The potential of equine-assisted psychotherapy for treating trauma in Australian Aboriginal peoples

Journal article


Bennett, Bindi and Woodman, Elise Anne. (2019). The potential of equine-assisted psychotherapy for treating trauma in Australian Aboriginal peoples. The British Journal of Social Work. 49(4), pp. 1041-1058. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcz053
AuthorsBennett, Bindi and Woodman, Elise Anne
Abstract

Colonisation and subsequent policies targeting Aboriginal peoples in Australia have had devastating consequences, including trauma, disadvantage and marginalisation. These effects have passed from generation to generation and continue to manifest in poor health and well-being outcomes, particularly mental health disorders. Innovative and culturally relevant techniques are needed to remedy inequality and address intergenerational trauma. Equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP)—an experiential therapy involving horses—is a new and increasingly evidence-based treatment approach, which offers potential for working with Aboriginal peoples. This article reviews the literature on outcomes of EAP to consider its potential as a culturally responsive therapy to treat trauma and increase well-being for Aboriginal people in Australia.

KeywordsAboriginal; equine-assisted therapy; trauma; Australia; well-being
Year2019
JournalThe British Journal of Social Work
Journal citation49 (4), pp. 1041-1058
PublisherOxford University Press
ISSN0045-3102
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcz053
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85085090788
Page range1041-1058
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online09 Jul 2019
Publication process dates
Accepted01 Feb 2019
Deposited19 Oct 2022
Permalink -

https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8y5w9/the-potential-of-equine-assisted-psychotherapy-for-treating-trauma-in-australian-aboriginal-peoples

Restricted files

Publisher's version

  • 17
    total views
  • 0
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month
These values are for the period from 19th October 2020, when this repository was created.

