"När jag får ångest och känner att nu behöver jag skära mig, då kan jag gå till hästen” : En studie om hästunderstödd terapi som behandlingsmetod för flickor med självskadebeteende

Sammanfattning: In this study we have examined in which way the horse is used in Equine Assisted Therapy, and what effects the treatment staff experience and describes that the interaction with horses has on girls who self-harms. Our Empirical data was collected through qualitative methods such as interviews, participant observation and informal interviews with a total of six different informants, from five different activities with Equine Assisted Therapy for girls who self-harms. In the analysis we have assumed symbolic interactionism, a theory focusing on the human as a social being, where the self-image alters in the social interaction with other human beings. We interwove this theory with the Biophilia hypothesis, an explanatory model concerning human’s relationship to animals and nature. The conclusions we have found in the results are: Equine Assisted Therapy is a complementary treatment comprises both horseback riding and exercises which is not based on the horseback Equine Assisted Therapy almost always involves three parts, the therapist, the client and the horse. The therapist constantly interpreters the horse to get information about the clients senses tuning. The horse can be especially useful for sexual abused girls. It can be used as a help for the client in relaxation exercises, and can be a help for the client in body awareness recovery. Equine Assisted Therapy contributes to increased self-confidence, self-esteem and altered self-image The horse has not the ability to lie, which results in a completely honest relationship between the horse and the human. Both the ambient environment and just interacting with the horse can be calming and anxiolytic for the client.