Erika Berg, associate professor of equine science; Amber Bach-Gorman, Counseling Center assistant director; and Carrie Hammer, professor of animal sciences, recently published an article in a special equine edition of the Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin.

Their article, “Psychotherapy Incorporating Horses to Address Anxiety in Women College Students: A Pilot Study,” discusses how the number of students seeking mental health services for anxiety at colleges and universities is steadily rising, and the result is often a waitlist for services.

In an effort to mitigate that waitlist, and to determine the efficacy of incorporating equine into mental health treatment at a college counseling center, a seven-week group psychotherapy incorporating a horses program was implemented.

The authors describe their methodology, outcomes and recommendations for future research, particularly in the area of self-compassion as it relates to including equine as part of a counseling intervention strategy.

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