Att inkludera hästen i behandling - vilken betydelse har det?
En kvalitativ studie om hur professionella uppfattar betydelsen av hästens medverkan i behandlingsarbete.
Equine- assisted therapySocial interactionRole theoryTreatment workHästunderstödd terapiSocial interaktionRollteoriBehandlingsarbete
The aim of this study was, that from a view of professional's understand the meanings of including horses in therapy. In order to achieve the aim of the study, qualitative method was used and therewith interviews was performed with professionals who work with equine- assisted therapy. The professionals did also have an education which allowed them to independently treat clients and besides that at least five years of experience of equine- assisted therapy. The issues of the study was to understand the professionals? view of the horses role in equine-assisted therapy, which opportunities and constraints professionals consider that equine-assisted therapy entails and also if the horse could bring something unique to therapy. The empirical material was thematised and analysed with help of previously research and by theories of Meads and Goffman. The findings of the study was that the horse was described as a colleague and that the horse had an impact on the role as a therapist. The horse was described to have an impact on the therapeutic work which facilitated the professionals? communication, relations and conversations about feelings with the clients. There was descriptions about the importance of the professionals? competence, which meant that they had to possess knowledge about both horses and treatment work. Insufficient knowledge was described as almost the only critical aspect using horses in therapy. The environment around the horses seemed to play an important role, which led to reflections about whether the horse's participation was compensable and if the horse could be replaced by other complements. At last the informants described that professionals? today don?t use horses in enough extent. The conclusion was that the informants didn?t describe one, but different and several meanings of the horse?s participation. Which meant that no concrete conclusion to this study exist. Perhaps, other methods could be used to understand the meaning of including the horse in therapy.