Equine-assisted services can come in many forms. The terminology can be confusing, even for those in this industry. But, as the name implies, it is services that partner with horses. I will focus on what is offered here at Sole to Soul Horsemanship. I want to distinguish between EAL and EAP to help educate anyone reading this.
Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) is an experiential learning approach that promotes life skills development for educational, professional, and personal goals through interactions with equines. (This includes the individual sessions with Pixie and the collaborative work offering Healing Touch energy practice.)
Clients have the opportunity to:
• Learn how the horse's nervous system can engage in fight, flight, freeze, and fawn, just like the human nervous system.
• Become more aware of non-verbal communication and how that impacts connection with others.
• Practice being present and ways to regulate.
• Gain a heightened awareness of their environment.
• Practice repair when there is a rupture in the relationship.
• Look at patterns of behavior through more self-awareness.
• Realize that regardless of the task or activity, a connected relationship is always the goal.
• Build self-confidence and self-esteem.
• Experience humility, compassion, and challenge to support self-growth.
It is important to emphasize that equine-assisted therapy must involve a trained, licensed professional. For equine-assisted psychotherapy, a licensed mental health professional must be present in the sessions.
For this to happen here at STSH, Pixie will partner with a licensed mental health professional since she is not. She is, however, trained as a trauma-informed equine professional to partner with therapists and horses in sessions. Why is that important? Equine professionals who are not trauma-informed could unintentionally harm clients. Just because someone works with horses does not mean they are trained to be in a psychotherapy session.
Any EAP sessions will be led by a therapist. Pixie will give the info of the partnering therapist to give more detail on what to expect in sessions.
