[Laughter] [Music]
so what is equine assisted psychotherapy
so what is equine assisted psychotherapy do horses need therapy or is the people
do horses need therapy or is the people
do horses need therapy or is the people while I’m going to start out by telling
while I’m going to start out by telling
while I’m going to start out by telling you a story first of all Brian already
you a story first of all Brian already
you a story first of all Brian already said that I’m a licensed professional
said that I’m a licensed professional
said that I’m a licensed professional clinical counselor I’m in private
clinical counselor I’m in private
clinical counselor I’m in private practice and I use my animals as part of
practice and I use my animals as part of
practice and I use my animals as part of the healing process so I’m going to
the healing process so I’m going to
the healing process so I’m going to share a little bit about what equine
share a little bit about what equine
share a little bit about what equine assisted psychotherapy is and kind of
assisted psychotherapy is and kind of
assisted psychotherapy is and kind of how it works and share some stories as
how it works and share some stories as
how it works and share some stories as well so I was in an arena with my
well so I was in an arena with my
well so I was in an arena with my co-facilitator
co-facilitator
co-facilitator and our client was a young teenage girl
and our client was a young teenage girl
and our client was a young teenage girl that had been experiencing a lot of
that had been experiencing a lot of
that had been experiencing a lot of stuff anxiety depression kind of
stuff anxiety depression kind of
stuff anxiety depression kind of oppositional behavior as well she grew
oppositional behavior as well she grew
oppositional behavior as well she grew up in a family with domestic violence
up in a family with domestic violence
up in a family with domestic violence and a lot of chaos as so many people do
and a lot of chaos as so many people do
and a lot of chaos as so many people do and she was trying to work through her
and she was trying to work through her
and she was trying to work through her stuff and we were just there holding
stuff and we were just there holding
stuff and we were just there holding some space for her with the horses
some space for her with the horses
some space for her with the horses so there were three horses in the arena
so there were three horses in the arena
so there were three horses in the arena and the one on the right and the picture
and the one on the right and the picture
and the one on the right and the picture was starting to get kind of aggressive
was starting to get kind of aggressive
was starting to get kind of aggressive we were in the middle of the arena he
we were in the middle of the arena he
we were in the middle of the arena he started chasing the Paint Horse and then
started chasing the Paint Horse and then
started chasing the Paint Horse and then the other horse just went into a corner
the other horse just went into a corner
the other horse just went into a corner and stood and faced the corner was
and stood and faced the corner was
and stood and faced the corner was interesting my client said this is just
interesting my client said this is just
interesting my client said this is just like home this is just like when my
like home this is just like when my
like home this is just like when my parents were still together we stayed
parents were still together we stayed
parents were still together we stayed there for a bit
there for a bit
there for a bit I started escalating and I said you know
I started escalating and I said you know
I started escalating and I said you know maybe we should go outside the arena so
maybe we should go outside the arena so
maybe we should go outside the arena so we went outside the arena we observed
we went outside the arena we observed
we went outside the arena we observed from out there and it continues to
from out there and it continues to
from out there and it continues to escalate and this was odd behavior for
escalate and this was odd behavior for
escalate and this was odd behavior for this horse and it was interesting and
this horse and it was interesting and
this horse and it was interesting and she was able to explore more about what
she was able to explore more about what
she was able to explore more about what she has had to go through right and what
she has had to go through right and what
she has had to go through right and what it’s been like and we were able to talk
it’s been like and we were able to talk
it’s been like and we were able to talk about coping skills and problem-solve
about coping skills and problem-solve
about coping skills and problem-solve you know what can she do in the future
you know what can she do in the future
you know what can she do in the future so that she doesn’t go back into herself
so that she doesn’t go back into herself
so that she doesn’t go back into herself into a domestic violent relationship so
into a domestic violent relationship so
into a domestic violent relationship so horses end up mirroring our whole human
horses end up mirroring our whole human
horses end up mirroring our whole human emotions they kind of mirror release
emotions they kind of mirror release
emotions they kind of mirror release dynamics and they offer a different
