I work from home which is a working dairy farm. I have recently started to offer equine facilitated therapy after owning horses for 35 years. I am now an accredited practitioner.
As a method, equine facilitated therapy is used to treat ADHD, autism, depression, anxiety and PTSD as well as major life changes such as grief, divorce and trauma.
Just being around equines can generate a sense of psychological well-being. Many clients like to feel needed by the horse and enjoy carrying out care tasks such as grooming and feeding. Sometimes, I will work with a client by simply talking whilst in the horse’s company or whilst grooming.
If someone enters the horse’s space with a negative attitude, the chances are the horse will not interact. Enter calmly and openly and the horse will be positive. This can help people to reflect on their attitude and how they approach others.
Depending on the needs of the client I can set up an obstacle course for the client to negotiate with the horse. The client will have to interact with the horse and think in new ways in order to succeed.
After the exercise I will talk to the client about how they felt and what they have learnt, regardless of being successful or unsuccessful. This work can also be done in small groups and is ideal for team building.
Horses have an innate ability to mirror the thought and behaviours of others. They can read body language and respond instantly. This encourages clients to be in the moment and self-aware. Equine facilitated therapy is effective in helping people to develop accountability, responsibility, self-confidence, problem solving and communication.
The Facilitators and Team at Garnet Therapeutic Counselling will not create any dangerous situation or interactions and will do everything to ensure safety for all throughout the event, however, we require a disclaimer to be signed prior to the event.
Choosing to work with a counsellor can be a difficult decision, all enquiries will be treated with the strictest confidence.
Tel: 07825 322282
Email: ellen@garnetcounselling.co.uk
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