Effects of a Self-Care Support Group Incorporating Horses on Parents of Children With Disabilities: A Qualitative Investigation

Parenting a child with disabilities comes with great joy, but also significant challenges to quality of life, frequently resulting in decreased physical, mental, and social health when compared to parents who raise typically developing children. To address the needs of this population, a 10-week interdisciplinary support group was developed that included an equine specialist, mental health nurse practitioner, and occupational therapist. The support group, entitled Taking the Reins of Self-care, was developed using attachment theory as a framework, and incorporated horses as a therapeutic tool and partner during the group. Designed to utilize the horse-human bond, this support group facilitated development of self-care strategies in 6 parents to increase quality of life for parents of children with disabilities. Parents and horses were partnered together the first week, and they developed a working relationship and bond in resultant groups as they had to face challenges and learn new skills together. Horses have been found in the literature to mirror emotions back to their human partners. In this group, it served as a catalyst for reflection and parents were afforded the opportunity to practice new ways to manage emotions, and practice different coping strategies with a non-judgmental partner-the horse. They then could translate these strategies in daily life. Qualitative phenomenological analysis of parent interviews revealed the following themes: confirming the horse as an emotional confidant, creating a safe haven, re-affirming identity, nourishing the emotional self, and meeting the challenge. Addressing the self-care needs of parents may mitigate debilitating levels of stress, anxiety and depression. The findings from this study are promising and it is hoped that the groundwork from this research stimulates the development and study of specialized support groups to better meet the needs of this underserved population.

References

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