Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy Among Adolescents with ACEs: Cultivating Altercentrism, Expressiveness, Communication Composure, and Interaction Management

摘要: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can produce long-lasting effects for individuals. Mental health practitioners in clinical psychology and social work have utilized equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP) to treat trauma related adverse experiences; however, few studies centralized communication messages processes EAP. The current qualitative study included observations interviews with 11 adolescents ACEs examined (a) as a mechanism client awareness emotion regulation, (b) the development of competencies ACEs, (c) transference other relational contexts. Adolescents cultivated altercentrism (e.g., ability decode communication, focus consciously on other), composure deal psychological stress, while engaging assertiveness), coordination effectively communicate, manage misunderstandings), expressiveness provide clarity emotional control one’s own communication). Finally, described how these transferred relationships family, peers, teachers). Implications understanding competence, practitioner’s role supporting skill EAP, unique equines mitigating negative are discussed.