Communicating Resilience among Adolescents with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) through Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)

This qualitative study explored communicative processes of resilience in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) among young women with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Utilizing communicative resilience, findings suggest that adults, peers, and equines assist adolescents in (a) crafting normalcy, (b) building new communication networks, (c) legitimizing negative feelings while foregrounding positive action, (d) putting alternative logics to work through goal-oriented talk, and (e) cultivating identities of empowerment. Communication messages and processes in equine assisted therapy are considered, specifically, how relationship building with humans and equines fosters resilience among adolescents with ACEs.