Abstract
M.A. (Clinical Psychology)
Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is an experiential approach that involves the horse or equine in the psychotherapeutic process. EAP is a recently emerging approach in the field of psychology; consequently, research focusing on EAP is relatively limited. As an experiential approach, EAP focuses on the experience of the client in the therapeutic session. However, very little research has been conducted which focuses solely on the client experiences of EAP. This qualitative, phenomenological study aims to explore the experience of EAP from the perspective of the client. Descriptions of such experiences were sourced from interviews conducted with three participants who had experienced EAP. Utilising an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis methodology, transcripts were analysed and themes were identified. Although similarities were found across the participants’ descriptions, the uniqueness of each individual’s experience was acknowledged. Six central themes emerged from the experiences of the participants. These were the experience of intense emotion, the horse as central to the overall experience of EAP, the role of the horse, personal growth, the experience of uncertainty and a need for something more. The themes of uncertainty and a need for something more have not previously been reported in EAP literature. Through giving expression to the client experiences of EAP, significant themes were identified. These themes can be viewed as a point of departure from which future EAP studies may develop for further exploration of this emerging approach.