapist supervisor who also provides counseling at Kaleidoscope Behavioral Health. She is a former chair of the board for the Association for Play Therapy. Dr. Baggerly has taught and provided counseling for children for more than 20 years. She is the coauthor of Counseling Families: Play-Based Treatment, Group Play Therapy: A Dynamic Approach and Child-Centered Play Therapy Research: The Evidence Base for Effective Practice.