Teen Crisis Intervention via Animal Therapy
Teen crisis intervention via various animal therapy programs is gaining many adherents and advocates. So many troubled teens are shredded emotionally, unable to feel empathy or feel the kindness and concern extended to them.
Animal therapy programs employing either dogs or horses as means to reconnect the teens with their emotions, and in turn their families, are very powerful metaphors for the power of caring.
An advocate for troubled teens in Arizona is planning to create a troubled teen boarding school based solely on the efficacy of animal therapy - in this instance the animals are horses.
Relevant Tags:animal therapy, boarding school, boys ranch, crisis intervention, school counseling, teen crisis intervention, teen crisis, therapy programs, troubled boys, troubled teens“The ranch, along with an additional 23,000 acres that will be leased from the government, will allow the program to run 350 head of cattle, 200 head of Arabian horses and house facilities set up for 50 boys who will immerse themselves in chores, school, counseling and horses.
The boys ranch plans to start with five boys and add five more every seven weeks.
Three years in the making, Searle said he has put a program in place that will use natural horsemanship as the tool to help troubled boys work on their issues.
“We want to teach the boys to be horse whisperers, and in that process we’re hoping that they learn about themselves and communication with their parents,” said Searle, the managing general partner. “The idea is to use the horse as a mirror for the boys to become responsible and basically see themselves.”
