TREE HOUSE OF GREATER ST LOUIS

THERAPY: THERAPY MAY INCLUDE OCCUPATIONAL, PHYSICAL, SPEECH, AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES: HIPPOTHERAPY LITERALLY MEANS "TREATMENT WITH THE HELP OF THE HORSE". THIS TERM REFERS TO HOW OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, PHYSICAL THERAPY AND SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY PROFESSIONALS USE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE AND CLINICAL REASONING IN THE PURPOSEFUL MANIPULATION OF EQUINE MOVEMENT TO ENGAGE SENSORY, NEUROMOTOR AND COGNITIVE SYSTEMS TO ACHIEVE FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AFFORDANCES OF THE EQUINE ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER TREATMENT STRATEGIES, HIPPOTHERAPY IS PART OF A PATIENT'S INTEGRATED PLAN OF CARE. EACH THERAPIST CREATES A SPECIALIZED TREATMENT PLAN FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL DEPENDING ON THEIR DISABILITY, BODY TYPE, AND THEIR PERSONAL/THERAPEUTIC GOALS. (SEE SCHEDULE O) THERAPY: THERAPY MAY INCLUDE OCCUPATIONAL, PHYSICAL, SPEECH, AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES (CONTINUED): THERAPY GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE MONITORED AND DOCUMENTED THOROUGHLY. SPECIALLY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS ARE USED AS THE DIRECT LINK ALONG WITH THE LICENSED PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL, OR SPEECH THERAPIST'S GUIDANCE TO THE INDIVIDUAL. MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS PROVIDE AN INTERACTIVE APPROACH FOR INDIVIDUALS COPING WITH BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL ISSUES. THIS APPROACH FOCUSES ON INDIVIDUALS INTERACTING WITH HORSES IN A VARIETY OF WAYS THAT CAN CREATE A MEANINGFUL BOND WITH THE HORSE THAT CAN HELP THE INDIVIDUAL IN SELF-UNDERSTANDING AND INCREASED INTERACTION WITH PEOPLE. THIS DYNAMIC APPROACH CAN BE UTILIZED TO ADDRESS A VARIETY OF CONCERNS INCLUDING STRESS, ANXIETY, IMPROVING SOCIAL INTERACTIONS, DEPRESSION, TEAM BUILDING, BULLYING, AND IMPROVING SELF-ESTEEM. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ARE MONITORED THOROUGHLY, AND THESE SESSIONS ARE OPEN TO INDIVIDUALS, COUPLES, FAMILIES, GROUPS, AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. DURING THE CURRENT YEAR, THE THERAPY PROGRAMS SERVED 56 INDIVIDUALS.

ADAPTIVE THERAPEUTIC RIDING: INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, SPECIFICALLY DEVELOPMENTAL, COGNITIVE, AND BEHAVIORAL, FOCUS ON THEIR PERSONAL THERAPEUTIC GOALS AND EVERYDAY LIVING SKILLS THROUGH LEARNING TO RIDE A HORSE MORE INDEPENDENTLY. CERTIFIED RIDING INSTRUCTORS FACILITATE THIS PROGRAM AND ARE TRAINED TO USE THE HORSE AS A CONDUIT TO HELP INDIVIDUALS ACHIEVE THERAPEUTIC GOALS. SPECIALLY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS SERVE TO SUPPORT THE RIDER UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE CERTIFIED RIDING INSTRUCTORS. INDEPENDENT ADAPTIVE THERAPEUTIC RIDING PARTICIPANTS INCREASE THEIR SKILLS WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF TRAINED VOLUNTEERS. THEY LEARN TECHNIQUES THAT ACCOMMODATE THEIR DISABILITY SO INDEPENDENT HORSE CARE AND MANAGEMENT CAN BE MASTERED. (SEE SCHEDULE O)ADAPTIVE THERAPEUTIC RIDING (CONTINUED):INDIVIDUALS WILL WORK ON ADVANCED RIDING SKILLS THAT CAN TRANSLATE INTO SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE NECESSARY FOR LIVING MORE INDEPENDENTLY. MANY OF THESE RIDERS EVENTUALLY MAY COMPETE IN LOCAL SHOW TEAM EVENTS. FIFTY-FIVE INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN ADAPTIVE THERAPEUTIC RIDING THIS YEAR.