Dear BERGers and SHAIRers, In next week’s talk we’ll be hearing from Calum Stephens, who is conducting research in collaboration with Dr Line Caes in our Department and with the charity 'Ponies Help Children<https://www.ponieshelpchildren.com/>’. The talk will be in-person in the Psychology Common Room C.3A94 on Wednesday 15 April 4-5pm (also hybrid on Teams - see link below). Afterwards everyone is very welcome to join Calum, myself and (I hope) many of our Human-Animal Interaction postgrad students for some informal chat and ‘Scran’ in Campus Central. Title: Exploring the Behavioural and Emotional Impact of Equine Assisted Therapy Abstract This study evaluates the effectiveness of a ground-based Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT) programme for children and young people presenting with behavioural and emotional difficulties in a Scottish community setting. Despite growing interest in experiential, non-verbal interventions for neurodiverse and trauma-exposed populations, robust service-based evaluations remain limited. Using a repeated-measures design, behavioural and emotional risk was assessed via the BASC-3 Behavioural and Emotional Screening System (BESS), completed by parents and teachers at baseline and post-intervention (7 weeks), Participants (N=22) initially presented within elevated clinical risk ranges. Results indicated a statistically significant reduction in internalising difficulties, alongside moderate effect sizes for both internalising symptoms (d = −0.62) and overall behavioural/emotional risk (d = −0.54). Although reductions in total risk scores did not remain significant after correction, consistent downward trends across informants suggest meaningful clinical improvement. No significant changes were observed in externalising or adaptive functioning, and no clear dose–response relationship emerged with session attendance. Findings highlight EAT’s potential to support emotional regulation, particularly anxiety and low mood, through relational, embodied processes aligned with trauma-informed and Adlerian frameworks. Improvements were observed across neurodevelopmental groups, suggesting broad applicability. However, variability in outcomes and small sample size limit definitive conclusions. Overall, this study provides cautious but encouraging evidence for EAT as a complementary intervention within child and adolescent mental health services. Future research employing larger, controlled designs and longitudinal follow-up is required to confirm efficacy, clarify mechanisms, and inform integration into mainstream provision. BERG research seminars | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams<https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/3816460052135?p=xsEIefROgXSXlZHxc0> Look forward to seeing many of you next week! Best wishes, Clare Students: book to talk with me here<https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/PsychologyY1PersonalTuteesTutorDrClareAndrews@stir.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/>. Seeking support? Support is also available to students via the Student Hub<https://www.stir.ac.uk/student-life/support-wellbeing/> and 24/7 spectrum.life<https://www.stir.ac.uk/student-life/support-wellbeing/student-support-services/your-mental-health-and-wellbeing/247-student-support/> service. Please share your feedback with your University via the national surveys: ✅ Taught postgraduate students - PTES survey<https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/stirling/postgraduate-taught-experience-survey-2025> (password 'stirling' and your student ID) ✅ Fourth year students - National Student Survey<http://www.thestudentsurvey.com/> Dr Clare Andrews (preferred pronouns: she/her) MA MSc DPhil FHEA Lecturer in Psychology, Programme Director for MSc/MA Human-Animal Interaction<https://www.stir.ac.uk/courses/pg-taught/human-animal-interaction/> and Module Co-ordinator for Climate and Environmental Psychology<https://www.stir.ac.uk/courses/module/?code=PRMP1CE&session=2024/5&semester=AUT&occurrence=A&course=psychological-research-methods-general> Psychology Division University of Stirling Stirling FK9 4LA ResearchGate<https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Clare_Andrews> LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/in/clareandrews/> Bluesky<https://bsky.app/profile/clareandrews.bsky.social> [First Aider for Mental Health logo][A black background with yellow text Description automatically generated] I aim to read and respond to email within 3 working days, but during busy periods or during/following annual leave my response may take longer. 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