dynamics and they offer a different
dynamics and they offer a different perspective into people’s lives so this
perspective into people’s lives so this
perspective into people’s lives so this barrel you’re going what is the deal
barrel you’re going what is the deal
barrel you’re going what is the deal with the barrel is the barrel is
with the barrel is the barrel is
with the barrel is the barrel is actually real it’s a real prop that we
actually real it’s a real prop that we
actually real it’s a real prop that we use in our sessions and I have a little
use in our sessions and I have a little
use in our sessions and I have a little sign on here a prop it says real honest
sign on here a prop it says real honest
sign on here a prop it says real honest and present my message for you today is
and present my message for you today is
and present my message for you today is that horses are real honest and present
that horses are real honest and present
that horses are real honest and present and they invite us to be the same way
the interactions and anything in that
the interactions and anything in that space when somebody’s having a session
space when somebody’s having a session
space when somebody’s having a session whether it’s an individual a family or
whether it’s an individual a family or
whether it’s an individual a family or group anything is fair game
group anything is fair game
group anything is fair game so the barrel has represented everything
so the barrel has represented everything
so the barrel has represented everything from depression to anxiety to money
from depression to anxiety to money
from depression to anxiety to money problems to goals successes fears you
problems to goals successes fears you
problems to goals successes fears you name it for me
name it for me
name it for me it yesterday it represented getting
it yesterday it represented getting
it yesterday it represented getting ready for the TED talk and actually
ready for the TED talk and actually
ready for the TED talk and actually getting up here to talk to you guys
getting up here to talk to you guys
getting up here to talk to you guys about my my passion so I’m standing next
about my my passion so I’m standing next
about my my passion so I’m standing next to my fear and I’m okay in fact I can
to my fear and I’m okay in fact I can
to my fear and I’m okay in fact I can touch my fear and I’m going to be
touch my fear and I’m going to be
touch my fear and I’m going to be alright so um being with the horses
alright so um being with the horses
alright so um being with the horses allows people to explore things that are
allows people to explore things that are
allows people to explore things that are intangible and it makes them more
intangible and it makes them more
intangible and it makes them more tangible this picture kind of brings me
tangible this picture kind of brings me
tangible this picture kind of brings me back to a time I grew up with horses I
back to a time I grew up with horses I
back to a time I grew up with horses I was fortunate to live in the country and
was fortunate to live in the country and
was fortunate to live in the country and in a family where horses were just part
in a family where horses were just part
in a family where horses were just part of the family and I was able to observe
of the family and I was able to observe
of the family and I was able to observe the body language and really get to know
the body language and really get to know
the body language and really get to know them and over the years and graduate
them and over the years and graduate
them and over the years and graduate from high school moved away did some
from high school moved away did some
from high school moved away did some different things had some adventures and
different things had some adventures and
different things had some adventures and I met a guy that swept me off my feet
I met a guy that swept me off my feet
I met a guy that swept me off my feet mr. Prince Charming mr. Prince Charming
mr. Prince Charming mr. Prince Charming
mr. Prince Charming mr. Prince Charming turned into dr. Jekyll and mr. Hyde and
turned into dr. Jekyll and mr. Hyde and
turned into dr. Jekyll and mr. Hyde and I realized while looking in the rearview
I realized while looking in the rearview
I realized while looking in the rearview mirror I realize it was domestic
mirror I realize it was domestic
mirror I realize it was domestic violence and I didn’t know what to do
violence and I didn’t know what to do
violence and I didn’t know what to do and I felt isolated and alone and scared
and I felt isolated and alone and scared
and I felt isolated and alone and scared and uncertain something about the horse
and uncertain something about the horse
and uncertain something about the horse is
is
is was tapping at me on the inside going
was tapping at me on the inside going
was tapping at me on the inside going you can do this
you can do this
you can do this slow down you’ve got this I had to face
slow down you’ve got this I had to face
slow down you’ve got this I had to face my fears I had to it was a standoff
my fears I had to it was a standoff
my fears I had to it was a standoff between me and domestic violence
between me and domestic violence
between me and domestic violence me and my what I wanted to do with my
me and my what I wanted to do with my
