Equine Therapy in Drug Rehab

Cirque Lodge in Sundance Utah is renowned in the drug treatment community for its effective balance of therapy. The experiential program of the Cirque Lodge addiction treatment facility provides an effective balance of activity to the drug rehab program. Experiential activities are continually changing to provide the most effective balance of treatment and activity. For many it is the experiential program that made the difference in their recovery from alcohol or drug addiction.

Equine therapy is the staple of the experiential program. At Cirque Lodge, we have both in and outdoor facilities to utilize this effective therapy aspect. The drug rehab clients can enjoy working with horses no matter the time of year. The Cirque Lodge Studio's indoor horse arena facility allows us to offer equine therapy even in the colder months of the year. Working with horses can teach large lessons to those in treatment for alcohol or drug addictions.

Horses in Drug Rehab

We understand, when you think of a drug rehab program, you usually do not think of horses. What typically will come to mind, are therapy and support groups. Equine therapy is a different aspect of treatment and support. In this situation the support group is a single living creature, the horse. A misconception of equine therapy is that it is riding horses. At the Cirque Lodge, addiction treatment facility, equine therapy involves a number of activities in working with horses that does not involve riding them. At seeing the therapeutic results of such an activity we have learned how truly effective a concept equine therapy can be.

The horse functions as the interventionist in this situation. The individual undertaking equine therapy is allowed to work with the horse through a number of activities. Horses are amazingly intelligent creatures. They are unresponsive to elements or individuals they do not fully trust. Gaining a horses trust can develop a strong bond. The horse when entrusted to the human would rather be around that person than other horses. Equine therapy allows for a lesson in trust. Trust is something that can greatly suffer in the life of an addict or alcoholic.

The advantage to equine therapy is what is learned through direct response. The drug rehab client will learn a lot about life through the activity of working with and communicating with a horse. The horse provides direct feedback through actions. These actions are discussed in equine therapy to solve the problem. The drug rehab client learns aspects of direct communication and conveying feelings in an open way. Learning how to trust things and communication skills can be vitally important to the recovery process. Equine therapy is an added advantage to the drug rehab program.

A Life Changing Experiences

The experiential program at Cirque Lodge is designed to provide a life changing experience. These experiences in conjunction with effective therapy can provide the needed focus for recovery from alcohol or drug addiction. Many aspects of the experiential program will allow for a spiritual experience in mind and body. The experiences can be life changing in there own way.

Equine therapy is no different in its approach to providing a therapeutic life changing experience. For many of those who came to Cirque Lodge for recovery, it was the horses that helped them change. Learning to grow is a vital part of any addiction treatment facility. Learning to grow with the help of support is even more powerful. The horses in the equine therapy program can provide an area of support that was never before thought possible. It can be a spiritual and life changing experience.

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