 Equine-Facilitated
Psychotherapy & Learning EFP/L |
August 2008
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Upcoming Workshops
The Horse-Human Connection:
Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy & Learning
Cornwall England
Sept 6-8
Invisible Horsemanship™:
From Inside Out
Newton, Powys Wales
Sept 12-14
Advanced EFP:
Healing Complex PTSD
Gloucestershire England
Sept 19-21
The Horse-Human Connection:
Equine-Facilitated Learning
Hyde Park, New York
Sept 27-28
Invisible Horsemanship™:
Introductory Seminar
Chehalis, WA
Oct 11
The Horse-Human Connection:
Equine-Facilitated Learning
Chehalis, WA
Nov 7-9
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Overheard at HEAL:
"When you are sad, a dog will try to fix it. A horse will just stand by you." | |
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Summer Greetings from HEAL!
We hope you enjoy your August issue of the HEAL newsletter. The sense of connection which infuses our work is part of the "horse power" which is truly making a change in the world, heart by heart. By sharing our thoughts, stories and insights about EFP/L through this newsletter, we assist the horses in this revolution.
You may have noticed that the appearance of our newsletter has changed. There are some new columns, too, that we hope you'll look forward to each month.
Nickers (this month from Lorna Shepardson) offers you a chance to meet members of our community who are supporting EFP/L in their own unique ways. Soul Work with Horses, (this month from Kim Brown) offers essays on any aspect of the soul connection that we feel with our noble, whiskery friends. We welcome your submissions for this column, and look forward to sharing your soulful stories.
We will continue to offer informative short essays on how EFP/L works, including tips for EFP/L practitioners and any horse lovers who are seeking a new level of connection, perhaps to better understand a particular horse, or simply for self-discovery. This month's essay is one I wrote about the "Corrective Emotional Experience in EFP". HEAL invites our readers to submit short essays of this nature, as well.
We'll keep you updated on upcoming workshops and share links to other interesting sites, too. Enjoy! Again, we welcome your contributions to the web that Kathleen Ingram so aptly calls "the sacred space of possibility" by which we encourage and support each other and this important work!
Blessings,
Leigh Shambo, MSW
Human-Equine Alliances for Learning (HEAL)
360.266.0778
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Corrective Emotional Experience in EFP
By Leigh Shambo, MSW
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My colleague Kathleen Ingram has written: "The therapeutic relationship in the here and now can allow for a "corrective emotional experience" when the past (interpersonal) catastrophes do not play themselves out as before. The client is not exploited, abandoned or abused by the therapist, but is held in "the sacred space of possibility" and nurtured. The client can experience intimacy and correct their belief that there is something basically wrong and unacceptable about them. Horses do not reject an individual who is clear and congruent. They do not have judgment about the individual's past mistakes or character defects. The gift of therapy through the way of the horse can begin the healing process without diagnosing or labeling." (from the HEAL Facilitator Training Manual)
With a human therapist, it typically takes months of trust-building between the client and therapist to create the conditions in which a corrective emotional experience can occur. Yet when clients work with horses, leaps in emotional correction often take place within the first few sessions, and have the same enduring power as emotional corrections experienced with a human therapist.
Consider a simple vignette...
A man who discovers his "soft side" and expresses it in a fluid dancing motion in the middle of the round pen, is moved to tears when the horse who previously would not come to him approaches him and wraps him in the hug of her neck. There is simply no way that a human therapist could perform such an action of profound intimacy. It is safer (emotionally) for clients to make these experimental changes with horses, free of any hint of manipulation from their therapists' values.
The client can clearly and concretely experience both the horse's initial sense of ambivalence, try something new without fear of judgment, and immediately be profoundly rewarded by the horse's sudden switch into affirmation and affectionate behavior. And this affectionate behavior can safely contain a strong component of sensuality and mutual pleasure in the connection formed.
The horse offers powerful medicine. There is no underestimating the power of an emotionally corrective moment. We might even postulate that new neural pathways light up in an instant, restructuring the emotional pathways of the brain to enhance a sense of connection and trust in relationship.
Faithfully, the horses affirm every human for their innate worth. Their right to be in relationship. Their right to to be respected, and listened to. Their right to be.