me and my what I wanted to do with my life so I remembered a time when I was
life so I remembered a time when I was
life so I remembered a time when I was free when I was younger and I was happy
free when I was younger and I was happy
free when I was younger and I was happy and I knew it was there but leaving was
and I knew it was there but leaving was
and I knew it was there but leaving was hard that was a hard part because you
hard that was a hard part because you
hard that was a hard part because you couldn’t just walk out I had to be
couldn’t just walk out I had to be
couldn’t just walk out I had to be strategic about how I left so I left in
strategic about how I left so I left in
strategic about how I left so I left in the middle of the day and said I was
the middle of the day and said I was
the middle of the day and said I was going to get a few groceries and it
going to get a few groceries and it
going to get a few groceries and it never went back so I went home actually
never went back so I went home actually
never went back so I went home actually I went home to my family my friends and
I went home to my family my friends and
I went home to my family my friends and the herd and I sought counseling I went
the herd and I sought counseling I went
the herd and I sought counseling I went to the battered women’s shelter I said I
to the battered women’s shelter I said I
to the battered women’s shelter I said I need help I need help I’m scared I had
need help I need help I’m scared I had
need help I need help I’m scared I had to take a leave of absence from my job I
to take a leave of absence from my job I
to take a leave of absence from my job I mean this is real stuff talk about
mean this is real stuff talk about
mean this is real stuff talk about getting a real honest and present yeah
getting a real honest and present yeah
getting a real honest and present yeah when you’re scared for your life you get
when you’re scared for your life you get
when you’re scared for your life you get pretty well so the horses have actually
pretty well so the horses have actually
pretty well so the horses have actually led me on a journey to the depths of my
led me on a journey to the depths of my
led me on a journey to the depths of my soul and I’m realizing I can face more
soul and I’m realizing I can face more
soul and I’m realizing I can face more fears I can handle more barrels or
fears I can handle more barrels or
fears I can handle more barrels or obstacles in my life and the horses have
obstacles in my life and the horses have
obstacles in my life and the horses have been real honest and present the whole
been real honest and present the whole
been real honest and present the whole time
time
time this horse lying down you know it takes
this horse lying down you know it takes
this horse lying down you know it takes trust for a horse to lie down like that
trust for a horse to lie down like that
trust for a horse to lie down like that after all their prey animals and their
after all their prey animals and their
after all their prey animals and their survival depends upon their ability to
survival depends upon their ability to
survival depends upon their ability to be on their feet think on their feet and
be on their feet think on their feet and
be on their feet think on their feet and be ready to move at the drop of a hat or
be ready to move at the drop of a hat or
be ready to move at the drop of a hat or a flutter of a leaf I had to let my
a flutter of a leaf I had to let my
a flutter of a leaf I had to let my guard down and become vulnerable in
guard down and become vulnerable in
guard down and become vulnerable in order to heal and that’s what I needed
order to heal and that’s what I needed
order to heal and that’s what I needed was space and time to heal and I think
was space and time to heal and I think
was space and time to heal and I think that’s where most of the learning and
that’s where most of the learning and
that’s where most of the learning and growth happened for me was when I was
growth happened for me was when I was
growth happened for me was when I was struggling the most sometimes that’s
struggling the most sometimes that’s
struggling the most sometimes that’s when we don’t even realize it
when we don’t even realize it
when we don’t even realize it so the eye is a window to the soul so I
so the eye is a window to the soul so I
so the eye is a window to the soul so I began to set my sights toward the future
began to set my sights toward the future
began to set my sights toward the future I went back to school and I finished my
I went back to school and I finished my
I went back to school and I finished my degree I said Who I was talking to my
degree I said Who I was talking to my
degree I said Who I was talking to my mom I said I don’t know what to get a
mom I said I don’t know what to get a
mom I said I don’t know what to get a degree in mom she goes well what are you
degree in mom she goes well what are you
degree in mom she goes well what are you interested in I said kind of interested
interested in I said kind of interested
interested in I said kind of interested in psychology well then do that I’m like
in psychology well then do that I’m like
in psychology well then do that I’m like oh okay I’ll do that
oh okay I’ll do that
oh okay I’ll do that so I did that and met a really nice guy
