Community Partnerships and Contract Services
An EAP session is facilitated by a qualified mental health professional and an EAGALA certified equine professional; either can be provided by Freedom Reins. Therapists, in private practice, are encouraged to partner with our staff and co-facilitate sessions with their clients. Previous experience with horses is not required. The ability to understand and observe the bonding between a horse and a client and relate to the metaphors of this approach will enhance the therapeutic process in the session.
Freedom Reins LLC is excited to be included in the therapeutic service offerings for the residents of Candle Light Vision Corporation, a residential program for females ages 12-17 in Neenah, Wisconsin.
Since July 2006, the girls have been piling out of their van on a weekly basis eager to engage with the horses here at the Freedom Reins facility. The fresh air, country setting and abundance of animals creates an alternative learning environment where the girls feel safe discovering new ways to deal with old problems.
Read what one case manager from Candle Light Vision had to say about her experience with equine assisted therapy:
"My most valued adventures and accomplishments have been through my experiential work experience. I have climbed, instructed, and summited numerous mountains and rock faces in both North and South America. I have kayaked the coast of Florida, twice. I have navigated and lived in the Florida Everglades. I have been blessed with many amazing experiences, but through Candlelight Vision Corp. I have been able to expand on my experience in a very new and challenging way.
It is my pleasure to add Equine Therapy to my experience list. I have grown up around horses, but horse therapy offers a perspective I never knew existed. I have been co-facilitating this group with Cindy since July of 2006, and it has allowed me to interact and learn more about the young women of Candlelight in a very different way. I have observed "tough" girls become "soft and delicate." Girls who identify themselves as angry become light hearted, happy, and brave as they face the array of challenges the horses offer. While they are learning on an individual level, they are also learning to work together as a team. Team building has taught them the value of communication and trust. These amazing animals are teaching these girls that healthy relationships can exist in their lives, and they can be active participants.
When the girls accomplish tasks and challenges they are feeling what it is like to have success. Case in point: one of our young ladies has for so long presented herself as "tough" and "bad," never allowing herself the feeling of pride. Only after working with "Ernie," the biggest horse, has she observed in herself how special she is. She carries herself fearlessly into every challenge and her courage is contagious. She and "Ernie" have a relationship built on trust that is like none I have ever seen before. The horse will seek her out, follow her, and without speaking or touching they will accomplish the task.
On a weekly basis I am privileged to observe these young women feeling empowered and proud. No matter how many summits I have reached, I have never experienced the beauty that I do in watching a young woman realize her abilities to accomplish something of which she never believed she was capable. And for the first time seeing her hold her head up, allow herself to smile and like what she has just done.
These horses are able to reach out and connect with these girls in a way that people have and can not, and it is awesome to witness. My many thanks to Candlelight Vision and all of its supporters. Thank you for allowing CVC's young women, and myself, experiences that we will carry with us forever." – Heidi Friedrich
As an organization devoted to facilitating personal growth and development for people from all parts of the community, Freedom Reins LLC will partner with your agency or organization to enhance your efforts to reach our common goal: providing innovative, effective therapy services. Clients seeking therapy respond differently to a variety of therapeutic approaches. Equine assisted therapy offers a unique alternative to traditional talk therapy. The theoretical foundations incorporated into equine assisted therapy include Cognitive Behavioral or Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, Reality Therapy, Gestalt and Brief Solution Focused Therapy. Equine assisted therapy is perfect for demonstrating the essentials of systems therapy or family therapy because of the social model horses represent in their natural herd environment.
Contact Freedom Reins to discuss how you can add equine assisted therapy to your programming.
For more information or a free demonstration,
Contact us at cindy@freedom-reins.com
