Frequently Asked Questions
What makes this different from regular talk therapy?
Movement helps release tension and trauma from the body, so walking and stretching and interacting in the farm environment is very beneficial. We can work through emotions and issues in real time, real situations. We can talk as much or as little as you would like but rarely do we just sit and talk, of course there are days for that!
Do we have to actually talk in order to resolve trauma?
Many that have experience trauma, CANNOT talk about their situation; they may even have trouble thinking about it. This is due to the physical responses of the autonomic nervous system. The brain does not know if they situation is currently a threat or just in the past. With Somatic work, we decompress the body and reprogram it to understand that you are safe at the moment and then the memory can be processed and released. With Equine Assisted Therapy, the horse or animal can be the focus. Maybe YOU don’t recognize how you feel, but you can recognize how the horse feels. If the horse is anxious, what should we do for the horse? The client vicariously learns to take care of themselves and recognize their own emotions by doing things for the horse!
Do you have to have have any animal experience in order to work with the animals?
NO! Many of our clients have no, or little horse / animal experience, but it can also benefit people experienced with animals. The techniques we use help build relationships with people and animals and even people who are afraid of animals can work through many issues and develop skill to assist them in becoming healthier and more balanced!
Do you ride horses in therapy?
We may or may not ride in session. This really depends on what we are working on accomplishing. Riding with rhythm, can be very beneficial for decompressing the body. We usually like to do some ground work sessions first to develop the relationship between horse and client so that they can learn to assess and regulate their emotions and the horses before incorporating riding.
Have a Different Question?
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