Equine Facilitated CBT Group Therapy for Youth Anxiety

Equine Facilitated Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Group Therapy for Youth Anxiety

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a 10-week equine facilitated cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) group program for youth between ages of 6 to 17 with symptoms of anxiety. The program will be delivered at GallopNYC, a stable that provides equine-facilitated group therapy to youth with a range of mental health problems.

The equine-facilitated group therapy normally provided at GallopNYC (Treatment as Usual, TAU) will be compared to an augmented group program that will include CBT strategies, including psychoeducation to the child and caregiver about anxiety, coping strategies to use when anxious, and identifying and addressing dysfunctional thoughts that maintain anxiety. Seventy-five children between 6 to 17 years of age will be randomized to TAU (equine-facilitated group therapy), the augmented group therapy that contains CBT strategies, or wait list control. Outcomes include anxiety symptoms, self-efficacy,receipt of services, functioning and the child's relationship with the horse.

Inclusion Criteria:

• A child aged 6-17 seeking services for anxiety at Gallop NYC, who (based on the screener administered by GallopNYC) evidence symptoms of anxiety (as measured by a score of 2 or more on the GAD 2 item questionnaire) and a minimum functioning score of 51 (as measured by the child global assessment scale)
• Caregivers will also serve as study respondents. To do so, they must meet the following criteria:
• Primary caregiver/ legal guardian of a child who meets eligibility criteria
• Aged 18 years or older
• English speaking

Providers will serve as study therapists. To do so, they must meet the following criteria:

• PATH-certified provider employed at Gallop NYC

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to provide informed consent
• Child does not meet criteria for anxiety symptoms (as measured by a score of 2 or more on the GAD 2 item questionnaire) and/or does not meet minimum level of functioning (does not meet a minimum functioning score of 51 as measured by the child global assessment scale)