Behavior therapy

Although they are mentioned on the same page, behavior therapy and social skills training are two different things. Equiboost redefines both through coaching with horses.

Behavior therapy focuses on changing unwanted behavior. It involves identifying maladaptive behaviors and replacing them with healthier types of behavior. Equiboost combines behavior therapy with coaching techniques based on cognitive therapy, where the focus lies more on the thoughts and emotions that led to a certain behavior, and uses the horse as a mirror of the behavior.
Behavior therapy can be used to treat a wide range of psychological conditions including depression, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and certain addictions. Behavior therapy may also be used to treat autism, Asperger syndrome, insomnia, chronic fatigue, obesity and phobic behavior. Equiboost combines the coaching with horses with assertiveness training, environment modification, relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, modeling, etc., depending on the individual needs.

Social skills training stands for improving the set of skills that allow us to communicate and socialize with others, including verbal and nonverbal forms of communication. For example: saying the appropriate thing at the appropriate time, having a range of vocal tone and quality, speaking in an understandable and confident way, the use of local dialects, body language, eye contact, smiling, gesturing, respecting ones personal space, listening. Especially people with autism, Asperger’s, social anxiety disorder, etc. can benefit from working with horses.

It is perfectly possible to work together with your own psychologist, psychiatrist or therapist.