.jpg)
What is EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY?Equine Assisted Therapy is a specialized therapy for Humans using the Horse as a "co-therapist" in the session. Its origins date back to the early 1900s, but in recent times with the latest evidence based research and the subsequent growing evidence of sucessful outcomes and benefits for adults and children, this therapy is growing in popularity and indeed setting the stage for a respected and professional model of therapy around the globe.
Equine Assisted Therapy sessions and programs at Horses Empowering Humans are based close to Geelong Victoria and provide specialised and professional therapy & psycotherapy for adults and children for a complex variety of emotional, behavioral and mental health disorders, as well as life challenges.Equine assisted Therapy and Psychotherapy is becoming a strong evidence base of being of benefit to Adults, Adolescents and Children with a range of mental health problems, including: depression, anxiety, panic disorder, sexual and domestic abuse, Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, dissociative disorders, , addictions, eating disorders, work and relationship issues, co-dependency, family and relationship conflict, life stage adjustment and transitions, grief, loss & separation, ASD Spectrum, ADH Disorder, behavioural problems, sexuality, Spirituality and existential issues.Therapy sessions also draw on the Equine Assisted Learning models to assist clients in reintegration and developing confidence and life skills which support the therapy and recovery process.
What is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy?Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP), is a more specialised therapy that explores and assists clients to become aware of belief systems and emotional blocks or patterns that were formed in earlier childhood or adult experiences that are unconsciously playing out in current patterns in their lives.Equine assisted Therapy/Psycotherapy has a strong evidence base of being of benefit to Adults, Adolescents and Children with a range of mental health problems. The pioneers of this therapy wrote the first accounts of this remarkable phenomenon of how horses have an uncanny ability to assist in uncovering and releasing blocked or suppressed emotion/trauma and assist clients to work through childhood and past traumas... bringing unresolved internal conflicts to the surface and assisting with processing and healing.
How do Horses assist in Human Therapy ?
“Horses lead an uncomplicated life, which is why they are so therapeutic for complex humanity”
The Equine species have a social order in a herd not dissimilar to humans. Each have their unique personalities attachment styles and behaviours and respond to humans accordingly.Being a prey animal they a have a flight and fight reflex and share similarities in their emotional brain( limbic system) as humans.
Horses are natural therapists and their interactions with humans provide honest feedback. They can see right through us: our personality, beliefs, motives emotions, relationship and contact styles and behaviours. They can recognise and decipher any persons attempt to cover up what is really going on right now in their mind and life..They have acutely accurate discernment skills and are able to detect exactly how a person is feeling and what their motives are. Horses dont suffer from Denial! and they also do not judge or hold grudges.They see it as it is and tell it how it is just by their responses..which is why they are the specialists in putting a mirror up in front of peoples resistance to the truth or change. Horses can display and evoke emotion and compassion with clients providing an intimate space for emotional processing and grief as well as responding to relationship and communication styles. This creates an honest environment for exploring relationship patterns and provides a safe platform and clever feedback mechanism for experiencing changes in emotional and behavioural patterns while in interaction with the horse. Horses are very grounded and only live in the present moment. They have a special ability to mirror human emotions and have a social awareness similar to humans. Interaction with the herd assists clients in experiencing new insight and developing awareness, confidence building, safe and respectful boundaries, self esteem and social skills.Much research evidence has been produced on this and how equines can assist and empower humans to learn and heal and become grounded emotionally and socially.
What is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy?Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP), is a more specialised therapy that explores and assists clients to become aware of belief systems and emotional blocks or patterns that were formed in earlier childhood or adult experiences that are unconsciously playing out in current patterns in their lives.Equine assisted Therapy/Psycotherapy has a strong evidence base of being of benefit to Adults, Adolescents and Children with a range of mental health problems. The pioneers of this therapy wrote the first accounts of this remarkable phenomenon of how horses have an uncanny ability to assist in uncovering and releasing blocked or suppressed emotion/trauma and assist clients to work through childhood and past traumas... bringing unresolved internal conflicts to the surface and assisting with processing and healing.
How do Horses assist in Human Therapy ?
