Shine for Life CIC @ the Field of Dreams
Equine Therapy
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and Learning is now an accepted form of therapy where horses are used as facilitators in improving the emotional well being of people.
We do this by working in structured sessions on the ground (no horse riding) with a qualified mental health professional, a horse specialist and one or more horses.
The client will be asked to interact with the horses and do specific tasks which will require them to apply certain skills including non-verbal communication, assertiveness, creative thinking, problem-solving and leadership. EAP is a form of experiential learning, where you learn by doing rather than being shown or told what to do. The discussions that occur during and after the activities allow the client to process what happened and how that learning can relate to other areas of life.
We use horses in this work as they are excellent at sensing people’s emotions and feelings and will often mirror these behaviours, providing great reflections which can be clearly seen by the client.
Horses are large and powerful animals, inspiring awe and respect. This creates a natural opportunity for some to overcome fear and develop confidence. The size and power of the horse are naturally intimidating to many people. Accomplishing a task involving the horse, in spite of those fears, creates confidence and provides wonderful metaphors when dealing with other intimidating and challenging situations in life.
Horses are very much like humans in that they are social animals. They have defined roles within their herds. They would rather be with their peers and they have distinct personalities, attitudes and moods. Most importantly horses are honest, with no hidden agenda, which makes them especially powerful messengers.
EAP is a powerful and effective therapeutic approach that has an incredible impact on individuals, families, and groups. EAP addresses a variety of mental health and human development needs including behavioural issues, attention deficit disorder, substance abuse, eating disorders, abuse issues, depression, anxiety, relationship problems and communication needs.
Children and young people
Engaging children and teens in a traditional therapeutic setting can be challenging. We offer a complementary approach, where the horses or ponies become the focus and clients feel less pressure to talk directly to a “therapist”. We are able to direct their attention to the animals and observe their reactions and responses, highlighting any reflections of their own behaviour and identifying opportunities for learning and growth.
We work from ages 8 upwards, either referred by the family or via social services or CAHMS. Clients have included those on the Autistic spectrum, neurodiversity, looked after children suffering from abuse and neglect. Teens with social anxiety, self-harm, eating disorders, bereavement and suicide ideation. We work with schools to deliver our life skills program to improve confidence, boundaries, emotional regulation, teamwork,
If appropriate we encourage the engagement of the family and can design programs that look at the holistic nature of the family dynamic and seek to improve relationships for sustained emotional wellbeing of all concerned.
Adults
We offer individual sessions of equine assisted psychotherapy, with two facilitators , including one qualified psychotherapist.
You can self refer, where we suggest booking an initial assessment session of an hour, then we can agree a tailored program to best suit your needs. Please contact us and we can arrange a call to discuss.
Equine assisted coaching and personal development sessions are also available on a one to one basis.
Please contact us to find out more.
Teams & Leadership
We can offer tailored days out for your team at the Field of Dreams, including a team wellbeing check, based on our 8 Ways methodology and various activities for experiential learning, improving team communication and effectiveness.
Volunteering days and corporate entertainment style events are also possible at the Field. Please contact us to arrange a callback to discuss.
Leading and working with horses on the ground is a highly effective way to develop your leadership skills. You receive instant feedback from the horses, which gives you the opportunity to experience the impact you have on others, and learn how to bring out the best in others, and yourself, to inspire and follow.
Agency Referrals & Schools
All our practitioners have enhanced DBS checks. Please contact us to request a copy of our policies and procedures, risk assessments and referral forms, as required.
