Today there are a myriad of different medications available to treat most medical conditions including mental health issues. But time after time we hear clients and their caregivers lament that the medication they/their child/teen are taking does not seem to be making a difference.
This article in Medical News Today takes a look specifically at medications for the treatment of depression, but I think that it is far assessment of medications used in the treatment of most mental health conditions. 
Most interesting to me is the finding that “environmental factors such as childhood maltreatment, disease episodes, previous life events, and different treatment schedules” are likely to impact any specific medications effectiveness. the article goes on to say that in many cases finding the right medications is going to be an ongoing process where you try something, assess how well it is working and consider other options if it is not doing the job. This can take time and really highlights why it is important to get some good therapeutic interventions in place to help hold you up while you are finding the medication(s) that will be most helpful.
Of course, this is where Equine Assisted Therapy can be very helpful! Work with horses can offer many benefits for those living with depression, including being having a empathetic and non-judgemental team to listen to what you are dealing with. You will be outdoors (or in the covered arena if the weather is challenging) and this ‘nature connection’ can be very healing. Biorhythms change, breathing slows down and there is 
space to calm down and re-gain perspective. Working with horses requires that we be ‘present and in the moment’ leaving little room for contemplate ‘failures’ of the past or be worrying about the future. Additionally, horses respond to our body language and to our feelings. They know when we are trying to pretend that ‘everything is ok’ (when it is not!) and this makes uncomfortable. They want us to be real and they feel safe when we are expressing what is really going on 
for us. And besides, just being around a horse tends to help us to feel good- the smell, the feeling, their warmth and empathy all can have a very positive impact on how we feel.
At Nevada Equine Assisted Therapy you will work one-on-one with a Qualified Mental Health Associate and the horse you choose to partner with. While learning 
about horses, how to be safe while working around them, why they do what they do, and how to ‘tack up’ and ride, your team will be addressing your specific issues and goals.
We invite you to call or email us to schedule a visit. We will show you around the ranch, introduce our wonderful herd, learn more about what you are dealing with and share how we might be able to help. Through work with horses may you find a path to better health and happiness.