“Horses lead an uncomplicated life, which is why they are so therapeutic for complex humanity”
The Equine species have a social order in a herd not dissimilar to humans. Each have their unique personalities attachment styles and behaviours and respond to humans accordingly.Being a prey animal they a have a flight and fight reflex and share similarities in their emotional brain( limbic system) as humans.
Horses are natural therapists and their interactions with humans provide honest feedback. They can see right through us: our personality, beliefs, motives emotions, relationship and contact styles and behaviours. They can recognise and decipher any persons attempt to cover up what is really going on right now in their mind and life..They have acutely accurate discernment skills and are able to detect exactly how a person is feeling and what their motives are. Horses dont suffer from Denial! and they also do not judge or hold grudges.They see it as it is and tell it how it is just by their responses..which is why they are the specialists in putting a mirror up in front of peoples resistance to the truth or change. Horses can display and evoke emotion and compassion with clients providing an intimate space for emotional processing and grief as well as responding to relationship and communication styles. This creates an honest environment for exploring relationship patterns and provides a safe platform and clever feedback mechanism for experiencing changes in emotional and behavioural patterns while in interaction with the horse. Horses are very grounded and only live in the present moment. They have a special ability to mirror human emotions and have a social awareness similar to humans. Interaction with the herd assists clients in experiencing new insight and developing awareness, confidence building, safe and respectful boundaries, self esteem and social skills.Much research evidence has been produced on this and how equines can assist and empower humans to learn and heal and become grounded emotionally and socially.
What to expect in an Equine Assisted Therapy Session An initial assesment will be made with you either on the phone or at the start of the session to assess and discuss your needs or requirements. Clients do not need to have any previous knowledge of horses or horse behaviour to attend therapy.
Sessions are confidential and conducted with a Professional Registered Counselor and Health Practitioner who is trained in Equine Assisted Therapy and Psycotherapy, experienced with horses and has a firm foundation of the equine “language” and how equines can assist humans in self development.
Equine Assisted Therapy is practiced around the horse’s environment.This creates the specialised “office” that makes this therapy so unique and successful- especially for children and those that like to be among nature, fresh air and the natural environment for the horse. Traditional "room based" time during the session can also be incorporated as well as for ongoing therapy sessions if the client needs further follow up and support
During the session the client is invited to participate in an interaction or activity with the horse.This may include activities eg: grooming, leading, meeting the herd, round pen and liberty work, led ridden activity or simply being around the horses and allowing the wisdom and emotional connenctivity of the horse and client to promote insight or a new way of percieving a behaviour, belief or emotion. The clients safety and emotional well being are paramount and the session is conducted in a professional, supportive and safe environment where the client gains awareness of their emotional, sensory and behavioural transference during their interaction with equines. The client is not forced in to any activity where they do not feel comfortable and the therapist is there at all times to support the process. The priority is to ensure that the client feels in control of their experience. Many people do have fear of horses , particulary because they are large flight animals. The horses used for therapy are quiet and suitable for therapy purposes.
Equine assisted therapy can be a brief therapy or can be a longer psychotherapy process-particulary with trauma survivors who may have a long history of inner patterns ,beliefs and triggers that prevent them from moving forward in recovery.
During the session the client is invited to participate in an interaction or activity with the horse.This may include activities eg: grooming, leading, meeting the herd, round pen and liberty work, led ridden activity or simply being around the horses and allowing the wisdom and emotional connenctivity of the horse and client to promote insight or a new way of percieving a behaviour, belief or emotion. The clients safety and emotional well being are paramount and the session is conducted in a professional, supportive and safe environment where the client gains awareness of their emotional, sensory and behavioural transference during their interaction with equines. The client is not forced in to any activity where they do not feel comfortable and the therapist is there at all times to support the process. The priority is to ensure that the client feels in control of their experience. Many people do have fear of horses , particulary because they are large flight animals. The horses used for therapy are quiet and suitable for therapy purposes.
Equine assisted therapy can be a brief therapy or can be a longer psychotherapy process-particulary with trauma survivors who may have a long history of inner patterns ,beliefs and triggers that prevent them from moving forward in recovery.