Equine Therapy + Native American Art = Recovery

The residents at The Last Resort Recovery Center combined their creative art abilities with some amazing storytelling during the Equine Session last week. Using some of the symbols used by Native American Indians, they painted the horses depicting their stories of addiction and road to recovery. Paula Basden our Equine Specialist at The Last Resort lead the group last Friday, and created a fun, safe, and creative space for our clients to open up about their addiction.After the session one of our residents describes why he had drawn a sun setting over the mountains, “I’ve climbed the big mountain, I can now see the sun rays, and for the first time in my life I’m finally at peace.”

Overview of the benefits of Equine Therapy

Psychological

Equine Therapy helps our clients gain a sense of well being, develop self-confidence, and improved self-esteem. Equine Therapy also allows our clients to walk through insecurity and fear that in turn will benefit them in gaining more self confidence in their everyday lives outside of treatment.

Educational

Equine Therapy helps improve concentration and attention, important and essential qualities for improving our clients educational skills. Teaching our clients to become present and aware in their daily lives

Social

Our residents develop respect, responsibility, perseverance, and learn to become loving toward animals. In turn our clients gain positive attitudes which benefits family and social integration. Most importantly Equine Therapy encourages our clients to talk and become more open to others about their addiction.