 Equine-Facilitated
Psychotherapy & Learning EFP/L | June 2010
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What's New?
2010 Events
Chehalis, WA
July 23 - 25
HEAL Workshops
in
England
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
October 3 - 7
Click HERE
for full listing
Private Sessions Available
Contact HEAL for more information
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and now you can
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Dear Readers,
We at HEAL believe that horses offer humans the opportunity to learn and practice the skills of positive emotional functioning, helping to move people from "surviving to thriving", in the words of my colleague Kathleen Ingram. By any measure, a thriving life must include play, enjoyment and fun. Summer is traditionally a season when humans play a lot, and we also see the young of many species playfully running and tumbling. Play can be as easy as a wink, or as elusive as a hole-in-one. Which describes your life?
Our June HEAL Newsletter brings you an article about PLAY and it's place in your brain. If you said, "I'm not sure my brain has a play place", you'll want to read this month's book review "The Resiliency Factor" (and you might also want to sign up for Energy & Grace this summer!). You'll meet Heather Daley, who can help you HAVE SOME FUN with the HEAL herd (Heather's about to begin an internship at HEAL, and will be facilitating horsemanship sessions!) And we have some fun links for you that show humans and horses collaborating in PLAY.
We humans seem to be the only animal that turns play into work. We sign up for lessons and rush to get there, we compete to win and feel like failures when we don't, and we turn to exercise programs when we lack the joyfulness that should motivate us to get up and move. Horses have something to teach almost everyone about play and thriving. Come to HEAL and find out!
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.Blessings and Gratitude, Leigh
Leigh Shambo, MSW, LMHC
Human-Equine Alliances for Learning (HEAL)
360.266.0778
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Go Out and PLAY!
by Ann Glaze, 2009 HEAL Facilitator Training Program Graduate
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How many times did your mother tell you that when you were a kid? Here are a couple more questions for you. When was the last time you played, or felt the desire to play? And what does it mean to you to play?
According to experts in the field of brain science and in human and animal behavior, all of we mammals have brains that are hard-wired with a drive for PLAY. Oh, there it is in all caps again. Why is that? Here at HEAL when we write about PLAY, we aren't referring to a game of tennis or football. Instead we refer to an innate playfulness that, when honored, enhances our mental and physical health... helps us thrive. When most of us think of PLAY, we think of children running around in a park or of puppies tumbling all over each other. Think of the joy you may feel, though, in simply watching such unrestrained playfulness. Now let's open that window a little more.
PLAY is not an activity just for children and small animals. The act of non-goal-oriented PLAY stimulates us to be curious, to test, to exert, to release, to connect with another. PLAY then even becomes a time of learning.
How does PLAY apply to EFP/L? Many of us have been conditioned to squelch our drive for PLAY in favor of achievement or out of fear of ridicule. The result is that our social skills suffer and our very spirits begin to contract. We lose some of our ability to connect in meaningful ways with others, both within and outside our own species. Through EFP/L, we begin again to safely explore our own drive for PLAY.
Horses, as mammals, also have a drive for PLAY. But unlike we humans, they've not been taught that PLAY is inappropriate for "grown-ups." When a horse invites/allows us to PLAY with them, they do so without the ability to judge us. They don't care if you look silly... in fact, sometimes they seem to quite enjoy us looking silly. They give us, even encourage us to engage our own drive for PLAY. While the drive for PLAY happens in our brains, actual PLAY happens in our bodies. So through PLAY, we become aware of boundaries, of the fluctuations in autonomic arousal, we ask questions and receive responses. All of this without saying a word. And best of all, we have fun finding out that we can still PLAY. Our hearts can sing!
Here is what one our HEAL participants wrote about PLAYing with Galant. She so eloquently describes the feeling of freedom in PLAY.
"We started out slowly, moving back and forth with each other, and I sent him out, trotting, then cantering around me. As he bucked in playful joy, my whole soul came alive. He joined back up with me, and we flowed through the length of the arena, matching our strides in harmony. I ran beside him, and my heart sang with a feeling of connection and belonging. Tears of acceptance and freedom welled up from my inner being, as I watched Galant embody the joy that I felt inside. I was so amazed at this deep connection that opened up to me when I allowed myself to be free, and I was astonished to discover that the result of being authentic was deep connection, not rejection."
Among those watching her PLAY with Galant, there was not a dry eye.
You can view a video of this participant's PLAY with Galant on the HEAL website - click here.
Now, go out and PLAY!
