EQUINE THERAPY

Using Horses for Support and Guidance

Exactly what the heck is Equine Therapy or more correctly, Equine Assisted Therapy you may be wondering?

Many years of studying the relationship between humans and horses have led therapists to realize the potential for healing through the use of horses.

Horses communicate with us and with each other using their body language and a few sounds.

What's really interesting is how good they are at observing everything around them and how well they can hear everything - they never miss a thing!
But probably the horses' greatest ability is its super-heightened response to the energy around them. It never fails to amaze me.

Equine Therapy and Equine Assisted Learning use the horse as a tool for psychotherapy in an experiential approach to teaching emotional well being and growth.

Harmony Ranch offers effective Equine Therapy Workshops. See more here.

Horses don't pass judgment and only live in the moment, which means they give us honest and immediate feedback. It's these attributes that help to take people out of their comfort zone and that's where all the learning and in many cases the healing can begin.

Equine Therapy teaches people about themselves. And this type of therapy can be used in so many different ways.

In business it's used for team building. It's also used for personal development.

Equine Assisted Therapy easily reaches out to at risk youth and victims of abuse.

In every situation, Equine Assisted Therapy succeeds because it offers non-threatening challenges, mirroring the client's own internal processes and can especially help hard to reach clients or those stuck in therapy.

Usually participants do not ride the horses. Instead, they focus on groundwork and learning activities with the horses.

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TEAM BUILDING

If there are challenges while participating in the exercises this can reveal patterns of conflict or counter-productive methods of communication that are occurring in their workplace or in their personal lives.

Working through the exercises with the horses provides immediate cause and effect situations.

For some, the biggest "aha" moment happens during the "processing" of the exercise. When the client reflects in his or her own words exactly what happened "out there".

Without any judgment they get to learn about themselves. Their observations and awareness can promote real change from dysfunctional to successful patterns.

For business, communication, problem-solving and creative thinking and many more "soft skills" are strengthened.

HARMONY RANCH provides an exciting and effective Corporate Team Building Program in the Greater Toronto Area.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

WHO CAN BENEFIT?

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

DEPRESSION

ANXIETY

ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER

LOW SELF ESTEEM

...and many more.

In addition, it helps to teach empathy, conflict resolution skills and it increases self-esteem and boosts confidence.

From mental health and human development needs to business and effective management skills, the family, the group or the individual can all experience the horse/human interaction in an environment of learning and self discovery.

To put it simply, these sessions teach us HOW to think instead of WHAT to think.

Some programs that focus on personal development, issues such as enhancing relationships or learning how to get what you want in your life, may take place over a day long or weekend workshop.

Often in business programs, different groups from the same office will come out for a series of workshops designed to create a connected and effective workplace.

In psychotherapy programs the Equine Assisted Therapy is applied as a course of treatments.

LOOK FOR CREDENTIALS

There are certification programs that include training, education, standards of practice, safety and codes of ethics.

Clients MUST ask for qualified and accredited professionals.

This is a new area of treatment and simply being a good horse person or a riding instructor is not enough.

Here at HARMONY RANCH, we have Jasmine Chomsky, MA Therapist, Lead Facilitator as our accredited professional. As well, Saskia Bremmers, Equine Facilitator, Intuitive Coach and owner of the ranch.

As Equine Therapy programs are becoming more and more widely recognized for there effectiveness and sometimes profound results, many services can be fully or partially covered by extended insurance plans.

Unfortunately sometimes the people that Equine Therapy can help the most, such as at risk youth cannot afford the fees.

More funding is required to allow everyone access to this amazing experience.

Horses make unique and authentic learning partners.

That's it for now on Equine Therapy, here's how you get back to the HOME page.

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