The aim of this qualitative study is to explore what Marte meo-therapists have experienced working with the Marte meo parenting supporting method. Seven therapists have been interviewed through semi-structured qualitative interviews. Antonovsky’s framework of Sense of Coherence was applied in the analysis of the results (Antonovsky, 2005). The main findings of the study illustrate that the Marte meo-method is experienced to have benefits for both the families and the therapists maintaining a high level of sense of coherence. According to the therapists the parents got a better knowledge of themselves and their children contributing to an enhanced relationship, better communication, and interplay. The Marte meo-method was perceived as a helpful tool allowing skills development among staff and “makes the job a lot of fun” – as one of them had said. However, several respondents experienced a lack of managerial support and leadership which reduced the sense of coherence.

I Sverige lider många personer av långvarig psykisk ohälsa, vilket tyder på att de behandlingsmetoder som först och främst erbjuds idag inte hjälper alla i samhället. Syftet med denhär studien är därför att lyfta kunskap om alternativa behandlignsmetoder med fokus på hästunderstödda insatser. Studien syftar till att utifrån behandlares perspektiv förstå hästarnas roll i hästunderstödda insatser och förstå vad hästunderstödda insatser har för betydelse i behandling av klienters psykiska hälsa. Datainsamlingsmetoden för studien har varit semistrukturerade intervjuer med sex stycken behandlare som arbetar med hästunderstödda insatser. Det insamlade meterialet har analyserats genom en tematisk analys för att presentera resultat och dess analys på ett tydligt sätt. Resultatet av intervjuerna vidade att hästen beskrevs som varm, lugn och respktfull, vilket på olika sätt ansågs vara bidragande faktorer till att hästunderstödda insatser anses vara en effektiv behadnlingsmetod. Vidare beskrivs flera faktorer i hästunderstödda insatser som bidragande till behandlingens effektfullhet, bland anant en ökning av självförtroende, självkänsla och stressreducering var faktorer som beskrevs som bidragande till klienternas psykiska välbefinnande. Det framkommer också att behandlarna arbetar på olika sätt med hästunderstödda insatser bereoende på den enskilda individens målsättning, således är samtliga behandlare överens om att hästar har visats ha en betydande positiv inverkan på klienter som lider av psykisk ohälsa. / In Sweden many people suffer from long-term mental illness, which suggests that the treatment methods that are primarily offered today doesn’t help everyone in their society. The purpose of this study is therefore to lift new knowledge about alternative treatments with focus on equine-assisted intervention. The study aims from the therapist’s perspective to understand the horses’ role in the equine-assisted intervention and to understand the meaning of the treatment for the clients’ mental illness. The data collection method for the study has been semi-structured interviews with six therapists who work with equine-assisted interventions. The collected material has been analyzed through a thematic analysis in order to present the results and analysis in a clear way. The results of the interviews showed that the horse was described as warm, calm, and respectful, which were considered in various ways to be contributing factors to equine-assisted interventions being considered an effective treatment method. Furthermore, several factors in equine-assisted intervention are described as contributing to the effectiveness of the treatment, including an increase in self-confidence, self-esteem and stress reduction are factors that contribute to clients psychological well-being. It also emerges that therapists work very differently with equine-assisted interventions depending on the individual they are working with, but all therapists agree that horses have shown to have a significant positive impact on clients suffering from mental illness.