so I did that and met a really nice guy
so I did that and met a really nice guy and ended up marrying him and started a
and ended up marrying him and started a
and ended up marrying him and started a family and then um you know life takes
family and then um you know life takes
family and then um you know life takes over and you’re busy and I don’t know
over and you’re busy and I don’t know
over and you’re busy and I don’t know 2009 came along and I realized that
2009 came along and I realized that
2009 came along and I realized that something was kind of tapping me on the
something was kind of tapping me on the
something was kind of tapping me on the shoulder going you need to do something
shoulder going you need to do something
shoulder going you need to do something with those horses Liz there’s just
with those horses Liz there’s just
with those horses Liz there’s just something that you need to find your
something that you need to find your
something that you need to find your path your your mission and I came across
path your your mission and I came across
path your your mission and I came across equine assisted psychotherapy and I hmm
equine assisted psychotherapy and I hmm
equine assisted psychotherapy and I hmm this is interesting went to a training
this is interesting went to a training
this is interesting went to a training grabbed a friend brought her log I was
grabbed a friend brought her log I was
grabbed a friend brought her log I was hooked I was like wow this is
hooked I was like wow this is
hooked I was like wow this is fascinating so I decided to go back to
fascinating so I decided to go back to
fascinating so I decided to go back to school again
school again
school again for my master’s degree and that was
for my master’s degree and that was
for my master’s degree and that was interesting to talk about feeling
interesting to talk about feeling
interesting to talk about feeling vulnerable older than average students
vulnerable older than average students
vulnerable older than average students I’m thinking you know all these negative
I’m thinking you know all these negative
I’m thinking you know all these negative irrational thoughts are going can you do
irrational thoughts are going can you do
irrational thoughts are going can you do it
it
it are you worth it all that good stuff but
are you worth it all that good stuff but
are you worth it all that good stuff but I just had this this little seed of an
I just had this this little seed of an
I just had this this little seed of an idea inside of me I thought I can do
idea inside of me I thought I can do
idea inside of me I thought I can do this so once again those horses were
this so once again those horses were
this so once again those horses were helping me get real honest and present
helping me get real honest and present
helping me get real honest and present so here’s the horse herd or part of it
so here’s the horse herd or part of it
so here’s the horse herd or part of it we have more than this but just like
we have more than this but just like
we have more than this but just like humans have their unique challenges
humans have their unique challenges
humans have their unique challenges strengths and you know humans and horses
strengths and you know humans and horses
strengths and you know humans and horses all have their stories they are
all have their stories they are
all have their stories they are definitely present as clients or they’re
definitely present as clients or they’re
definitely present as clients or they’re working through their heavy emotions and
working through their heavy emotions and
working through their heavy emotions and it may be anxiety depression grief
it may be anxiety depression grief
it may be anxiety depression grief whatever it is they’re they’re usually
whatever it is they’re they’re usually
whatever it is they’re they’re usually they’re not running like this though
they’re not running like this though
they’re not running like this though usually they’re just kind of standing
usually they’re just kind of standing
usually they’re just kind of standing there but they reflect our what’s going
there but they reflect our what’s going
there but they reflect our what’s going on with us and they they give us instant
on with us and they they give us instant
on with us and they they give us instant feedback
feedback
feedback and here’s the human team so we started
and here’s the human team so we started
and here’s the human team so we started out with two people in 2009 and now we
out with two people in 2009 and now we
out with two people in 2009 and now we have we have at least 10 people and we
have we have at least 10 people and we
have we have at least 10 people and we are working with people of all ages and
are working with people of all ages and
are working with people of all ages and all walks of life dealing with all kinds
all walks of life dealing with all kinds
all walks of life dealing with all kinds of different issues and it I love it
of different issues and it I love it
of different issues and it I love it it’s awesome I’m grateful to be able to
it’s awesome I’m grateful to be able to
it’s awesome I’m grateful to be able to do this work and so it’s awesome to be
do this work and so it’s awesome to be
do this work and so it’s awesome to be standing here on the red dot so again we
standing here on the red dot so again we
