 Equine-Facilitated
Psychotherapy & Learning EFP/L | May 2010
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What's New?
2010 Events
HEAL Open House
Free &
Fun for All
Chehalis, WA
June 12
Energy and Grace:
Horse and Human
Chehalis, WA
July 23 - 25
HEAL Workshops
in
England
The
Horse-Human Connection:
Focus on Overcoming Fear
Cornwall, UK
August 27 - 29
Horse World:
Human World
Bristol, UK
September 3
- 5
MUCH MORE
including
Group Dynamics Workshop
with
Leigh Shambo
and
Kathleen Barry Ingram
at HEAL
Click HERE
for full listing
Private Sessions Available
Contact HEAL for more information
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Spring greetings from HEAL!
Sunshine is brightening the Pacific Northwest and Washington is almost in full bloom - gorgeous! A lovely time of year for hanging out with the horses in their lush pastures or the adventure of a ride. It's also a great time to come see for yourself what HEAL is all about. For those of you who live in our region, stay tuned to your email for your invitation to our annual Open House here at HEAL. The date is June 12, 2010, so mark your calendar for a day of free demos, informative talks, and meeting Leigh and the HEAL team (human and horse!)
It's also a busy time of the year for EFP/L sessions and events, like this summer's Energy and Grace - read all about it in this issue. Follow our links to good reading related to EFP/L and interesting websites and videos on the emotional and communication bonds between species. You can also check out our schedule of events to access information on Leigh's England workshops 2010. I hope our trails will cross!
We love to hear from our readers and invite you to write in with viewpoints and questions. Please send them to us at news@humanequinealliance.org.Many blessings to fill all your seasons! Leigh
Leigh Shambo, MSW, LMHC
Human-Equine Alliances for Learning (HEAL)
360.266.0778
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 Rodeo Dreams
by Catherine Madera
a book review from HEAL
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Leigh Shambo says:
One of our favorite reads this month is the delightfully young at heart novel "Rodeo Dreams", by Catherine Madera. This is a fun read for readers of any age who resonate with the "horse girl" archetype (and the "horse guys" too).
David Young says:
Rodeo Dreams took me through multiple waves of emotion from sadness to joy and helped me recall my own children's dreams, dreams that I did not know as well as I got to know Cindy's (the main book character) these last few days. It also gave me further insight into Leigh Shambo's difficult life as a child. I finished the book on the upside of emotion mixed with tears.
I restrained myself from highlighting all of the neat tricks, nuances, story twists, and horse training techniques Catherine provided but there were lots of them and so well done. While the target readers are teen girls, CS Lewis said: A children's story, if it is well written, should be enjoyed by adults as well.
I hope you and your children enjoy this book as much as I did. I so enjoyed seeing the story unfold. And there is romance too.
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Sample chapters can be found on Catherine's website where the book can be ordered using Pay Pal or check/money order. Type "HEAL" in the notes/instructions box and the author donates a portion of the sale to HEAL.
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Energy & Grace 2010!by Leigh Shambo
 Summer is around the corner and so is HEAL's popular and powerful workshop, Energy & Grace, July 23 - 25 at the HEAL Ranch in Chehalis. My close colleague Kathleen Barry Ingram and I co-facilitate this three-day experiential class, which focuses on increasing mindfulness and energetic awareness through work with horses. Participants use visualization, clearing/grounding techniques, and the ancient practice of QiGong to facilitate learning which is put into practice with the HEAL horses. The exercises are designed to create stronger, more effective connections with horses and people. Energy & Grace integrates the latest neuroscience supporting ancient mind-body practices with the very personal lessons from our earth-based teachers, the horses.
Why study energy by interacting with horses?From our mind-body system outward, all is energy. We are made of energy and are surrounded by energy at all times. Awareness of subtle energetic dynamics is an innate ability of horses. They sense and respond to minute changes in energetic arousal in their surroundings. As humans, we are so bombarded with information (energy) that we become desensitized to changes around us or even within our own bodies. However, we can learn to become mindful and consciously use this feeling-based, "bottom-up" type of information. Assuming a safe environment, the human's level of emotional arousal and brain wave activity calms in the presence of horses. This gift from our animal partners makes it fun and non-threatening to explore the world of "subtle knowing". So... what is the "grace" part? By learning to balance and integrate brain and body, we are able to navigate feeling states gracefully, and access the immense wisdom of our non-rational "knowing". This knowing holds the answer to those "soul" questions. What is my path in life? How do I find my beloved? Why do I seem to sabotage my goals at times? You will be amazed at the grace received by interacting with horses at liberty! No previous experiences with horses is required or needed, and even experienced equestrians will see horses in a whole new light. This workshop will enhance your energy awareness and provide you with relationship practices that yield abundant dividends in relationships of every kind. Each participant, human and horse, can discover the grace that they are being called to embody in each situation and relationship.
For all of us, our brain and body neural pathways are largely patterned in early life. These patterns once helped us to survive. Over the life span, these same patterns can limit us and prevent us from thriving and living creative, fulfilling lives. The good news is that the limbic system can be "re-wired". The horses respond to emotion with gentle and non-judgmental behaviors. In this, they teach us to acknowledge our own feelings and allow new neural pathways to expand our capacities.
