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Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)

Since the beginning of written history, horses have been known for their ability to help people improve the quality of their lives. They have shared their great physical strength to pull farmer's plows and passenger carriages between towns. They have charged into battle with warriors on their backs and equal courage in their hearts. They have entertained large crowds with their elegance and beauty in performances of every kind. For hundreds of years, horses have been known as a trusted teammate for riders who take them into competitions in various equestrian sports. Most recently, they  have been recognized for their ability to facilitate personal and professional growth opportunities in those seeking a deeper understanding of themselves.

Inward Bound provides a safe environment where these amazing four-legged life coaches can freely interact with clients and empower them to reflect on their own behaviors or reactions in order to reach a heightened level of self-awareness. From this place, new tools can be learned and then applied to life outside of the equine arena.

     First, I would like to introduce the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA). It is an organization comprised of both equine specialists and mental health care professionals who work together in teams alongside horses to facilitate psychotherapy sessions (Equine Assisted Psychotherapy-EAP). Horses are natural therapists who live in the present moment and give immediate, unfiltered and honest feedback to those around them. They have provided this feedback and filled this role since the beginning of their existence. It is just recently, however, that a non-profit organization has formed to facilitate this communication exchange in a safe environment with professional guidelines and practices that are strictly followed by its certified members.

     People treat horses the way they treat people, and the same communication patterns used to gain cooperation with people are also used with horses. The difference is that horses always act the way they really feel and people often hide their true feelings. Horses have the innate ability to sense people’s true feelings and react to that energy. It is impossible to hide the human soul from the senses of the horse.

     Inward Bound Equine Assisted Learning Center, LLC. had its grand opening in May 2005. Our initial target audience was in the corporate sector, and now we have expanded to include couples, families, military personnel and teens. We have experienced an amazing response from our clients and the impact of even just one session provides continuous reminders of the new desired behaviors our clients wish to create in their lives.

     We are actively seeking a qualified psychotherapist or counselor to join our staff. Once that addition is on board and certified through EAGALA, we will also be offering Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP). That team will be comprised of a horse(s), an equine specialist, a mental health care professional, and the client(s).

• This is not a riding program. It is a hands-on experiential learning modality that allows natural interaction between humans and horses. Clients are given a task to complete that requires approaching and communicating with another animal, another culture, another species. No instructions are given on how to complete the task and no time limit is given. The client has the freedom to decide how to proceed while being observed by the facilitators. At appropriate points during and at the conclusion of each exercise, the facilitators will ask the clients questions about the experience. The answers provide amazing insight into how clients see themselves and how they operate when faced with certain situations or decisions. It provides a unique opportunity for the client to become more self aware and to recognize the often self-imposed rules that may be preventing success (as they define it) in their endeavors.

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• There are endless ways to apply this approach to personal, professional and human development. Every session is driven by the individual clients and how the interaction with the horses naturally unfolds. Therefore, each session is unique and the facilitators must be able to flex their style as well as provide appropriate feedback relative to the ever changing situation at hand. Each day is as exciting and challenging to the staff as it is to our clients. 

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• The spirit of the horse can help grow the human spirit!

• Better understanding of themselves

• Spiritual healing  

• Team building for families, groups, councils or leagues

• Family counseling sessions

• Leadership training

• Improved communication skills

• Increased respect for all people and animals

• Motivational tools

• Increased self-esteem and body awareness

• Improved human relationships

• Role definition in families, groups, teams or community

• Career counseling  

• Stress Management

• Parents seeking deeper understanding of how to influence their kids

• Those in recovery from trauma, loss or substance abuse

• Customized programs to meet anyone’s needs

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