standing here on the red dot so again we hope we just try to hold a safe space
hope we just try to hold a safe space
hope we just try to hold a safe space for people to explore whatever comes up
for people to explore whatever comes up
for people to explore whatever comes up okay you know for instance let me set
okay you know for instance let me set
okay you know for instance let me set down that for a minute
down that for a minute
down that for a minute this brush actually is one of those
this brush actually is one of those
this brush actually is one of those things that hold space in a really great
things that hold space in a really great
things that hold space in a really great way for people as they’re brushing a
way for people as they’re brushing a
way for people as they’re brushing a horse or even just you know standing
horse or even just you know standing
horse or even just you know standing next to a horse like my sister is and
next to a horse like my sister is and
next to a horse like my sister is and soothing the horse there’s something
soothing the horse there’s something
soothing the horse there’s something about that about that connection you
about that about that connection you
about that about that connection you know they’re able to really get to the
know they’re able to really get to the
know they’re able to really get to the heart of what’s happening inside and
heart of what’s happening inside and
heart of what’s happening inside and we’re there with them sharing their
we’re there with them sharing their
we’re there with them sharing their story and just waiting for whatever
story and just waiting for whatever
story and just waiting for whatever comes up and it’s in that space that
comes up and it’s in that space that
comes up and it’s in that space that really good things happen so my sisters
really good things happen so my sisters
really good things happen so my sisters and I we did a role play actually we’re
and I we did a role play actually we’re
and I we did a role play actually we’re doing like a photo shoot and so this is
doing like a photo shoot and so this is
doing like a photo shoot and so this is a picture of us and I thought you know
a picture of us and I thought you know
a picture of us and I thought you know we’ll just take get somebody take some
we’ll just take get somebody take some
we’ll just take get somebody take some pictures you know what stuff came up for
pictures you know what stuff came up for
pictures you know what stuff came up for us to yeah I’m the youngest of us
us to yeah I’m the youngest of us
us to yeah I’m the youngest of us sisters and that’s me in the back and
sisters and that’s me in the back and
sisters and that’s me in the back and you know my older sisters were in the
you know my older sisters were in the
you know my older sisters were in the front and that’s just kind of how it’s
front and that’s just kind of how it’s
front and that’s just kind of how it’s always been and it’s cool we laughed and
always been and it’s cool we laughed and
always been and it’s cool we laughed and I think maybe somebody might have cried
I think maybe somebody might have cried
I think maybe somebody might have cried maybe me
maybe me
maybe me [Laughter]
[Laughter]
[Laughter] so another story cuz I’m running out of
so another story cuz I’m running out of
so another story cuz I’m running out of time now this we had a client that was
time now this we had a client that was
time now this we had a client that was working on staying sober she was in an
working on staying sober she was in an
working on staying sober she was in an inpatient treatment facility and came to
inpatient treatment facility and came to
inpatient treatment facility and came to see us once a week for therapy and we
see us once a week for therapy and we
see us once a week for therapy and we did this session where I forgot to bring
did this session where I forgot to bring
did this session where I forgot to bring it but we had a little feed pan we put
it but we had a little feed pan we put
it but we had a little feed pan we put grain in it and that represented her
grain in it and that represented her
grain in it and that represented her vulnerability
vulnerability
vulnerability their vulnerabilities well she said my
their vulnerabilities well she said my
their vulnerabilities well she said my biggest vulnerability was just staying
biggest vulnerability was just staying
biggest vulnerability was just staying sober her sobriety so we put the
sober her sobriety so we put the
sober her sobriety so we put the sobriety out in the arena and she had
sobriety out in the arena and she had
sobriety out in the arena and she had these two horses to try to keep him away
these two horses to try to keep him away
these two horses to try to keep him away from and those horses represented her
from and those horses represented her
from and those horses represented her problems which were her addiction in her
problems which were her addiction in her
problems which were her addiction in her relationship with her father it didn’t
relationship with her father it didn’t
relationship with her father it didn’t go well at first because the horses went
go well at first because the horses went
go well at first because the horses went you know they wanted the green right and
you know they wanted the green right and
