In the thesis, I was interested in how to connect social work and equine-assisted therapy (EAT). Moreover, I was interested in the way EAT providers work, the challenges they face in their work, possible changes in EAT users that are noticed by their parents and EAT providers, the weaknesses or shortcomings of EAT, and the suggestions of EAT providers and users’ parents for program improvements. In the theoretical part, social work, individual working projects of help, and equine-assisted therapy are presented. I also pay attention to the therapeutic team, ensuring safety in EAT, and the positive effects of EAT. At the end of the theoretical part, I connect social work with equine-assisted therapies and present the situation in Slovenia and abroad.
The empirical part presents the results of a study in which five EAT therapists and five parents of EAT users participated. In the discussion, I try to connect the research results and the social work profession. Lastly, at the end of the thesis, an experimental theory for the equine collaboration in individual working projects of help is formulated.
Through my research, I concluded that equine-assisted therapy is a special and unique job that requires special knowledge. Due to its nature, abilities, and characteristics, the horse is an excellent choice for therapy, it is our partner and collaborator and helps us establish a relationship with the user easily. Equine-assisted therapy has tremendous positive effects on users. The main disadvantages of therapy are the financial costs of therapies, due to which the therapy is still inaccessible to many, and the poor development of the equine-assisted therapy system in Slovenia, resulting in the poor interconnection of therapists, lack of education and support.
In the thesis the improvements are proposed, namely the introduction of supervisions and intervisions for therapists, the establishment of the interconnection of therapists and other professionals, exploring the possibility of covering EAT costs, supporting further research towards equine-assisted therapy in social work, testing the experimental theory of equine collaboration in individual working projects of help in social work in practice, and introduction of equine-assisted social work in the study process at the Faculty of Social Work.
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