A Qualitative and Quantitative Review of Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) with Children and Adolescents

ABSTRACT

This paper presents a comprehensive review of the literature on Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) with children and adolescents. Methods used in EFP, including traditional mounted, vaulting, husbandry, and unmounted activities are described. The theory and background of EFP is summarized with references to various psychotherapeutic perspectives, such as Freudian, Jungian, cognitive, behaviorist, and psychodynamic models. The status of the research is discussed, and available empirical studies and reports on this topic are summarized. Possible applications to patients with eating disorders, anxiety, trauma history, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and delinquency are described. Recommendations are made regarding the direction of future research on EFP.