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More about EFP (Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy)
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| Soul Work with Horses |
There is a belief that we project elements of who we are onto our horses. Whilst I can at times see that so clearly in other people and their horses, I am not so clear about my own, and my horses', status in this. I have two horses and I would like to tell you about each of them as they are so totally opposite that I am left questioning who I am if each of them represent projection of my characteristics and personality.
 One of my horses is a large 16.2 white, gracious and elderly Lipizzaner who is a former stunt horse called Leo. He has a history of being associated with European Royalty. In the past Leo has starred in films such as Braveheart, and he still relishes being in the public eye. He is somewhat aloof and indifferent to people. If you want contact with Leo you go to him respectfully and ask his permission. If he is in a generous mood he may grant it. Otherwise, make an appointment with his agent (me). It took years of continuous loving contact with Leo to gain his respect and ultimately a response, but even now that response can readily turn into blanking me if I transgress his expectations. I adore him. There are no other words for the total love I feel for this horse. He is my soul mate and in return I know that he trusts me and, dare I say, loves me in return. Leo and Kim. Centaur in nature, with a blending of whatever our past lives have been to provide us with a great joy in each other's company in this life.
On the other hand my pony, Roy, is a smaller, stockier, black Fell pony. A native breed to the north of England, he has a breed history as a pit pony working in the dark, dank mines lugging out coal and tin from the bowels of the earth. He supported the working classes in their daily endeavours for survival. In the past, Roy has led a life driving  small carts, helping out at weddings, and assisting with Riding for the Disabled. He loves people. He thinks everyone is there to feed his chubby little belly and to rub or scratch it for luck. You don't need to ask for contact with Roy - you get it whether you want it or not. Roy attached to me the moment he joined our small herd, and Roy will happily attach with anyone else associated with the human race. This is the sweetest pony you can imagine. He fills my heart with happiness and makes anyone smile who is with him because of his total delight in life. Happiness to Roy is whistling his way down the lanes to the pub whilst munching select pickings from the hedgerows on the way. Once there, the locals make a fuss of him and buy him beer and crisps despite my consternations. He can usually manage a pint of beer and a packet of salt and vinegar before slightly swaying his way back home and then dozing happily in his field in the evening sunshine. Leo of course looks down his long regal nose at Roy's exploits.
So, what does all of this tell us about our horses, projection and our souls? These two horses are so different that it cannot simply be my projections. So, is this belief in projection just a human need to be species-centric? Can we truly believe that we are the only ones capable of being sentient beings with personalities all of our own? Despite my scientific and academic background I do not believe that the characteristics I have ascribed to Leo and Roy are just about projection or anthropomorphism. Horses do have unique characteristics and personalities. A thread connects all souls in this universe and when we find a soul that resonates with our own, be it human or animal, it is the most indescribably beautiful experience.
Kim Brown
MPhil MSc RGN RM Cert Ed
4th year Doctoral Student
University of Southampton
Kim lives in the village of Brighstone on the Isle of Wight which is a small island off the south coast of England
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Nickers... from Lorna Shepardson,
HEAL Co-Facilitator |
A year ago last April I was introduced to Leigh Shambo through an article in The Olympian newspaper that my Mom had saved for me to read.
 I was so curious about Leigh's work with people and horses that I signed up for her workshop, "Invisible Horsemanship," the next weekend. I was hooked and intrigued. Within two months I attended the "Energy and Grace" workshop, and then signed up for the EASE (Epona Advanced Study Experience) program at The Epona Center in Arizona.
As a therapist, I always felt there might be a more fulfilling way to support people in their journey to their hearts. Through the way of the horse, I am not only finding my heart's desire but am supporting clients in finding their true authentic selves.
I have been honored to co-facilitate three 10-week groups, "Taking the Reins," with Leigh. My journey in this work has ventured forth to witness how powerful and life altering Equine Facilitated Learning can be.
As the last of the groups were winding down, one of our clients was working in the round pen with a member of the HEAL herd, the horse who had been her partner in the group for all 10 weeks. She made a profound statement about the times when we separate from those we love and have been in relationship with. "No matter where I am you will always be alive in my heart," she said to her equine friend. At that moment her horse walked over and connected one more time with a slight nudge.
My journey with my own horses, clients and EFL continues to unfold as I begin my work as an apprentice. Thanks to Leigh for bountiful opportunities for growth and to continue my hearts work.
Lorna Shepardson M.A.
Therapy-n-Motion
Bellingham WA
360.303.2973
therapynmotion@msn.com
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