Ballarat Equine Assisted Psychotherapy

Ballarat Equine Assisted Psychotherapy

The focus of this psychotherapy and counselling, as in room-based psychotherapy, is to support and explore therapeutic change and self-actualisation for a broad range of client needs. The client needs and struggles are as diverse as for those clients seeking room-based psychotherapy. Sessions and process are utilised with clients exploring personal and spiritual growth, trauma and abuse, depression, anxiety, addictions, attachment disorders, personality disorders/traits, children with a range of needs and disorders, groups, couples, families.
Sessions occur in a safe and natural environment, such as a paddock, menage, round-yard with a practitioner. There may be one or many horses participating in the session. After an initial check in and initial assessment of the clients needs and issues, the client is offered a relational experience with the horse/s that is specific to the needs /issues presented. The client is offered some clear guidelines about the process, the horses, and supported in ways that are appropriate.

WHY HORSES?
Horses are beautiful, intelligent, sensitive and strong animals. People are often attracted to horses beauty and size, as a literal and symbolic representation of beauty, power, expression and freedom. This can illicit or evoke strong feelings and responses and unconscious feelings and needs, then available for therapeutic attention and processing. Sometimes strong feelings like fear/panic, sadness/grief and anger/rage can become available for the first time for therapeutic processing.

Relating with horses and accomplishing a task or activities with horses can encourage the development of skills and values that promote emotional health, ie patience, fairness, commitment, emotional congruency, relaxation and good breathing, clear communication, care and slowing down, firmness and determination, good and consistent boundaries. These activities with horses and the skills required can be further integrated and explored with clients.
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