Equine 

Assisted

Learning & Psychotherapy

Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) is an experiential learning technique that facilitates personal growth by teaching social/emotional and life skills through horsemanship.

Exercises with the horses and observation of their behavior provide the basis for reflection and discussion. These activities and discussions improve confidence, self-assurance, verbal and non-verbal communication, focus, mindfulness, and coping strategies.

Mindfully Well

Equine-Assisted Learning/Psychotherapy

Why horses? “Horses have played a significant role throughout human history in areas of work, war, transportation, sport, and recreation. In a therapeutic setting, horses provide a natural opportunity to develop a person’s work ethic, responsibility, assertiveness, communication, and ability to form and maintain healthy relationships.” — The EAGALA Fundamentals Model, 9th Edition

Having a social herd structure, horses have a defined role within their herd, just like humans. Horses, like a lot of beings, have an individual personality that is colorful with varying emotions, such as curiosity, affection, playfulness and even defiance. Because of these commonalities, humans have a plethora of ways to create metaphorical learning opportunities. Being prey animals, horses inherently focus on safety and survival. Humans directly relate with having a need for safety both physically and emotionally. Being able to observe and learn from the horse’s survival responses (fight, flight, freeze) we learn how to better connect to our own verbal/non-verbal reactions/responses and awareness to our environments. This awareness can be connected to ways our clients move forward in relationships with themselves, spouses, children, family, friends, co-workers, and the greater community. A solid sense of accomplishment is attained through resilience and persistence. These skills are learned in an individual way when engaging with horses physically, emotionally, and mentally. Working through fears as horses are powerful and large in size can be directly related to challenging life situations through practice of healthy relationship skills learned in EAL/EAP.

In some cases, just a few sessions of equine therapy can produce improvement. Furthermore, equine therapy reduces anxiety and depression through physiological changes. Studies show that equine-assisted therapy reduces cortisol, the stress hormone. In addition, spending time with horses lowers blood pressure.

The Mindfully Well Collective offers a variety of options in Equine-Assisted Learning including Talk Therapy, Mindfuless Sessions, Group Sessions, Team Building, and Therapeutic Horsemanship for life skills. With a team approach we offer solution-oriented framework; encouraging our clients to explore, overcome challenges, and discover problem-solving skills through ground-based experiences.

Our Practitioners proudly operate under the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning (EAGALA) Model. Since 1999, EAGALA has set the global standard for equine-assisted psychotherapy and personal development. EAGALA trained and certified facilitators at Mindfully Well model the standards with a code of ethics, a style of facilitation, a thought process, and a way of being.

“The EAGALA Model is used to enhance personal development, promote well-being, prevent and treat a range of mental health matters, increase resilience, improve relationships, overcome life challenges, confront fears and blocks, address addictions, and much more.”

- EAGALA, the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association

  • The primary distinctions lie in their objectives, methods, and professional facilitation. The primary focus of equine-assisted therapy (EAL) is on addressing mental health challenges and emotional well-being, while equine-assisted learning (EAL) primarily focuses on educational and personal development goals.

  • In EAP and EAL, clients are offered safe experiences with horses for the purpose of exploring self-experience, exploring experience in relationship, building self-awareness, building awareness of patterns / habits that are no-longer serving clients well, psychological healing and addressing clinical or therapeutic goals.

  • Simple exercise such as petting, observing, grooming, haltering, and leading horses can provide important and meaningful insight to one’s life habits or patterns. Working with horses can teach people how to approach others with respect, compassion, and awareness.

  • As the session is taking place outdoors, consider proper outdoor attire based on current weather conditions. Closed toed shoes are a non negotiable requirement to participate in any equine-assisted services.

Equine Assisted Services

Private 50 minute session $150

Private 80 minute session $215

This session is a private, experiential therapeutic modality. Experiential Learning typically includes tools or activities that help process negative emotions, and move past them. Based on personal goals, this session can include any of the following methods: EAGALA method (described above), Talk Therapy, CBT, DBT, Reiki, Mindfulness Practice, Guided Meditation or Horsemanship Skills.

Group 50 minute session from $215

Group 80 minute session from $300

This session is 2 or more people practicing an experiential therapeutic modality. A group option is helpful, and recommended, for any type of relationship from family dynamic to team building for any career path. Strengthen social skills, team work, willingness to practice compassion, and problem solving skills through group sessions. Group sessions offer all therapeutic modalities available in private sessions.

Sponsor or donate to those in need

*FIRST RESPONDERS *HEALTHCARE WORKERS *AT-RISK CHILDREN *VICTIMS OF DV *VETERANS *ACTIVE DUTY

Mindfully Well Collective offers the option to sponsor someone who can benefit from EAL/EAP but may not have the ability to do so on their own. Sponsoring entails purchasing a private or group session for a chosen person or group.

Sponsorship is not the only option. Mindfully Well Collective graciously accepts donations toward funding a person in need of EAL/EAP. Total donation amount is always used directly toward client sessions. Any amount is greatly appreciated and collected to provide 50 minute sessions to someone in our community who is on our waitlist for EAL/EAP.