“To become more self-aware, sometimes you need a friend. Two friends are better. Self-reflection is best done with others,” Simon Sinek concluded in a recently podcast interview with Brené Brown and Adam Grant.
These sentiments are a reflection of how I feel about the benefits of facilitating equine-assisted psychotherapy groups at the farm. Earlier this year, I stood with a group of men in the field together with the horses. I felt a great sense of peace witnessing the connections that were created. The donkeys were engaged as well. Self-awareness in the context of relationship is healing. This was our final session together.
So much is gained from facilitating groups like this one and I was sorry to see this particular group go. It is a privilege to witness the healing journey of another, to hold space while someone shares their story and to offer a safe space for vulnerability to be present. We close the group by writing letters of gratitude to one another. There is laughter and hugs goodbye.
This particular group were clients of Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre. They had embarked on a six week journey of self-awareness together with the herd. Each session had a different focus and activity with the horses. Throughout it all, we wove in the 7 Grandfather Teachings: Truth, Humility, Respect, Wisdom, Bravery, Love and Honesty.
Among the program objectives were:
1) Providing psychoeducation related to the emotional and physical impact of trauma. It is understood that gaining this knowledge may help participants be more aware of their flight/fight/free/appease response to threat/stress and how these responses impact our behaviour.
2) Building trust, increase empathy and compassion for self and others by engaging in relationship with horses to develop non-judgemental bonds that invite enhanced social and emotional intelligence.
3) Increasing personal awareness of healthy boundaries by working in relationship with horses.
4) Increasing and improving interpersonal communication through greater awareness of body language for more effective interpersonal relationships.
5) Using grounding and somatic experiencing to increase awareness of impulsive behaviour and developing greater coping skills.
6) Increasing overall resilience and distress tolerance with grounding and other DBT-based skills.
7) Inviting a personal journey, witnessed by others, back to the body, health and wisdom.
“I didn’t know I needed this as much as I did. I learned a lot about myself from all this and it’s helped me heal a lot more from where I was at,” one participant noted in our closing circle. “I found a part of inner peace in myself I never knew,” another shared. We are fortunate to have such a wonderful herd of horses that have agreed to partner in this way to support others on their healing journey.
We work with a variety of area agencies by offering equine-facilitated psychotherapy to their clients. Group therapy is inherently powerful. Participants realize they are not alone and witness the struggle of others with similar emotions and circumstances. Participants gain empowerment by sharing their experiences with others. Group therapy facilitates the giving and receiving of support. Group experience invites us to share our feelings with others and expressing yourself can be healing. Group therapy can also help you practice interacting with other people in a safe space, while also learning how people communicate has an effect on others.
If you have a group that you would like to see supported by our programming, please reach out. Contact Jennifer Garland at 416-347-3235 or jgarland@themaneintent.ca
