The Denim ‘n Dirt Blog

“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man”-Winston Churchhill

Sometimes, the only therapy that matters is the kind you can touch and feel. There is a certain kind of communication in “touch” that cannot be achieved in “talk therapy”. Touch is known to provide emotional and physical healing for many people. Because of our litigious society, “touch” is not a typical experience in traditional “inside office” psychotherapy. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy can add this very important experience to the therapeutic process. Horses (being very social and herd animals) are natural caregivers and respond in an empathic way to people’s pain. This, in turn, helps people heal from grief, trauma, depression and anxiety.

“Where ever man has left his footprint in the long ascent from barbarism to civilization, we will find the hoof print of the horse beside it.”-John Moore

“Psychoanalysis is the study of self-deception.”-Sigmund Freud

“I’ve always thought that some of the things people suffer most from are the things they tell themselves that are not true.-“Elvin Semrad MD

I can second each of  these quotes whole heartedly!  Therapy day after therapy day, I have listened to people tell lies to themselves about “how they are bad” or inadequate and feel horrible about their very “human-ness”. People incorporate self-hate and psychically degrading messages about themselves-not even knowing where these messages originated; they just think it is the truth. Often people just feel “blah”, “shutdown” or they just hurt and may not even feel like living (cause they just want the pain to go away) , do not know why and often are unable to “decode” the messages they are telling themselves. Decoding the messages and realigning one to the TRUTH is the process of therapy. Getting your truthful “narrative” straight and processing your feelings (within a trusted relationship) about the “details ” is the process of effective therapy leading to true mental health.

This phenomenon of “shaming”  is one of the key “non-truths” that leads to depression and anxiety-leading to all sorts of relationship problems-friendships, marriage, parenting, work problems and on and on. Often times, though, what we tell ourselves has long gone out of our conscious states and resides deep within our unconscious minds yet to be “dug up”! It’s like being in the dark; if you can’t see that hole when you are walking along, you are likely to fall into it and trip-falling flat on your face!

Because horses are so remarkably “in-tuned” to their environment (and have great eyesight in the dark, by the way!), they help us  to see quickly compared to “in office” therapy. Moreover, we are using ALL OUR SENSES in the arena of  EAP. IN OFFICE therapy is the traditional way of doing therapy (which I respect and do, of course) but Equine Assisted Therapy brings an array of resources and potential to the “therapy hour.” We have the nature element of being outside (and moving so kinetics are involved as well) in addition to extremely astute co-therapists! All the senses (except for taste!) are employed in helping our clients learn and grow-visual (sight), auditory (we still talk and listen), tactile (touch) ,olfactory (smell) and kinetics (movement).  Did I mention that we also have 2 other pair of eyes helping us out? Our MFT intern and Equine Specialist each are professionals adding to the “healing process.”

EAP  is a new and very PROGRESSIVE type of therapy.  HORSES TELL THE TRUTH-that is all they know and all they can show. They can only be in the HERE AND NOW of what IS with YOU. The horses (and donkeys by the way) are the epitome of MINDFULNESS!  This is why Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is so powerful. It is like watching a live play of YOUR NARRATIVE-the issues and whatever you bring to the session-“good and bad” all show up. You choose only to see what you can tolerate at that point in time much like in office therapy but lots of the issues tend to be more difficult to ignore. With horses, TRUTH REIGNS and emotional health begins. I am very excited to provide this type of therapy to my patients.

EAP healing involves all the senses but a HEART to HEART talk always touches us at the core…and brings healing.

One of the beauties of Equine Assisted Growth and Learning is that it is both VISUAL (see it), ENGAGING EVERY SENSE (see it and own it), PROBLEM SOLVING (a chance to think through and do something different) and TRY OUT the NEW SOLUTION.  You can be physically active or you can sit down and wait for the horses/donkeys to come to you. There are SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES with EAP-one of the best types of  LEARNING AND GROWTH that I have experienced in all my years of clinical practice. With all that can be achieved in using EAP for learning and growth, I KNOW this type of therapy can effect peoples lives (decrease suffering and increase emotional/life skills) in a very significant and positive way-making this world a better world.

Welcome to our new team of co- therapists! Miniature donkeys-playful, love able, and super smart! Come and experience these wonderful therapists.

Women’s Retreat: May 18. 9am to 12pm. Scholarships Available! Call: 626-792-8922 x15

What a session today! Our client was talking about boundaries with a key relationship in his life- and sure enough one of the horses drew a line in the sand with her nose as we were talking about the boundary this client was working on! (I was astounded and by now, I should not be but I continue to be astounded by how equines read the situation.) Our client, who was worried about this unresponsive person (represented by the horse that  had been lying down for 45 minutes already), role played how he would want to present his concerns in a “contained way” (i.e,-not overly emotional or accusatory) by presenting the laying down horse (unresponsive) with a round, high sided rubber bowl. The horse pulled the bowl toward herself, sniffed into it for a minute and then got up and moved!!  The client felt significantly informed having figured out the best way to go about this, empowered and encouraged – by presenting your concerns in a “contained way”, you could get some movement!      Good job everyone…

Big Concerns or Little Concerns…we help you address them all at Denim ‘n Dirt EAGL!