Temporary Relief or Transformation? Examination of Human-Horse Interaction in EAGALA-Model EAP

Transcription

1 Temporary Relief or Transformation? Examination of Human-Horse Interaction in EAGALA-Model EAP Angela Fournier, Elizabeth Letson, Emma Leigh Pasiuk, & Thomas Berry

2 Outline Brief Review of Literature Study on EAGALA- Model EAP Theoretical Discussion Case Example.

3 Case 14 year-old Caucasian female presenting for individual and family therapy Presenting Problem: Truancy Diagnosis: PTSD, Social Anxiety Domestic violence multigenerational Placed in child protection Mom has PTSD in treatment for methamphetamine High anxiety, Cutting behavior, Suicidal ideation, alcohol use.

4 Research on EAP Anestis, Anestis, Zawilinski, Hopkins, and Lilienfeld (2014) Systematic review on equine-related treatments 14 studies on equine-related counseling or therapeutic riding Significant problems in the field: Variability in application Absence of theory explaining the process Threats to internal validity Conclude EAP should not be used without an evidence base.

5 Research on EAP Lee, Dakin, and McLure (2016) Narrative synthesis 24 EAP studies from 2005 to 2013 Nonexperimental research design Incomplete analysis of qualitative findings Mixing of mounted and non-mounted therapies Call for theory development, particularly in understanding the horse s role in EAP.

6 Research Limitations to Date Applied, nonexperimental, threats to internal validity Limited to Outcome Studies Need for theory, explanation.

7 Outcomes to Date Increased self-disclosure Decreased cutting behavior Decreased anxiety Improved mood Increase in self-awareness Improved communication with Mom Improvements in school.

8 Human-Animal Interaction None. Animal- Assisted. Therapy No Animal-. Assisted Therapy.. A Great Deal

9 Human-Animal Interaction Scale (Fournier, Berry, Letson, & Chanen, 2016)

10 Jane s HAI Watching, limited petting, grooming

11 Metaphor Described as the foundation of the EAGALA model (EAGALA, 2015, p. 63) Experiential Education & Adventure Therapy Creating a space for life metaphors to emerge, facilitating appreciation for the power of life metaphors, and aiding in the change of restrictive metaphors (Hovelynck, 1998). Descriptions of metaphor in EAP(Symington, 2012), but no empirical investigations.

12 Metaphor in EAGALA-Model EAP EAGALA training materials suggest 1) Clients engage with horses, 2) Life metaphors emerge, and 3) Clients gain insight to psychological issues (EAGALA, 2015).

13 Mediation Model Cause Mediating Variable Effect

14 Jane s Metaphors Mom s addiction, ex-boyfriend, power & control, coping skills, before & after

15 The Present STudy

16 The Present Study Process Variables Human-Horse Interactions Metaphor Outcome Variables Subjective Distress Psychosocial Learning. Tested for Direct Effects of HAI Associations with Distress Tested for Indirect Effects of HAI Mediation Model.

17 Method Participants & Setting 112 men and women EAP/L clients EAGALA-Model.

18 Materials Subjective Units of Distress Scale (Wolpe, 1990) Anxiety and Mood rated 0-10 Before and After Session Human-Animal Interaction Scale (Fournier, Berry, Letson & Chanen, 2016) Human behaviors, Animal behaviors, Total Metaphor Record (Letson & Fournier, 2017) Metaphor quantitative and qualitative Psychosocial Learning quantitative and qualitative.

19 Procedure At intake, clients consented to research at aggregate level Self-Report as regular assessment plan Before session SUDS After session SUDS, HAIS, Metaphor Record Created de-identified database Analyzed self-report data.

20 Findings

21 Mean HAIS Score Human-Horse Interactions Human Behavior toward Horse(s)

22 Mean HAIS Score Human-Horse Interactions Human Behavior toward Horse(s)

23 Mean HAIS Score Human-Horse Interactions Horse Behavior toward Human

24 Mean HAIS Score Human-Horse Interactions Horse Behavior toward Human

25 Human-Horse Interactions Horse Behavior toward Human Percentage of Sessions 1+120

26 Metaphor

27 Feeling or State 28.1% my anxiety

28 Family or Friends 19.3% my exboyfriend

29 Relationship Constructs 14% communication

30 Lesson 12.3% pushing leads to resistance

31 Self 10.5% me in my vulnerable stage

32 Challenge 8.8% struggles in my life

33 Psychosocial Learning

34 Psychosocial Learning Strengths/Weaknesses (34.0%) I am strong and can be ok Relationship Awareness (28.3%) I struggle meeting new people Emotional Awareness (17.0%) I m terrified Acknowledgement/Acceptance (9.4%) I can overcome anything Goals/Interests (7.5%) I need to learn to let go

