Evaluation of a mindfulness and self-compassion-based psychotherapy incorporating horses for Veterans who have experienced trauma.

The research article discusses a pilot study investigating the effectiveness, safety, and feasibility of a therapy program called ‘Whispers with Horses’, which integrates mindfulness, self-compassion, and interaction with horses to help veterans who have experienced trauma.

Objective of the Study

• The study had four primary goals: to determine whether ‘Whispers with Horses’ is a safe, feasible, acceptable method of psychotherapy for veterans who’ve experienced trauma, and to scrutinize the program’s preliminary outcomes.

Methodology

• The pilot study was prospective and open, which means participants were aware of the intervention and outcomes were studied going forward in time.
• The research was conducted using a large Veterans Administration healthcare system along with local equine facilities.
• The intervention consisted of a six-session program where the focus was to enhance or develop mindfulness and self-compassion in the participants, while building a relationship with a horse.
• Safety, feasibility, and acceptability of the program were assessed through observations and the use of certain psychological scales, specifically the PTSD Checklist for DSM 5, the Patient Health Questionnaire 9, the Positive and Negative Affect Scale, the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II, and the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale.

Results

• In total, 33 veterans (who were primarily male and had a mean age of 46) participated in the study.
• The results showed that the therapy was safe as there were no adverse outcomes.
• The treatment was feasible and acceptable, as indicated by the completion of an average of approximately 4 out of the 6 sessions by each participant, with about a quarter of the participants completing all sessions.
• Participants generally enjoyed the sessions, as observed with an average PACES score of 110.4.
• The pre-to-post session scores revealed significant improvement in affect (emotion) and psychological flexibility for some sessions.
• Overall, the intervention demonstrated substantial improvements in depressive symptoms and psychological flexibility from start to end.

Conclusions

• The ‘Whispers with Horses’ intervention appears to show promise as a psychotherapy incorporating horses treatment for veterans who’ve experienced trauma.
• The authors underscore the need for further rigorous studies of this intervention to verify these preliminary findings and enhance the understanding of the psychological changes spurred by the program.