Finding New Trails For Youth Using Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy

Finding New Trails for Youth utilizes existing cognitive-behavioral approaches in an experiential and dynamic mode. Cognitive-behavioral skill building provides an opportunity for teenagers to examine their cognitive-behavior patterns in an interactive and novel environment. The unique nature of this type of therapy appeals to court-ordered youth, enabling high levels of engagement and receptivity. Finding New Trails for Youth takes advantage of the existing cognitive behavioral approaches in modern experiential dynamic approaches.

Struggles for Youth

This population is mainly geared towards juveniles who have the following disorders:

• Skill-building program
• Court-ordered youth
• Conduct disorder
• ADHD
• Oppositional defiant disorder
• Substance Abuse

Eight Basic Skills They Will Learn

1. They will learn observation and Awareness of Environmental Cues
2. They will learn observations and Awareness of Physiological States
3. They will learn Awareness of Thoughts and Internal Dialogues
4. They will learn the Art of Problem Solving
5. They will learn Awareness of Internal and External Thoughts of Anger
6. They will learn Modification of Negative Thought Patterns
7. They will learn to Gain Perspective and Empathy
8. They will learn Relaxation: Knowing How to Chill