ABSTRACT
The job of a mental health professional at Transitioning Families is to shine a light in to areas that may be otherwise avoided or missed. Sometimes, clients arrive at Transitioning Families carrying anxiety about working with horses. The overarching goal of the Transitioning Families Therapeutic Reunification Model is to assist families in transitioning from crisis, challenge or conflict to connection and growth. Equine-assisted therapy provides a powerful tool for the treatment and management of anxiety, grounded in the theory of experiential learning and therapy. At Transitioning Families, equine-assisted therapy is a large component of treatment. At Transitioning Families, using real life experiences as well as equine therapy and other therapeutic techniques can vastly decrease the time needed for developing and problem-solving approaches to anxiety-laden responses. Individuals and families come to work with the team for assistance in moving forward in their lives, to solve problems, to reconnect with one another, or to address specific issues.
