Trauma Informed Equine Assisted Learning
Equine-assisted learning (EAL) is an experiential learning approach that promotes the development of life skills for educational, professional, and personal goals through equine-assisted activities. Healing on Manes incorporates horsemanship, equine science, and social skills to assist client’s in reaching their goals.
Benefits include:
Safe experiential learning environment
Identify patterns and consider their usefulness
Invitation to practice new behaviors and receive real time feedback
An opportunity to explore new ways of healthy self expression
Development of life and communication skills
Reciprocity and warmth as a result of relationship building with our herd
Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) programs are being used across the country as an adjunctive educational experience for individuals:
Recovering from trauma
Substance Abuse Programs
Psycho-educational Groups
EAL is an experiential education process based on the belief that horses can help us learn new, more innovative ways of thinking about behavior and how we interact with others. Through a collaborative experiential learning process, participants use past experience, trial and error, reflection, generalization and metaphors to facilitate learning.
Who Can Benefit?
Individuals of all ages and levels of cognitive development can benefit from EAL. Clinical studies suggest that EAL is effective in treating:
Depression
Anxiety
Low self-esteem
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Behavioral problems
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Autism
Tourette’s syndrome
Conduct disorder
Aggression and Substance abuse
In addition, clinical studies suggest that individuals suffering from chronic medical illnesses may benefit from EAL. With any medical illness emotional, cognitive and psychological issues may facilitate or impede compliance with and response to medical treatment. Diagnosis of medical illness is often associated with feelings of loss, depression, anxiety and at times confronting death and dying issues.
The unique relationship found between the client and the horse often leads to benefits including:
Greater sense of self
Feeling less frazzled
More clarity on how to support your family and not lose yourself
Being re-energized
Increased ability to ask for what you need and want
Deeper understanding of self
Better prepared to balance responsibilities
Vision about what they want for their life
Finding your voice
Feeling acceptance/belonging
Development of trust
Building social skills
Increased assertiveness
Decreased aggressiveness
Enhanced motivation
Improved problem solving skills
Improved concentration
Increased self-esteem and confidence
Improved communication skills
Improved listening skills
Improvements in self-control
Learning to master fears
Fun
