| Personality variables, family dynamics, and community support variables have been identified as protective variables in the lives of at-risk youth (Garmezy, 1993). Rutter (1987) emphasized the importance of looking at the processes or mechanisms through which these factors affect risk or protection in the lives of at-risk youth. Rutter (1987) identified four protective processes: increasing self-esteem, decreasing impact of risk, decreasing negative chain of events, and opening positive opportunities. In the area of community support, a unique therapy entitled Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) has recently evolved. This study used a qualitative design to explore the experiences of 10 at-risk youth who participate in EFP. Resiliency theory was used as a framework to investigate the experiences of the participants.; A qualitative analysis revealed thirteen major themes and three minor themes in participant responses. Themes relating to the unique experience of treatment include: treatment was enjoyable, treatment was challenging, EFP treatment was better than previous treatment, talking was an important part of treatment, the importance of the horse as a metaphor, and the importance of the horse as a mirror. Themes relating to the protective process of childhood resilience include: self-esteem, mastery, positive relationships people and horses. Reducing the impact of risk/breaking negative chain reactions themes included: increased communication skills, alternative coping skills, increased awareness of internal experience. Opening positive opportunity themes included: interactions with natural environment, required acts of helpfulness, and role modeling experiences.; The themes that emerged in this study indicated some of the important treatment experiences in an EFP program. In addition, themes in this study indicate the presence of the protective processes of resilience at work in EFP programs. Specific clinical implication and suggestions for future research are discussed. |
PDF Full Text Request