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Equine Assisted Therapy Helping Patients Clear The Hurdle

MALVERN, Pa. (CBS) - Therapists from across the country are in at the Thorncroft Equestrian center in Malvern this week to get their certification in a cutting edge psychotherapy treatment program that incorporates horses for emotional growth and learning, without horseback riding.

About 50 licensed mental health professionals and equine specialists were inside an arena walking among three horses, only observing the animal's behavior and not why they are doing it.

"And so it's talked about in clean observation and we keep our interpretation out of it, so that our clients can bring their own stories to it," says Kristen de Marco -- executive director of  Gateway HorseWorks  and the host of the program.

She says it's very hard to do, but…

"Once you learn how to do it, you can see how it really helps the clients bring their own interpretations and their own metaphors and that then allows the treatment team to translate those metaphors and experiences to what's going on outside the arena in their own lives, families and workplace."

Participants also learn techniques to help their clients, who perhaps were sexually abused or suicidal, explore things like respect and boundaries through a relationship with a non-judgmental horse.

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