Equine assisted psychotherapy is a professional, innovative, and experiential approach to counseling, psychotherapy, and mental health that supports clients of all ages with horses as assistants and co-facilitators in the process.

Meg Kirby?s book has made a significant contribution to the field of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP), in articulating a Model of EAP that has foundation in psychological theory, therapeutic technique, accountable professional integrity, and utmost respect for our animal counterparts. A much needed contribution for the field, globally. Melissa Johnstone, Psychologist

Meg Kirby?s insight and ability to integrate psychotherapy theory and practice closes ?the gap? (the fields? current deficit or ?gap? in rigorous theoretical underpinnings), and provides a comprehensive relational psychotherapy model for working with horses to support clients. In line with best practice therapy, this book offers an introduction to an ethical equine assisted psychotherapy model, and is an ?appetiser? for curious mental health practitioners, students and the global community interested in professional animal assisted practice.Naomi Rossthorn, Counsellor and Researcher

The Equine Assisted Therapy movement we?re all so passionate about will benefit from Meg Kirby?s strong theoretical approach that is firmly grounded in psychotherapy practice, and has a uniquely Australian modelling and voice.Dr Anna Cohen, Clinical Psychologist and Author

An Introduction to Equine Assisted Psychotherapy

Principles, Theory, and Practice of the Equine Psychotherapy Institute Model

Balboa Press

Contents

Acknowledgements, vii, 
INTRODUCTION, 
Chapter 1 Welcome, 3, 
Chapter 2 The Current Climate in the Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Field, 7, 
Chapter 3 EPI Model Vision and Mission, 13, 
PRACTICE PRINCIPLES, 
Chapter 4 Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Equine Assisted Learning, and EPI Model of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, 17, 
Chapter 5 Seven Principles of the EPI Model, 20, 
Chapter 6 Working with Horses in a Therapeutic Setting, 23, 
Chapter 7 Therapeutic and Learning Goals in the EPI Model, 27, 
THEORY, 
Chapter 8 Psychotherapy Theory Underpinning the EPI Model — Gestalt Therapy, Buddhist Psychotherapy, Mindfulness Psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing and Somatic Trauma Practice, 35, 
Chapter 9 Theory of Change – Overview of Seven Key Ingredients, 42, 
Chapter 10 First Key Ingredient — The Horse's Contribution to Client Change, 46, 
Chapter 11 Second Key Ingredient — the Therapeutic Relationship: I-Thou Relationship, 54, 
Chapter 12 Third Key Ingredient — Awareness, the Paradoxical Theory of Change, and the Phenomenological Method of Inquiry, 61, 
Chapter 13 Fourth Key Ingredient: Working with Patterns – A Developmental Perspective on Understanding Health and How Patterns Develop as Introjects and Contact Styles, 71, 
Chapter 14 Fifth Key Ingredient — Contact, Relationship, and the Cycle of Experience, 84, 
Chapter 15 Sixth Key Ingredient — Experiments: Equine Experiences as Relational Experiments, 89, 
Chapter 16 Seventh Key Ingredient — Regulating, Resourcing and Trauma-informed Equine Practice, 98, 
PRACTICE, 
Chapter 17 Holistic, Relational, Phenomenological, and Creative Practice in the EPI Model, 105, 
Chapter 18 EPI Experiments: Equine Experiences, 111, 
Chapter 19 EPI Model Case Studies, 114, 
Chapter 20 EPI Values, Principles, and Code of Ethics, 130, 
Chapter 21 Safety and View on Horses — Client Safety, Horse Safety, General Safety, 133, 
Chapter 22 I-Thou Horsemanship, 140, 
Chapter 23 Research, 143, 
Chapter 24 A Way of Life, 145, 
References/Bibliography, 147,