35 Correlations

36 Mediation Model

37 1. Regression of HAI onto Learning, b =.120, t (77) = 3.91, p < Regress of HAI onto Horse Metaphor, b =.108, t (77) = 3.66, p < Horse Metahor, controlling for HAI, b =.805, t (77) = 9.66, p < Controlling for Horse Metaphor, HAI was not a significant predictor of Learning, b =.037, t (77) = 1.62, p = Sobel test found full mediation, z = 3.41, p <.001

38 (Transformation?) Anodyne Effect (Temporary Relief?)

39 Theoretical Orientation Anodyne Effect

40 Limitations Self-Report Correlational Relatively small sample Directive Metaphor No Soak Time

41 Future Research

42 Reliable assessment data Experimental Design Control for confounds novelty, setting Study Process Variables Basic, laboratory research.

43 References Anestis, M. D., Anestis, J. C., Zawilinski, L. L., Hopkins, T. A., & Lilienfeld, S. O. (2014). Equine-related treatments for mental disorders lack empirical support: A systematic review of empirical investigations. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 70 (12), Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (2015). Fundamentals of the EAGALA model: Practice untraining manual (8th ed.). Santaquin, UT: EAGALA. Fournier, A. K. (2016). PenPals: An examination of human-animal interaction as an outlet for healthy masculinity in prison. In C. Blazina & L. Kogan (Eds), Men and Their Dogs: A New Understanding of Man s Best Friend (pp ). Switzerland: Springer. Fournier, A. K., Berry, T. D., Letson, E., & Chanen, R. (2016). The human-animal interaction scale: Development and evaluation. Anthrozoös, 29 (3), Fournier, A. K., Geller, E. S., & Fortney, E. V. (2007). Human-animal interaction in a prison setting: Impact on criminal behavior, treatment progress, and social skills. Behavior and Social Issues, 16 (1), Fournier, A. K., Letson, E., & Berry, T. D. (2017). HAIS: Human-Animal Interaction Scale and manual. Bemidji, MN: Angela Fournier. Letson, E., A., & Fournier, A. K. (2017). Metaphor Record: Recording Forms and Manual.

44 Pendry, P., Smith, A. N., & Roeter, S. M. (2014). Randomized trial examines effects of equine facilitated learning on adolescents' basal cortisol levels. Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin, 2 (1), Wilson, C. C., & Barker, S. B. (2003). Challenges in designing human-animal interaction research. American Behavioral Scientist, 47 (1), Wilson, C. C., & Netting, F. E. (2012). The status of instrument development in the human animal interaction field. Anthrozoös 25, Vidrine, M., Owen-Smith, P., & Faulkner, P. (2002). Equine-facilitated group psychotherapy: Applications for therapeutic vaulting. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 23(6), Vitztum, C. (2012). Human animal interaction: A concept analysis. International Journal of Nursing Knowledge 24 (1): Wilkie, K. D., Germain, S., & Theule, J. (2016). Evaluating the efficacy of equine therapy among at-risk youth: A meta-analysis. Anthrozoös, 29 (3), Wolpe, J. (1990). The practice of behavior therapy. Oxford: Pergamon.

45 Kakacek, S. L., & Ottens, A. J. (2008). An arena for success: Exploring equine-assisted psychotherapy. Michigan Journal of Counseling, 35 (1), Selby, A., & Smith-Osborne, A. (2013). A systematic review of complimentary and adjunct therapies and interventions involving equines. Health Psychology, 32 (4), Anestis, M. D., Anestis, J. C., Zawilinski, L. L., Hopkins, T. A., & Lilienfeld, S. O. (2014). Equine-related treatments for mental disorders lack empirical support: A systematic review of empirical investigations. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 70 (12), Lee, P. T., Dakin, E., & McLure, M. (2016). Narrative synthesis of equine assisted psychotherapy literature: Current knowledge and future research directions. Health & Social Care in the Community, 24 (3) Beetz, A., Uvnäs-Moberg, K., Julius, H., & Kotrschal, K. (2012). Psychosocial and psychophysiological effects of human-animal interactions: The possible role of oxytocin. Frontiers in Psychology, 3, Klontz, B. T., Bivens, A., Leinart, D., & Klontz, T. (2007). The effectiveness of equine-assisted experiential therapy: Results of an open clinical trial. Society & Animals, 15(3),