ABSTRACT
Chronic childhood trauma in adult clients with associated mental problems need interventions containing, in the light of the attachment theory, nonverbal components, and opportunities for intersubjective relations to emerge. This chapter discusses how equine-assisted focal psychodynamic psychotherapy could meet these criteria. Equine-assisted focal psychodynamic psychotherapy is based on focal psychodynamic psychotherapy, in which nature, animals, horses, and mental health providers are integrated as important elements. The chapter outlines the integration and mutual underpinning of attachment theory, psychotherapy, neurobiology, and its alignment with equine-assisted mental health. The procedure is schematically displayed and illustrated with an extensive case example. It is concluded that the embodied experiences in connection to the horse help the client to find an adequate connection between the conscious mind and the self-system of the body, which is considered important in healing trauma.