Export as

Related outputs

Workplace friendships while teleworking during COVID-19 : Experiences of social workers in Australia
Gates, Trevor G., Bennett, Bindi and Yadav, Raj. (2023). Workplace friendships while teleworking during COVID-19 : Experiences of social workers in Australia. International Social Work. 66(1), pp. 158-167. https://doi.org/10.1177/00208728211058774
Inclusion of animals in allied health practice in Australia : A beginning exploration
Bennett, Bindi, Gates, Trevor G., Yeung, Polly and Evans, Krystal. (2022). Inclusion of animals in allied health practice in Australia : A beginning exploration. Social Work in Mental Health. pp. 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332985.2022.2153637
Decolonization and trauma-informed truth-telling about Indigenous Australia in a social work diversity course : A cultural safety approach
Bennett, Bindi and Gates, Trevor G.. (2022). Decolonization and trauma-informed truth-telling about Indigenous Australia in a social work diversity course : A cultural safety approach. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work. pp. 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/15313204.2022.2154882
Indigenous cultural identity of research authors standard : Research and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in rural health journals
Lock, Mark John, McMillan, Faye, Warne, Donald, Bennett, Bindi, Kidd, Jacquie, Williams, Naomi, Martire, Jodie Lea, Worley, Paul, Hutten-Czapski, Peter, Saurman, Emily, Mathews, Veronica, Walke, Emma, Edwards, Dave, Owen, Julie, Browne, Jennifer and Roberts, Russell. (2022). Indigenous cultural identity of research authors standard : Research and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in rural health journals. Rural and Remote Health. 22(3), pp. 104-110. https://doi.org/10.22605/RRH7646
The non-Indigenous educator teaching Australian Aboriginal content in social work education
Bennett, Bindi. (2022). The non-Indigenous educator teaching Australian Aboriginal content in social work education. Australian Social Work. pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1080/0312407X.2022.2105164
Building family connectedness - A new practice tool for social workers
Woodman, Elise and Ross, Jessica. (2022). Building family connectedness - A new practice tool for social workers. The British Journal of Social Work. 52(6), pp. 3130-3150. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcab226
COVID-19 vaccine donations — Vaccine empathy or vaccine diplomacy? A narrative literature review
Su, Zhaohui, McDonnell, Dean, Li, Xiaoshan, Bennett, Bindi, Šegalo, Sabina, Abbas, Jaffar, Cheshmehzangi, Ali and Xiang, Yu-Tao. (2021). COVID-19 vaccine donations — Vaccine empathy or vaccine diplomacy? A narrative literature review. Vaccines. 9(9), p. Article 1024. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines9091024
Cultural responsiveness in action: Co-constructing social work curriculum resources with aboriginal communities
Bennett, Bindi, Redfern, Helen and Zubrzycki, Joanna. (2018). Cultural responsiveness in action: Co-constructing social work curriculum resources with aboriginal communities. The British Journal of Social Work. 48(3), pp. 808 - 825. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcx053
Child protection practitioners: Including children in decision making
Woodman, Elise, Roche, Steven, McArthur, Morag and Moore, Tim. (2018). Child protection practitioners: Including children in decision making. Child and Family Social Work. 23(3), pp. 475 - 484. https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.12439
Young people's experiences of family connectedness: Supporting social work practice with families and young people
Woodman, Elise and McArthur, Morag. (2018). Young people's experiences of family connectedness: Supporting social work practice with families and young people. The British Journal of Social Work. 48(3), pp. 693 - 713. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcx019
Is community development equity or justice?
Bennett, Bindi and Green, Sue. (2017). Is community development equity or justice? In In Kickett-Tucker, Cheryl, Bessarab, Dawn, Coffin, Juli and Wright, Michael (Ed.). Mia Mia Aboriginal Community Development : Fostering cultural security pp. 128-141 Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107741768.009
Cultural responsiveness and social work: A discussion
Green, Sue, Bennett, Bindi and Betteridge, Sonia. (2016). Cultural responsiveness and social work: A discussion. Social Alternatives. 35(4), pp. 66 - 72.
Considering identity and meaning constructions for vulnerable young people
Noble-Carr, Debbie and Woodman, Elise. (2016). Considering identity and meaning constructions for vulnerable young people. Journal of Adolescent Research. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558416684952
Developing identity as a light-skinned Aboriginal person with little or no community and/or kinship ties
Bennett, Bindi. (2015). Developing identity as a light-skinned Aboriginal person with little or no community and/or kinship ties [Thesis]. https://doi.org/10.4226/66/5a9cbf81b0ba3
Improving practice: The importance of connections in establishing positive identity and meaning in the lives of vulnerable young people
Noble-Carr, Debbie, Barker, Justin, McArthur, Morag and Woodman, Elise. (2014). Improving practice: The importance of connections in establishing positive identity and meaning in the lives of vulnerable young people. Children and Youth Services Review. 47(3), pp. 389 - 396. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.10.017
How do light-skinned aboriginal Australians experience racism?: Implications for social work
Bennett, Bindi. (2014). How do light-skinned aboriginal Australians experience racism?: Implications for social work. AlterNative. 10(2), pp. 180 - 192. https://doi.org/10.1177/117718011401000207
How do light-skinned Aboriginal Australians experience racism?: Implications for social work
Bennett, Bindi. (2014). How do light-skinned Aboriginal Australians experience racism?: Implications for social work. AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples. 10(2), pp. 180 - 192.
Young people's experiences of family connectedness
Woodman, Elise Anne. (2014). Young people's experiences of family connectedness [Thesis]. https://doi.org/10.4226/66/5a9cb959b0b84
Walking the journey: the student experience
Green, Sue, Bennett, Bindi, Collins, Aaron, Gowans, Brooke, Hennessey, Kiel and Smith, Kylie. (2013). Walking the journey: the student experience. In In Bindi Bennett, Sue Green and Stephanie Gilbert and Dawn Bessarab (Ed.). Our Voices: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Work pp. 206 - 229 Palgrave Macmillan.
The importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history for social work students and graduates
Bennett, Bindi. (2013). The importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history for social work students and graduates. In In Bennett, Bindi, Green, Sue, Gilbert , Stephanie and Bessarab, Dawn (Ed.). Our voices : Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social work pp. 1-25 Palgrave Macmillan.
"Stop deploying your white privilege on me!" Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement with the Australian Association of Social Workers
Bennett, Bindi. (2013). "Stop deploying your white privilege on me!" Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement with the Australian Association of Social Workers. Australian Social Work. 68(1), pp. 19 - 31. https://doi.org/10.1080/0312407X.2013.840325
Social worker's experiences of linking theory and practice
Woodman, Elise. (2012). Social worker's experiences of linking theory and practice. Advances in Social Work and Welfare Education. 14(1), pp. 22 - 38.
Social workers' experiences of linking theory and practice
Woodman, Elise. (2012). Social workers' experiences of linking theory and practice. Advances in Social Work and Welfare Education. 14(1), pp. 22 - 38.
What do we know? : the experiences of social workers working alongside Aboriginal people
Bennett, B., Zubrzycki, Joanna and Bacon, V.. (2011). What do we know? : the experiences of social workers working alongside Aboriginal people. Australian Social Work. 64(1), pp. 20 - 37. https://doi.org/10.1080/0312407X.2010.511677
They've gotta listen: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in out of home care
Moore, Tim, Bennett, Bindi and McArthur, Morag. (2007). They've gotta listen: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in out of home care Dickson, ACT: Australian Catholic University.
Aboriginal Australians
Zubrzycki, Joanna and Bennett, Bindi. (2006). Aboriginal Australians. In In W.H. Chui and J. Wilson (Ed.). Social Work and Human Services Best Practice pp. 192 - 210 The Federation Press.
Hearing the stories of Australian Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders social workers: Challenging & educating the system
Zubrzycki, Joanna and Bennett, Bindi. (2003). Hearing the stories of Australian Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders social workers: Challenging & educating the system. Australian Social Work. 56(1), pp. 61 - 69.