you know they wanted the green right and she like took off she was out of there
she like took off she was out of there
she like took off she was out of there and we’re just you know holding a space
and we’re just you know holding a space
and we’re just you know holding a space my equine specials tonight and then um
my equine specials tonight and then um
my equine specials tonight and then um another time we tried it again she took
another time we tried it again she took
another time we tried it again she took off again she goes this is what I always
off again she goes this is what I always
off again she goes this is what I always do I run away I run away when my dad
do I run away I run away when my dad
do I run away I run away when my dad comes around he just I just go back to
comes around he just I just go back to
comes around he just I just go back to using is it trigger and did we just
using is it trigger and did we just
using is it trigger and did we just heard the whole story was awesome so
heard the whole story was awesome so
heard the whole story was awesome so just checked in again with her and the
just checked in again with her and the
just checked in again with her and the third time she came up with something
third time she came up with something
third time she came up with something she said well she did it she didn’t even
she said well she did it she didn’t even
she said well she did it she didn’t even say it she did it she picked up her
say it she did it she picked up her
say it she did it she picked up her sobriety and you see it she’s like I got
sobriety and you see it she’s like I got
sobriety and you see it she’s like I got this and we have permission by the way
this and we have permission by the way
this and we have permission by the way to tell the story and use the picture
to tell the story and use the picture
to tell the story and use the picture and she was able to keep her addiction
and she was able to keep her addiction
and she was able to keep her addiction and her father away and so yeah talk
and her father away and so yeah talk
and her father away and so yeah talk about making something tangible more
about making something tangible more
about making something tangible more tangible so I’m curious what you might
tangible so I’m curious what you might
tangible so I’m curious what you might see in this picture in the world of
see in this picture in the world of
see in this picture in the world of psychology it’s critical to demonstrate
psychology it’s critical to demonstrate
psychology it’s critical to demonstrate the therapy models such as equine
the therapy models such as equine
the therapy models such as equine assisted psychotherapy are shown to be
assisted psychotherapy are shown to be
assisted psychotherapy are shown to be validated and reliable and there are
validated and reliable and there are
validated and reliable and there are critics out there who might say does
critics out there who might say does
critics out there who might say does this really work and we get it in fact
this really work and we get it in fact
this really work and we get it in fact we need more research and so we have
we need more research and so we have
we need more research and so we have we’re taking efforts to take care of
we’re taking efforts to take care of
we’re taking efforts to take care of that and work on that problem we’ve
that and work on that problem we’ve
that and work on that problem we’ve created the human animal interaction
created the human animal interaction
created the human animal interaction scale and also a metaphor record and
scale and also a metaphor record and
scale and also a metaphor record and these are tools that our clients
these are tools that our clients
these are tools that our clients actually use they fill them out and it
actually use they fill them out and it
actually use they fill them out and it gives them feedback as to what’s
gives them feedback as to what’s
gives them feedback as to what’s happening in the sessions and it gives
happening in the sessions and it gives
happening in the sessions and it gives us feedback so that we can in turn give
us feedback so that we can in turn give
us feedback so that we can in turn give that to funders
that to funders
that to funders and you know other stakeholders that
and you know other stakeholders that
and you know other stakeholders that might be interested in using equine
might be interested in using equine
might be interested in using equine assisted psychotherapy so in closing
assisted psychotherapy so in closing
assisted psychotherapy so in closing again horses are real honest and present
again horses are real honest and present
again horses are real honest and present and if we can look to them as models of
and if we can look to them as models of
and if we can look to them as models of behavior we too can be more real honest
behavior we too can be more real honest
behavior we too can be more real honest and present and when we are real honest
and present and when we are real honest
and present and when we are real honest and present we can become the best
and present we can become the best
and present we can become the best version of ourselves thank you
version of ourselves thank you
version of ourselves thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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