LEAP :: Equine Assisted Psychotherapy

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Our purpose - "At LEAP our purpose is to provide, safe and healing Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) programmes, for a variety of individuals. The team are: an EAP Counsellor, EFL Equine Specialist and our Horses."

LEAP are organisational members of The British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) who work and adhere to the BACP ethical framework and good practice.

Introduction to EAP » | EAP With Young People »

How is EAP different to conventional therapy?
Clients respond to the horse with:-

Respect
Authenticity
Motivation

without words - demands or challenging, the perfect conditions have been set for the process of change. The clients we see can find it hard to engage and be motivated, their negative survival patterns can occur, rather than appear vulnerable. For the horses to respond positively and a relationship to develop our clients need to start developing their authentic self.

What Happens
Counsellors observe interaction, how the client develops relationships, body language, communication, unconscious behavioural patterns and learnt behaviours. The horses alone have helped our clients access their feelings and behavioural issues with immediacy and at a deeper level.

Not all programmes or individuals at LEAP, who use horses, practice EAP. For one, licensed clinical professionals need to be involved for it to be considered "psychotherapy". LEAP also offers EFL.

The focus of all Equine assisted Therapies is not riding or horsemanship. In fact 95 % takes place on the ground. The focus involves setting up activities involving the horses which will require the client or group to apply certain skills. Non-verbal communication, assertiveness, creative thinking and problem-solving, leadership, work, taking responsibility, teamwork and relationships, confidence and attitude, are several examples.

LEAP introduction 1 minute video