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Conditions That May
Influence Program Strategies or Their Effectiveness
The following description/explanation is provided as a guideline to
help readers and potential clients gain a better understanding of
what is entailed in the successful delivery of our programs.
No
single treatment
strategy is appropriate for everyone. Many clients have complex
difficulties and multiple needs. Effective treatment programs
typically incorporate many components, each directed to a particular
aspect of the impairment or issue. Such components may be
counselling, other behavioural therapies, nutrition, or medications
– Equine Assisted Healing is only one of those components and there
are several ways in which a horse can be used in fostering good
equine-human relations. One way might include horseback riding,
another might be in the grooming and care of a horse, while still
another might be in the courage it takes to approach a horse and of
course all the various levels of each of those interactions.
For the well-being of the client the facilitators or leaders of our
Equine Assisted Healing programs would like to be involved in the
treatment plan, be made fully aware of potential difficulties, know
the clients medical/emotional history, and be included in the
assessment of the treatment as it progresses. Also the ability to
modify a treatment session to suit a particular set of circumstances
that may arise must be a viable option for our facilitators. There
must be coordination of all aspects of the client’s treatment to
achieve the best results.
Continuity and perseverance in the delivery of an Equine Assisted
Healing Program are critical. Premature expectations or decisions
that accelerate, postpone, or cancel sessions too early in a healing
program can compromise the effectiveness of Equine Assisted
Healing. Therefore careful assessment must be a collaborative
effort, taking into consideration all aspects of a client’s
treatment program.
The program and strategy may have
some flexibility but there are strict rules and guidelines that must
be followed to ensure safety and encourage participation. For
example interactions with the animal(s) are controlled. Besides
safety certain rules may exist for reasons pertaining to the
treatment strategy. Rules and guidelines for children may differ
than rules for adults. We will explain the rules at the time of
program delivery. For insurance purposes certain of these rules are
non-negotiable. |
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Many factors can influence an outcome: the strategies or tools
employed for the sessions, the specific needs of the clients, the
tools utilized to measure success, the amount of time that has
elapsed from the start of the clients painful journey, and
uncontrollable outside interferences or influences not connected to
our Equine Assisted Healing Programs. However, despite such
intrusions into a healing program, with continuity and diligence in
program delivery there is potential for remarkable advancement in
the overall well-being of the client, as well as in the targeted
areas of concern.
Because Equine Assisted Healing is only one component of a treatment
strategy it should not be the sole indicator of treatment success.
The evaluation of success should encompass all aspects of the
clients care and fair assessment should include the facilitators of
Equine Assisted Healing being involved in the evaluation process.
Equine Assisted
Healing Programs
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