Dr.Traci Coventry, Clinical and Equine Assisted Psychology

Coventry Equine Psychology at Epona Brae is a leading Equine Psychology/Psychotherapy and Equine assisted therapy, Equine assisted learning centre. Dr Traci Coventry works with clients of all ages in the Beaconsfield Upper area of Victoria. She has a special interest in working with young children and teens.

What is Equine Psychological Therapy or Equine Assisted Therapy?

Equine Psychological Therapy is relatively new to Australia despite the success of Equine Psychotherapy programs overseas. It is not therapy on horses but with horses!

Equine Psychological Therapy has proven helpful in helping interested in personal growth and in treating a broad range of issues including:

Equine assisted Psychological therapy including:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Psycho-education
Behavioural modification
Thought modification
Social and general Skills training
Interpersonal therapy
Relationship Therapy
Problem solving skills enhancement
Educational and learning skills enhancement
Relaxation and anxiety management training
Parenting skills training
Self esteem enhancement work

Why use Equine Psychological Therapy?

To reach a true capacity for connectedness with one self, other people and other beings — in particular horses— it is essential to develop an awareness of one’s emotions and intellectual and physiological experiences while in contact. The experiential nature of learning while doing takes what occurs in standard clinical sessions one step beyond. It allows for the development and exploration of the awareness that underlies true connection and authenticity.

Rather than focussing on the cognitive processing of the experience, the focus is on the experience itself. This is a new and valuable adjunct to clinical psychotherapy.

Horses are non-judgmental, innately social, fair creatures that are predisposed by their very nature to connect with other beings. They offer patients an opportunity to interact and connect that is safe, completely untainted by pre-conceptions based on on appearances and social status. Patients do not have to fear being rejected or critiqued.

In an equine therapy session, working with one or more horses in a safe and supportive environment, the patient is able to develop an awareness of their emotional, psychological and physiological processes through real life experience and contact.

Working with horses can also help traumatized patients that are not ready yet to discuss their experiences or non verbal patients to begin the healing process without needing to talk. With better insights and self- understanding comes the potential for change and growth.

Horses in this type of therapy are free to act and react to the client’s emotional state or the situation, to mirror emotions, or to model behaviors and processes as they choose. Once emotions arise, the practitioner can support the client to understand their unique patterns and triggers, and provide an opportunity to work on ways to manage issues in real time with the horses that will generalize to life outside of therapy.

Equine Psychological Therapy can trigger powerful emotions and psychological reactions for the patient. Consequently, it is key that this work be conducted by a qualified psychotherapist or psychologist certified in this form of therapy to help guide the therapy process safely and effectively.