What is TI-EAL?
On this page, we'll take you through the ins and outs of Trauma Informed Equine Assisted Learning (TI-EAL), how the brain perceives trauma, and most importantly, how our program is designed to provide healing and hope. Let's explore together.
Trauma Informed Equine Assisted Learning
At Healing on Manes, we embrace Equine-Assisted Learning as a powerful experiential approach that nurtures the development of essential life skills for educational, professional, and personal growth, achieved through engaging equine-assisted activities. Our approach blends horsemanship, equine science, and social skills to assist our clients in reaching their unique goals.
The benefits of our EAL program are numerous:
1. Safe Learning Environment: We provide a secure experiential setting where personal growth can flourish.
2. Pattern Recognition: Clients have the chance to identify behavioral patterns and consider their effectiveness in a supportive environment.
3. Behavioral Practice: EAL invites participants to practice new behaviors and receive immediate feedback, promoting real-time learning.
4. Healthy Self-Expression: Our programs offer an opportunity for individuals to explore healthier forms of self-expression.
5. Skill Development: Through interaction with our equine partners, clients develop life and communication skills that extend beyond the barn.
6. Relationship Building: Building connections with our equine partners fosters warmth and reciprocity, enriching the development of interpersonal skills.
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Equine Assisted Learning programs are gaining prominence nationwide and are utilized as adjunctive educational experiences for individuals with diverse needs, including those:
- Recovering from Trauma
- Participating in Substance Abuse Programs
- Engaging in Psycho-Educational Groups & More
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EAL is a unique experiential education process founded on the belief that horses can guide us toward innovative perspectives on behavior and human interaction. Through collaborative experiential learning, participants draw from their past experiences, employ trial and error, engage in reflection, make generalizations, and utilize metaphors to facilitate transformative learning experiences.
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At Healing on Manes, we're dedicated to nurturing growth and empowerment through our equine-assisted programs, enabling individuals to discover themselves, and support personal development.
Who Can Benefit?
People of all ages and cognitive levels can benefit from of Equine-Assisted Learning. Clinical studies indicate that EAL can be remarkably effective in addressing a variety of issues, including:
- 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
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The unique bond formed between the client and the horse often results in a range of personal benefits, including:
- A stronger sense of self
- Reduced feelings of overwhelm
- Greater clarity in supporting one's family without losing oneself
- Improved ability to voice one's needs and desires
- Deeper self-understanding
- Enhanced capability to balance responsibilities
- A clearer vision for one's life
- Discovery of one's voice
- A sense of acceptance and belonging
- Development of trust
- Improved social skills
- Heightened assertiveness
- Reduced aggressiveness
- Increased motivation
- Enhanced problem-solving abilities
- Sharpened concentration
- Elevated self-esteem and confidence
- Refined communication skills
- Improved listening skills
- Enhanced self-control
- Mastery over fears
- The infusion of fun into the learning process
What is Trauma?
Trauma, as understood at Healing on Manes, is a deeply personal experience that varies from person to person. Drawing from our training in Natural Lifemanship, we define trauma as an unexpected and overwhelming event that our minds struggle to comprehend. It can be something that we were ill-prepared for, emotionally or mentally. At Healing on Manes, we emphasize the role that nurturing, connected relationships play in the process of healing trauma.
What makes Healing on Manes a Trauma Informed Care program?
Natural Lifemanship
Fundamentals Certification
Intensive Certification
NLC-P,EP Dual Practitioner Certification
Healing on Manes is a trauma-informed care program due to its comprehensive training under Natural Lifemanship. This training focuses on the neurobiology of trauma, offering their practitioners an in-depth understanding of how trauma affects the brain and, consequently, an individual's behavior and well-being. This unique approach to trauma analysis is rooted in an attachment-based lens. By looking at trauma through an attachment-based perspective, we recognize the crucial role of human connections in the healing process.
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Learn more about our training at Natural Lifemanship here.
Learn more about the research behind Natural Lifemanship and TI-EAL in this research study: NL TI-EAS Research 2023.
Why horses?
At Healing on Manes, our choice to include horses in our learning approach is backed by research, as shown here from the HeartMath Institute. This study highlights 'heart coupling' between horses and humans, showcasing the connections that can develop during equine interactions, promoting healing on multiple levels. Horses' innate ability to form genuine and authentic relationships with humans aligns with our beliefs regarding the respect every being, horse and human, deserves. Extensive research on equine-assisted learning supports the benefits of these relationships, creating a safe space for individuals to explore their emotions, build trust, and develop essential life skills. Our commitment to this evidence-based approach allows us to share the healing potential of equine companionship, promoting resilience and personal development.
References
HeartMath Institute. (2022). Connecting Hearts: Understanding the Research on the Symbiotic Bond Between Horses and Humans. YouTube. Retrieved October 20, 2023, from https://youtu.be/JUiHf9yAG24?si=X84bPomVP-YdhMcZ.
Jobe, T., Shultz-Jobe, B., McFarland, L. & Naylor, K. (2022). Natural Lifemanship Trauma-Informed
Equine Assisted Services. Liberty Hill: Natural Lifemanship.
McFarland, L. (2023, March). “The Impact and Mechanisms of Change o Natural Lifemanship: A Research Review.” The Natural Lifemanship Institute.
Discovering the Origins: The Story Behind Healing on Manes
Explore the narrative that explains my journey from the depths of despair to the establishment of Healing on Manes. Animals made a remarkable impact on my mental health, helping me to discover myself, remain resilient, and allowing me to experience the extraordinary connection between humans and animals. Struggles with mental health are not meant to be kept secret; vulnerability simply allows other to know that they are not alone. Learn more about the foundation of Healing on Manes and our "WHY" behind our mission.