Renewed Life Christian Counseling CenterEquine Assisted Psychotherapy
How it Works
THE EAGALA MODELis a team approach that includes a licensed, credentialed Mental Health Professional, a qualified Equine Specialist, and horses working together with the client in an arena at all times.
When inside the arena, all the work is done on the ground with the horses front and center, deliberately unhindered and never ridden, and allowed to interact with the client as they wish. This creates the space for the client, with the support of the professional facilitators, to reflect, project, and make deep connections. Allowing the client to overcome challenges by being the expert in their own life.
Why Horses
INTELLIGENT PREY ANIMALS
To evade predators, horses have evolved to be extremely sensitive to their environment. They instinctively analyze and react to our body language and other nonverbal cues providing us with valuable feedback and insights for other areas of our lives.
LARGE AND POWERFUL
It’s hard to ignore a horse with their size and presence. We can’t just control a powerful horse. Approaching horses helps us reflect how we approach our relationships and how we can face other big or overwhelming things in our lives.
HERD ANIMALS WITH DISTINCT PERSONALITIES
Horses are social animals with defined roles within a herd. They have distinct personalities, attitudes, and moods. They could be stubborn or they could be playful. In other words, horses are a lot like us.
The Team
Emily O’Brien – Equine Specialist
Emily has been an avid horse person since she was a child and continues to work with and own horses. She completed The Fundamentals of Eagala training in February, 2022 and has been working with RLCCC as an Equine Specialist since then. Emily has her B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy and has always been a lover of nature and being outdoors. Emily is married with two daughters. During her spare time, Emily is often found out at the barn sharing her love for horses with her family and friends.
Who Can Benefit
FOR THERAPY OR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR ANY PROBLEM. Addictions, trauma, social and behavioral disorders, depression and more.