Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy Helps ADHD Students with Therapist JoAnn Tomer

Send us Fan Mail How can we improve children’s mental health to increase academic success?In this episode, JoAnn Tomer discusses her experience as a mental health therapist and her work with children and horses as we focus on children’s mental health and its effects in the classroom.According to the CDC in 2022 on the state of Children's Mental Health, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and behavior problems are the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in children. About 3 in 10 children with ADHD had anxiety. Estimates among children aged 3-17 years, in 2016-19, were that approximately 6.0 million had ADHD, 5.8 million had Anxiety, 5.5 million had behavior problems, and 2.7 million suffer from Depression.Add COVID into the mix since then, and these rates of depression and anxiety are increasing. It is a major concern that parents and educators are facing as it can lead to academic and behavior issues in the classroom. So what options are there to help?Well, animals can offer an extraordinary amount of emotional support. Beyond the pet-owner relationship, animals are sometimes used in therapeutic settings. ADHD is an additional area where equine-assisted psychotherapy can be helpful.The Journal for Creativity in Mental Health stated that introducing horses to the therapeutic process showed significantly increased positive behaviors while reducing negative behaviors. Studies shown that clients can experience a variety of benefits from equine-assisted psychotherapy and that clients feel that they've achieved something on their own, rather than being told to do something by a parent or teacher.💡 This episode is CPD accredited! Educators can now earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) minutes by listening. To claim your certificate:Listen to the full episodeVisit https://thecpd.group/podcastEnter code 800108 to check in and download your certificateContinue your professional growth—one episode at a time.Equine-assisted psychotherapy available at http://www.horsepowerforhealing.net Great News! The Brighter Side of Education is now CPD Accredited! Sponsored by Dr. Gregg Hassler Jr., DMDTrusted dental care for healthy smiles and stronger communities—building brighter futures daily. Head to the show notes to find if this episode is CPD eligible and details on how to claim your CPD certification!Sponsored by Dr. Gregg Hassler Jr., DMDTrusted dental care for healthy smiles and stronger communities—building brighter futures daily.Support the showIf you have a story about what's working in your schools that you'd like to share, email me at [email protected] or visit www.drlisahassler.com. Subscribe, tell a friend, and consider becoming a supporter by clicking the link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2048018/support. The music in this podcast was written and performed by Brandon Picciolini of the Lonesome Family Band. Visit and follow him on Instagram.