The Natural Evolution of the Horse-Human Bond
Mindfulness in Everyday Life
May 19 10am-4pm
Seeing With the Heart
July 13 4pm-8pm &
July 14 10am-4pm
Mindfulness in Everyday Life
September 15 10am-4pm
Finding Your Path
October 5 4pm-8pm &
October 6 10am-4pm
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James had the chance to share ideas with Olympic rider & coach, dressage competitor, author and motivational speaker Jane Savoie about Equine Energetix.
Click here to listen in on their conversation.
Natural Awakenings magazine article
"Tapping Equine Wisdom for Human Development"
"South Salem Therapist Fosters the Horse-Human Connection."
Featured in The North County News!
Grounded on time-tested psychological principles and informed by a Zen Buddhist philosophy, psychotherapeutic techniques are blended with equine activities to assist in the development of authenticity, compassion, empathy, intention and mindfulness. As a result, clients can enjoy deeper insight, more effective stress management, and enhancement of self-confidence and esteem.
Whether the client is interested in deeper self-knowledge or wishes to target specific goals such as career change, improving intimate relationships, or even enhancing riding performance, the licensed psychotherapists and horse professionals at Equine Energetix can assist with personal development for individuals or couples, life coaching or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) (a brief treatment model that accelerates adaptive resolution to difficult life issues).
Equine Energetix can also help businesses enhance productivity and morale with team-building workshops in a supportive, nurturing, and fun environment.
We also offer services for horses including Reiki treatment, trans-species communication and Equine Bilateral Corrective Experience (EBCE), a treatment utilizing some of the core components of EMDR combined with Emotional Freedom Therapy (EFT).
Why Horses?
Throughout the ages, the relationship between people and horses has grown and developed in response to current events and human needs. Many of the strides of modern civilization were dependent upon horses taking us there, whether as beast of burden, mode of transportation. We have interdependently evolved, creating a mutual reliance that infuses many aspects of our contemporary existence.
History and myth are filled with stories about people on their horses, from Chiron the majestic centaur who cured himself of a deadly wound and then educated others in the practice of the healing arts to contemporary stories like Black Beauty or Hidalgo.
It seems that myths, legends and spiritual beliefs reflect or try to explain the sense that we humans have when we interact with the horse--that we are in the presence of the Divine.
Although their place in our
contemporary culture has changed, horses are flexible, responsive and
resilient beings who continue to relate to us in powerful ways.
Equine Energetix: The Natural Evolution of the Horse-Human Bond.
Because of our ancient relationship with horses and what they inspire in us, the work of personal growth and exploration begins from a comfortable and fun place. Clients who might be disinterested in traditional approaches can benefit from the trust that the horse inspires in equine-interactive therapy.
But there's more to it...
Psychologically speaking, the horse functions as an immediate "mirror" for the client, one that allows the client to view her own projections and transferences, and perceive, from an external perspective, her own psyche and its unique functioning. In equine-interactive therapy and learning, the client has the ability to work with a biofeedbacklike process to witness how her behaviors impact those around her.
Survival in the wild depends on the equine’s ability to react swiftly to cues in its environment. With its nearly 360-degree vision, the horse is physically engineered to be able to observe and respond to information around it. The greater its ability to identify subtle changes in its surroundings, the more fit the horse is for survival. As a prey animal, the horse that startles or reacts to changes in its environment--such as the sudden appearance of a lawn mower where there was a picnic table the day before--is, in terms of survival, the smarter or "fitter" horse.
As a herd animal, the horse is also able to communicate with its herdmates in ways that may not be immediately apparent to the human eye. The angle of the ears, the curve of posture, the twitch of muscle or swish of a tail conveys information between members of the herd. Here again, their very existence is predicated on the accuracy and swiftness of these communications.
In this way, the horse has evolved into a startlingly accurate mirror. The client’s emotional state is instantly reflected by the horse, even when that state is not immediately apparent to the client herself. As a mirror, the horse allows for greater objectivity and inspires great trust.
At Equine Energetix we utilize the horse's uncanny perception to assist in personal growth and the development of insight for our clients in a variety of ways.
Sometimes called Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT) OR Equine-Facilitated Growth and Learning (EFG/EFL) recent media stories have drawn our attention to the powerful therapeutic effects of work with horses. Here is a sampling:
There are many programs focused on helping veterans deal with the effects of war, both emotional and physical. Read about one program here.
The New York Times reported on ways in which equine assisted psychotherapy was helping students with learning and emotional issues.
Counselors, psychologists and medical doctors share their experiences in using equine-interactive therapy and learning in a new book, "Harnessing the Power of Equine Assisted Counseling: Adding Animal Assisted Therapy to Your Practice".
Claire Dorotik's blogs on PsychCentral provide interesting, educational and well-written articles on the subject of equine-interactive therapy and learning.
