Exploring psychotherapy incorporating equine with sexually exploited children

Abstract The International Labor Organization estimates roughly 1.7 million children are trafficked for sex globally at any given time, yet there is a dearth of research on therapeutic interventions. In this qualitative study, we utilized psychotherapy incorporating equine to explore the experiences of commercially sexually exploited youth. We analyzed the participants’ experiences using interpretative phenomenological analysis and identified the following themes: shifting relationships with self and others, equine therapeutic factors, and learning new skills. We provide implications for future research and practice.