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Equine Assisted
Healing Programs
Using equine for curative, nurturing or life-enhancing programs is
not a new phenomenon.
 Equine Assisted Healing is an established, research-supported,
outcome based, and viable supplement to traditional therapy in
healthcare. Equine are also successfully integrated into
professional development or team building strategies.
Generally most individuals experience benefits in
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Memory and mental stimulation
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Coping skills to regulate
anxiety and fear
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Trust building and social
interaction
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Tactile stimulation
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Decreased impulsivity
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Self-confidence and mastery
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Safe and supportive enjoyment
No Previous
Experience Required.
Our programs are not intended to advance an individual's riding
skills. The programs are not about riding horses, but about
therapeutic activities that take place on the ground under the
guidance of an equine specialist.
Supplement to
Traditional Therapy
At
Spirit of Eight our objective is to provide skilled and
compassionate client or patient care, utilizing one of the most
effective nurturing or curative methods available.
Numerous studies show that individuals with cognitive, physical,
sensory and/or emotional impairment have benefitted from working
with horses in a health-giving approach.
Read what Equine Assisted Healing has been successfully utilized for
.
Our approach can be summed up in the following words: empathetic
understanding, unconditional positive regard, bonding, respect,
warmth, and therapeutic genuineness. Client care is our number one
priority.
Collaboration With Other Health
Professionals
We
are able to collaborate with other health care professionals to
customize healing assisted strategies that suit the overall
treatment or care plan or a client, as well as engage the client in
his or her own healing through interaction with horses.
Furthermore our equine programs can be customized to oblige the
developmental differences of each of your clients, appropriate
to each client’s personal situation and adaptable when necessitated
by unfolding events or experiences at the time of program delivery.
Safe and
Supervised Sessions
Our Equine Assisted Healing Programs, providing for purposeful, safe
and supervised interaction with equines, would enhance the treatment
clients now receive through other providers.
Circle
of Courage
Our programs can also integrate all aspects of the philosophy and
teachings from The Circle of Courage.
The Circle of Courage model and our Equine Assisted Healing
Programs are a natural combination. The inherent equine
qualities provide for immediate powerful learning opportunities and
honest meaningful connections based on mutual trust, respect,
understanding and empowerment embraced by the Circle of Courage.
The founder and program developer for Spirit of Eight is a certified
Response Ability Pathways (RAP) trainer for Circle of Courage.
Learn more about Circle of Courage |
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Five Programs - Five
Distinct Groups
Our programs are outlined below. No two individuals are alike
and why a person requires help differs from one person to another.
Each of our programs is adaptable and can be tailored to suit a
particular individual, group, or situation.
We
offer programs for five very distinctive groups:
1. Shining
Moon
Equine Curative Interactions for Clients with Disabilities -
This is a controlled and specialized program for clients with
disabilities that allows for clients to participate in a community
outing that is safe and promotes peer interaction. Individual who
may have disabilities such as brain injuries, spinal chord injuries,
visual or speech impairment, attention deficit disorder, cerebral
palsy, down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, and stroke
experience awareness and achievement
that help build their confidence, patience, and self-esteem.
Read More...
2. Embracing Healthy Change
Structured Activities With Equine for Clients with Mental Health
Issues
This program is especially designed for clients with mental health
issues. This is a therapeutic, recreational, and life skills
program focussed on socialization/interaction of clients and horses,
and the care and training of the horse. These connections provide
life skills training, rehabilitation and employment opportunities
for individuals. This program benefits individuals of all ages and
vulnerabilities.
Read
More...
3. La Poderosa Family Workshops
Fostering Healthy Parent Child Relations
This program is a family support workshop intended to foster healthy
parent child relations.
It
addresses the dynamics in the family system and how interpersonal
issues affect relationships. While the family works with a horse
they are exploring and learning ways to increase communication and
conflict resolution skills.
Read
More...
4. Down-to-Earth Boosters
Experiential Work-Related Activities for Clients with Varying
Disabilities to Learn Life Skills and Job Skills
Down-to-Earth Boosters are programmed activities (Boosters), often
task oriented, carried out on a volunteer basis by clients and
intended to teach the client practical life skills and build their
self-confidence. Each Booster has a self-awareness purpose and
useful creative element attached to it. Booster activities are
designed to accommodate the client’s level of abilities.
Read
More...
5. Equinistics Professional Development
Team Building and Leadership Workshops for Groups or Individuals
Equinistics is an experiential team building and leadership workshop
that provides for participants to examine and strengthen
communication skills, improve healthy boundaries, empower oneself to
ask for help and work and feel a part of a team. An opportunity for
while learning about leadership, loyalty, focus, while dealing with
diverse personalities and human characteristics.
Read
More...
What can
Influence the Effectiveness of a Program
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