The Journal of Animal Consciousness Vol 1, Issue 2 Vol 1 Issue 2 | Page 5

Equine Assisted

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Psychotherapy and
Learning through
Goethean Science
Sarah L. Reagan

Abstract
The Equine Assisted Psychotherapy & Learning (EAP/L) profession is a fairly recent development and spans both the equine industry as
well as the mental health (psychology) profession. The Cambridge Declaration of Animal Consciousness was seen as a ‘boost’ in the
profession, validating what many people had been saying regarding sentience and consciousness in animals. However, this has led to
anthropomorphic misunderstanding of the animal. I assert the underlying issue is that mainstream biological science has not completely
come to terms with human consciousness nor can scholars completely agree on a definition of consciousness, so it is paradoxical to assign a
human level of consciousness to a broad range of animals on a comparative basis without first having a concrete definition of consciousness
in humans. Philosophically, the question remains – is it even possible to really know what consciousness is? I do not believe this is
possible within a Cartesian-based science. However if we approach the subject from within Goethean science, a comparative understanding
of consciousness can be initiated ‒ one that is beneficial across species boundaries and one that gives meaning to the term consciousness.
Much as Goethe saw that the whole ‘comes into being through its parts’, this paper is a ‘coming into being’; it has an intentional flow from
beginning to end. I begin with a brief historical and current overview of the state of equine assisted therapy, then re-introduce the horse as a
sentient being from within the basics of Goethean science and a phenomenological understanding of nature. With the ability to see from
within that perspective, the reader is then given new insight into what some potential issues are for both the horse and the human patient/
client as they currently exist within the EAP/L profession. Finally we look at a model of a holistic and phenomenological approach to
equine assisted therapy. This last section will introduce the concept of weak/analytical and strong/synergistic relationships as part of the
phenomenological approach to equine assisted therapy.
This paper is prepared with the intention to provide an overview of several concepts that will be new to many within the profession. It is
acknowledged they are explored at a basic level without fully expanding any particular one.
This