COACHING THROUGH THE WISDOM OF HORSES
An innovative approach that enhances traditional coaching.
Powerful change takes more than talking.
Powerful change takes more than talking.
EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth & Learning) is an internationally recognized from of equine therapy that uses a team approach that includes:
All the work is done on the ground with the horses front and center, deliberately unhindered and allowed to interact with the client as they wish. In this approach, horses are never ridden. This creates the space for the client, with the support of the professional facilitators, to reflect, project, and make deep connections. It allows for insights and learning.
Horses are highly intuitive and sensitive beings who have a special ability to connect in ways that help you become present-focused, to identify your feelings, and to work through emotional and behavioral barriers without shame or stigma. Horses are large and powerful, and it is hard to ignore their presence - much like a seemingly impossible life issue. As such, horses can provide a metaphor for events or situations in your life.
- a credentialed Mental Health Professional/ Coach;
- a qualified Equine Specialist,
- and horses
All the work is done on the ground with the horses front and center, deliberately unhindered and allowed to interact with the client as they wish. In this approach, horses are never ridden. This creates the space for the client, with the support of the professional facilitators, to reflect, project, and make deep connections. It allows for insights and learning.
Horses are highly intuitive and sensitive beings who have a special ability to connect in ways that help you become present-focused, to identify your feelings, and to work through emotional and behavioral barriers without shame or stigma. Horses are large and powerful, and it is hard to ignore their presence - much like a seemingly impossible life issue. As such, horses can provide a metaphor for events or situations in your life.
HOW IT WORKS
Horses are prey animals, so in order to survive, they instinctively analyze and react to their environment. Horses sense and respond to a person’s intentions, emotions, thoughts, and body language, and so become instant mirrors and non-judgmental feedback mechanisms for humans. Through the experience of observing a horse’s response to their requests and directions, people learn how to communicate more effectively; face their fears; manage their emotions; and become more consistent and congruent within themselves and their actions.
Horses are also social animals with defined roles within a herd. They have distinct personalities, attitudes, and moods. They could be stubborn or they could be playful. In other words, horses are a lot like us. Through observation of herd dynamics and one-on-one interaction with individual horses, people learn new relationship-building skills and become more aware of patterns of thinking and behaving that may be standing in their way.
Horses are powerful animals. It's hard to ignore a horse with their size and presence and we can't easily control them. Interacting with horses helps people reflect and learn how to approach aspects of their lives and relationships, and teaches them how they can face other big or overwhelming things in their lives.
Horses are also social animals with defined roles within a herd. They have distinct personalities, attitudes, and moods. They could be stubborn or they could be playful. In other words, horses are a lot like us. Through observation of herd dynamics and one-on-one interaction with individual horses, people learn new relationship-building skills and become more aware of patterns of thinking and behaving that may be standing in their way.
Horses are powerful animals. It's hard to ignore a horse with their size and presence and we can't easily control them. Interacting with horses helps people reflect and learn how to approach aspects of their lives and relationships, and teaches them how they can face other big or overwhelming things in their lives.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF EQUINE-ASSISTED COACHING
Difficult feelings and situations cannot always be put into words, and sometimes it's better not to try. Horses have an uncanny ability to pick up and mirror back to us aspects of ourselves and our lives. This allows us the opportunity to objectively see our issues and patterns playing out right in front of our eyes. Physically engaging with horses while you are also processing what’s going on in your life, allows you the opportunity to “rewrite” your life stories and move forward. Horses provide a relationship for safe healing; growth and learning to occur, even without verbalizing.
Furthermore, bringing horses into the coaching experience encourages one to be in the present moment, so that you aren’t focusing on the past or worrying about the future, but dealing with what’s going on now. This allows you to look at your life with clarity and groundedness.
Furthermore, bringing horses into the coaching experience encourages one to be in the present moment, so that you aren’t focusing on the past or worrying about the future, but dealing with what’s going on now. This allows you to look at your life with clarity and groundedness.
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TESTIMONIALAs we say in our community - The wisdom you’re looking for is within you, not a book, not another person. They may be a guide, but the wisdom is inside you.
What these horses reveal is what you need to see, the mirror reflection you need to look at in order to get ‘unstuck’. Thank you Dina Ann Cramer for an unforgettable and incredible healing journey. Your ability to hold space to nurture my soul is cherished , valued. Much gratitude for this evening as I close my eyes reflecting on the moment. I will certainly be back for more. Michelle Ashen Founder of Africans United |
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