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               EQUINE FACILITATED COUPLES THERAPY AND SOLUTION FOCUSED 
                          COUPLES THERAPY: A COMPARISON STUDY
                                    A dissertation submitted to 
                          the graduate faculty of the Department of Psychology
                         in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of 
                                   DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
                                            by
                            LESLIE A. RUSSELL-MARTIN M.S. LMFT
                                       Prescott, Arizona
                                        September 2006
                   NORTHCENTRAL UNIVERSITY
            We recommend that the dissertation prepared under our supervision by 
                  Leslie A. Russell-Martin M.S. LMFT
         EQUINE FACILITATED COUPLES THERAPY AND SOLUTION FOCUSED 
               COUPLES THERAPY: A COMPARISON STUDY
            be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of 
                    DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
           -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Robert Haussmann, Ph.D. Committee Chair
           -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Sandra Pace, Ph.D. Committee Member
           ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Amy Hecht, Ph.D. Committee Member
                       September 2006
                       ABSTRACT
         This study investigated the effectiveness of equine facilitated couples therapy as compared 
       to more traditional solution focused couples therapy for dyadic relational adjustment as measured 
       by three separate administrations of the dyadic adjustment scale (Spanier, 1967). MANOVA 
       analysis revealed no significant differences between test groups on the first two administrations 
       of the dyadic adjustment scale but did yield significant differences on the third administration. 
       On the third administration of the dyadic adjustment scale individuals in the equine facilitated 
       therapy group scored an average of seven points higher on the dyadic adjustment scale as 
       compared to like subjects in the solution focused group. In addition, case study results also 
       support quantitative data results as outlined in the following manuscript. Findings are discussed 
       as related to future progress of equine therapy in the counseling profession. 
        Chair Approval: ______________________________________ Date: ______________
                Robert Haussmann, PhD
                                                                                            CONTENTS
                                                                                                                                                                      Page 
                         TABLE OF CONTENTS                                                                                                                               ii
                         LIST OF TABLES                                                                                                                                  iii
                         LIST OFFIGURES                                                                                                                                  iv
                         LIST OFAPPENDICES                                                                                                                               v
                         Chapter I: INTRODUCTION                                                                                                                         1
                                     Introduction to the Research                                                                                                        1
                                     Statement of Problem                                                                                                                2
                                     Purpose of the Study                                                                                                                3
                                     Definition of Key Terms                                                                                                             4
                                         Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy                                                                                                4
                                         Haltering Activity                                                                                                              4
                                         Obstacle Course Activity                                                                                                        5
                                         Extended Appendages Activity                                                                                                    6
                                         Horse Billiards Activity                                                                                                        6
                                         The Couple                                                                                                                      7
                                         Solution Focused Therapy                                                                                                        8
                                         Relational Adjustment                                                                                                           8
                                     Brief Review of Related Literature                                                                                                  9
                                     Research Expectations                                                                                                               11
                                     Significance of the Study                                                                                                           11
                         Chapter II: LITERATURE REVIEW                                                                                                                   13
                                     Solution Focused Couples Therapy                                                                                                    13
                                     Theoretical Framework                                                                                                               13
                                     Solution Focused Therapy Framework                                                                                                  14
                                     Key Components of Solution Focused Therapy                                                                                          16
                                     Solution Focused Therapy Outcome Research                                                                                           17
                                     Solution Focused Therapy Utility                                                                                                    19
                                     Brief History of Horses and Humans in Therapy                                                                                       20
                                     EFT Philosophy of Change                                                                                                            22
                                     Role of the Therapist in EFT                                                                                                        23
                                     Role of the Horse in EFT                                                                                                            25
                                     Concepts of EFT                                                                                                                     26
                                     Qualitative Studies in EFT                                                                                                          27
                                     Quantitative Research in EFT                                                                                                        28
                                     Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy: Need for Research                                                                                 33
                         Chapter III: METHODOLOGY                                                                                                                        36
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