Protocol development and perceived outcomes of equine-assisted psychotherapy for stress management and leadership resilience

Sustainable organization management entails developing strategies that help to keep employees well and resilient, and the organization effective over time. Stress, burnout, and performance-induced pressure problems strong enough to erode psychological health confront high-pressure financial sectors. This study piloted a semi-structured interview protocol to capture employees’ perceived outcomes of Equine-Assisted psychotherapy (EAP), with emphasis on stress management, resilience, and workplace functioning. This study used a qualitative research design with a purposive sample and a semi-structured interview protocol to explore how EAP support employee stress management and enhance leader resilience. The instrument was developed and validated through several stages, including item development, expert review, pre-testing, pilot testing, and thematic analysis. Thematic analysis revealed six interconnected themes: Stress Contributor, Animal-Assisted Therapy, Personal Insights and Improvement, Therapeutic Process, Challenges and Obstacles, and Job Performance. These themes reflect participants’ perceptions of how EAP may influence self-awareness, coping, and workplace functioning. The study demonstrates the feasibility of a structured interview protocol to capture perceived outcomes of EAP in workplace contexts. While the small sample limits generalizability, the findings provide a foundation for future research exploring EAP as a workplace wellness intervention and its potential integration into organizational resilience strategies.