Equine Facilitated CBT Group Therapy for Youth Anxiety

The equine-facilitated group therapy normally provided at GallopNYC (Treatment as Usual, TAU)
will be compared to an augmented group program that will include CBT strategies, including
psychoeducation to the child and caregiver about anxiety, coping strategies to use when
anxious, and identifying and addressing dysfunctional thoughts that maintain anxiety.
Seventy-five children between 6 to 17 years of age will be randomized to TAU
(equine-facilitated group therapy), the augmented group therapy that contains CBT strategies,
or wait list control. Outcomes include anxiety symptoms, self-efficacy,receipt of services,
functioning and the child's relationship with the horse.

Inclusion Criteria:

- A child aged 6-17 seeking services for anxiety at Gallop NYC, who (based on the
screener administered by GallopNYC) evidence symptoms of anxiety (as measured by a
score of 2 or more on the GAD 2 item questionnaire) and a minimum functioning score of
51 (as measured by the child global assessment scale)

- Caregivers will also serve as study respondents. To do so, they must meet the
following criteria:

- Primary caregiver/ legal guardian of a child who meets eligibility criteria

- Aged 18 years or older

- English speaking

Providers will serve as study therapists. To do so, they must meet the following criteria:

- PATH-certified provider employed at Gallop NYC

Exclusion Criteria:

- Inability to provide informed consent

- Child does not meet criteria for anxiety symptoms (as measured by a score of 2 or more
on the GAD 2 item questionnaire) and/or does not meet minimum level of functioning
(does not meet a minimum functioning score of 51 as measured by the child global
assessment scale)