PUBLISHED STUDY: Effects of EMDR in Equine Therapy

https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1162&context=paij

Sarah Jenkins announces that her qualitative research has been published in People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice (2025):“A Qualitative Study Understanding the Effects of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing in Equine Therapy” Co-authored with Dr. Tara Rava Zolnikov

The study investigates the integration of EMDR within equine-assisted therapy, specifically the EquiLateral™ protocol founded by Sarah Jenkins, and its impact on individuals with PTSD.

Through in-depth interviews with clients who participated in EquiLateral™ sessions, they identified consistent themes of:

• Increased manageability

• Improved perception and emotional regulation

• Greater calm and presence

• Stronger sense of support and connection

The findings highlight the real-world efficacy of combining structured EMDR protocols with equine-assisted interventions—offering both emotional and physiological benefits to clients navigating trauma.

This publication contributes to the growing body of evidence supporting animal-assisted interventions as legitimate and effective mental health treatments, and calls for further research to standardize best practices.

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