 Kathleen and I enjoy a rich collaboration professionally and a close friendship which makes working together dynamic and fun for us and for participants! We first met in 2002 at an Epona workshop in Illinois. I was a young(er) therapist then, practicing with the EAGALA method, and I had practiced EFL in my equestrian coaching business. In 2003 Kathleen officially became my mentor when I entered the year long Epona Apprentice Program (Class I) which Kathleen created with Linda Kohanov. I have greatly benefited from Kathleen's heart wisdom and her skill and integrity as a group facilitator as we have worked together over the years! In 2004 Kathleen and I created and began teaching Energy & Grace; in 2008 we together founded the HEAL Facilitator Training Program for EFL, now in its third year. The HEAL Model™ of EFL is a practical and profound synthesis of our shared values, knowledge and experience.
Come join us! We'd love to save you a spot.
Registration information on the HEAL website or click here for a brochure
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Nickers about Leigh Shambo and Kathleen Barry Ingram
Energy & Grace Facilitators
| Leigh Shambo &
Kathleen Barry Ingram
 | "So, which one of you is Energy and which one is Grace?" It's a question Leigh & Kathleen hear every year. The truth is that both of these skillful teachers embody not only the qualities of energy and grace, but also skill, heart and wisdom. And together, their talents combine to create a remarkably effective and meaningful experience for those who attend their joint workshops and courses.
Here's a little background information about these two gifted EFP/L Facilitators:
Kathleen Barry Ingram, MA, is well known for her work at the Epona Center with author Linda Kohanov (Tao of Equus). The Epona Method, or the Way of the Horse, is an innovative and creative healing modality employing the horses as equal partners in the journey toward wholeness. In addition to Kathleen's numerous and well-received workshops across the country, she has been a featured presenter at the 2003 NARHA conference and served as an academic advisor for Prescott College.
Leigh Shambo, MSW, LMHC, is a clinical therapist and educator who has spent over 20 years training horses and riders. Through experience and study she understands that horses offer us a profound spiritual journey while on a practical path - what she calls Invisible Horsemanship. For both riders and non-riders she is a skilled interpreter of the horse/human relationship. Leigh is an Epona Advanced Facilitator and is the Founder and Lead Therapist for Human-Equine Alliances for Learning (HEAL).
And here are a few comments from past participants in Energy and Grace:
"I feel honor and gratitude for this experience. The work at HEAL truly transforms and integrates awareness to the highest level."
Adrienne S.
"Profound experience!"
Kathryn T.
"What is learned here applies to all aspects of life. Gaining wisdom thru horses - so powerful and unforgettable!"
Kristin F.
"... it is hard to put this experience into words. Powerful is the word that comes to mind."
Karen S.
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Is Humanity Becoming "Kinder"?
If so, could this be true of animals as well?
a book review by Leigh Shambo
 Another fascinating read for current times is Born for Love, byMaia Szalavitz and Bruce Perry, MD, PhD. The subtitle of this book is "Why Empathy is Essential-and Endangered". Dr. Bruce Perry is well known for his work as a developmental psychiatrist, including his broad experience with cases of childhood trauma, neglect and deprivation. It is not always easy reading, although the clarity of the writing and Dr. Perry's unflagging emphasis on human resiliency is deeply heartening.
In this book Dr. Perry also helps us understand that our world is built on empathy (and may begin to crumble when empathy is eroded). Empathy is not just personal and social. Empathy and trust affect our political and financial institutions, as well. And some aspects of the modern picture are frightening, to say the least. Our species has never experienced such a dearth of face to face, extended family/social/lifelong bonding as is typical of modern developed countries. Human brain development depends on lots of very close, face-to-face interactions, mostly within a relatively small circle of trusted familiars. Modern life can be impoverished of such bonds.
Nonetheless Dr. Perry feels hopeful. "Gruesome torture was not an uncommon form of public entertainment in many societies only a few hundred years ago," he writes. Yet, "...over the course of history in much of the world violence and torture have actually declined." Studying murder rates kept for many centuries in Europe, he reports that "...all countries show a dramatic decline over the centuries. The current rates are nearly 22 times lower than in 1200... over the centuries, unevenly and with much backsliding... our societies have gradually become more humane." He explores ways in which we might minimize the risks to brain functioning and emotional empathy posed by modern life. He's not saying we shouldn't be modern; he's saying we should be modern AND safeguard rich in-person connectedness. We should be relentless in our conscious promotion of empathy-enhancing practices. For example, spending time with aging relatives up to and including their deaths is such a practice. Volunteer work can be another.
Dr Perry asserts, "There is a bias in our neurobiology that pulls us to be empathic. We continue to carry the genetic predisposition for -- and neural systems dedicated to -- forming and maintaining reciprocal relationships."
Personally, I wonder: is there some way in which animals themselves are participating in this evolutionary schema? Of course, here at HEAL they do! Literally, humans can learn the mechanics of heart-felt relating by working with the horses in our herd. Is it possible that it works both ways? Are animals themselves becoming "more compassionate"; could they be co-evolving with us? We'd love to hear your opinion on this, so write us with your thoughts!
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