ROLE OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST IN RIDING THERAPY

Abstract

Equine assisted therapy (EAT) is a therapeutic method that incorporates horses as facilitators, providing practitioners with motor, sensory, and cognitive stimuli, while also promoting posture, balance, and coordination. Given this, the aim of this study was to understand the role of psychologists in equine therapy and to examine the nature of multidisciplinary intervention in this field. This is a  qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory research. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews, either in person or online conducted with 13 professionals working at equestrian centers across various states in Brasil. Data were organized, analyzed, and interpreted using content analysis. The analysis resulted in five categories: Motivation; Therapeutic Aspects; Activities Performed; Teamwork; Intervention Outcomes. Results indicate that EAT is a multidisciplinary approach aimed at promoting the patient's emotional, cognitive, and social development. Psychologists use the equestrian environment as a therapeutic resource, tailoring interventions according to each individual's specific needs. In some centers, this practice involves a structured intervention that includes an initial anamnesis to identify needs, definition of therapeutic goals, followed by the development of a therapeutic plan. However, it was found that interventions in EAT can vary significantly from one center to another, and that the level of interdisciplinary integration can be more structured.