den Braber, Nicola E.J. (2022) A Community-Based Referral Agents Perceptions on Equine-Assisted Learning. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Equine-Assisted Interventions (EAI) are gaining mainstream attention among the general public and community-based professionals. The limited empirical base reports that EAI decreases negative affect, increases positive psychosocial functioning, and is a promising alternative intervention for vulnerable populations. Community-based professionals believe EAIs are legitimate psychosocial interventions; however, they lack knowledge and an understanding of what they constitute. The current study explores the perception of equineassisted learning (EAL), a sub-category of EAI, from the point of view of community-based referral agents. Six community-based professional representatives from not-for-profits, government and educational organisations who refer clients to the Reason to Thrive EAL skills development program participated in semi-structured interviews. The collected data was analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis method within an exploratory qualitative research design. The themes identified in response to the research question of why the community-based referral agents choose EAL for their clients were the theme of complex trauma and three sub-themes emotional safety, building relationships, and high engagement. In response to the research question of how the community-based referral agents believed EAL facilitates change for their clients, were two main themes experiential learning and empowerment. The research found that community-based referral agents perceive EAL as an engaging intervention suitable for complex trauma survivors. They reported the horses facilitate emotional safety and support their clients in self-exploration. The experience is believed to improve clients' psychosocial functioning, and the program's experiential approach empowered participants to reframe their sense of self, supporting positive transformations in their life.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current – Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Wellbeing (1 Jan 2022 -) |
| Supervisors: | Samantha Brown |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 15 May 2025 06:10 |
| Last Modified: | 15 May 2025 06:10 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Equine-assisted learning; horses; complex trauma; attachment theory; experiential learning theory |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52174 |
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