Psychological Services incorporating Equine, Nature and Canine therapies
How can a connected relationship with the horse help the client heal? The answer lies deep within the mammalian brain, in the brain’s limbic system and its body-based partner, the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The limbic system is a set of related structures found in the mid-brain of humans and other mammals. It is located between the … Read more
Horses have been shown to be able to distinguish between angry and happy human facial expressions. Psychologists studied how 28 horses reacted to seeing photographs of positive versus negative human facial expressions. When viewing angry faces, horses looked more with their left eye, a behaviour associated with perceiving negative stimuli. Their heart rate also increased … Read more
A growing number of therapists are swapping consultation rooms for corrals and using horses to heal people with mental health conditions. Equine psychotherapists are qualified mental health practitioners trained to facilitate sessions with clients and horses. Equine therapy is based on the premise that horses help people express themselves more openly and honestly. Therapists also … Read more
What is My Attachment Style and What does it mean in my Relationships ? What is Attachment? Attachment is a special emotional relationship that involves an exchange of comfort, care, and pleasure. The roots of research on attachment began with Freud’s theories about love, but another researcher is usually credited as the father of attachment … Read more
Equine-assisted learning (EAL) is an experiential modality which utilizes horses to provide a unique learning experience for personal growth. Research by Damon et al. (Appl Dev Sci 7:119–128, 2003) suggests a positive relationship between hope and positive developmental trajectories. Hagen et al. (Am J Orthopsychiatr 75:211–219, 2005) showed hope to be a protective factor associated … Read more