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 This was a tough read for me, but well worth the effort. The effectiveness of The Resilience Factor depression treatment for thousands of children encouraged me to study the entire book. What made the book a "tough read" was the organization of: 7 skills, 8 thinking traps, 4 Pillars, Icebergs, challenging beliefs and learning your ABC's (Adversity, Belief & Emotion, and Consequence.)
The 7 Skills (listed in chapter 11) were found effective when practiced by thousands of school children in the U.S., Australia and China. It was interesting to compare their 7 Skills with HEAL's 8 Keys to Relationship, HEAL's experiential, in-the-moment, equine approach. Experiential therapy greatly strengthens the therapeutic value of this cognitive model, in my view.
I found it stimulating to consider The Resilience Factor's "Top Down" approach (p52 Beck: Change thinking to overcome feelings of depression and anxiety) versus the HEAL approach (feeling into your body, and allowing your mind (neo-cortex & limbic) to work through or process what something means). Emotional (limbic) communication operates from "Bottom Up" feelings with the horse, just like human to human communication at the limbic level.
I like the definition The Resilience Factor gives for what it means to be resilient.
Resilient people feel everything but have learned how to control anxiety and doubts from being overwhelming, and handle the threat with integrity and grace. (p4)
Conclusion: This is a good read, but be prepared to make notes or you may get lost. On the other hand, even if you do get lost, The Resilience Factor gives lots of good stories that are clear examples of what is taught.
For a more complete review of The Resilience Factor & a brief comparison with the HEAL keys, click here.
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HEAL Open House a Success!
| A grand day it was! With perfect Pacific Northwest summer weather, crowds visited HEAL this past Saturday to meet Leigh and the HEAL staff, to meet the HEAL herd, and to take in demonstrations and information about HEAL and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Learning.
Leigh put on two different demonstrations throughout the day, Separateness & Connection (Boundaries): Finding the 'Hang Out' Zone and The Inner Language of Relationship: Discovering Your Two Selves. With the participation of volunteers from the audience, Leigh gave visitors to HEAL a chance to observe and understand what we offer here at HEAL. There were also great questions from the audience that really allowed Leigh to more fully explain the work HEAL does and what part the horses play in personal growth and healing. One of the audience volunteers said of the experience, "Other than a horse biting my fingers when I was 7, I don't have any horse experience. I realized that I went in with Leigh and the horse with irrational fears. Once I realized that I was safe, I was able to sense what the horse was asking of me and enjoy the time with her. I also realized that I have a lot of irrational fears in my life and that they hold me back. Now that I'm aware of that, I will start to examine them and release them."
In addition to Leigh's demonstrations, visitors could take advantage of a wealth of material on display about research and offerings here at HEAL. David Young also gave a talk with a video in the main house about 'the uncatchable horse." He explained the subtleties of non-verbal communication as he went through a video of a trainer gaining the trust of a fearful, untrained horse.
Visitors of all ages found ways to enjoy their time with us. Kids enjoyed some pony rides, while some of our more senior visitors relaxed in the peaceful surroundings here at the ranch. There were lively conversations all around, great food, and the horses enjoyed lots of attention.
Here are a few photos of the day.
Horseplay | David and Beau PLAYing  | Buddy |
If you weren't able to make it to the Open House this year, we do hope you'll be able to join one of our workshops or visit us next year.
We appreciate all of you who spent time with us on Saturday, and offer thanks to those who helped make the day a success: Ricki Martin, HEAL Operations Manager; Khrista Engelhardt, "Kitchen Goddess"; Ann Glaze, Communications; Tami Strom, Barefoot Farrier; Drea Bowen, HEAL Volunteer and 2010 HEAL Facilitator in training; Randy Zasloff, HEAL Volunteer and 2010 HEAL Facilitator in training; Chantz Roberts, HEAL Volunteer. And of course, Frieda, Gem, Beau, Dixsi, Tankha and Jilly Bean (the HEAL herd).
Tami, Ann, Ricki, Leigh, David (back)
Chantz, Khrista, Buddy (front)
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Expanded Learning Opportunities at HEAL
Heather Daley, BA, riding instructor & trainer
joins Leigh Shambo & HEAL
Leigh Shambo is pleased to announce an addition to the HEAL staff - riding instructor Heather Daley. Heather will be facilitating horsemanship and/or riding sessions. Horsemanship and riding sessions at HEAL allow students a quality experience with riding, handling, training and learning to care for horses- using methods that are congruent with HEAL's 8 Keys to Relationship. Heather's professional support will help you enjoy- and grow from- all kinds of natural horse play including liberty training, English- and western-style riding for pleasure and connection, along with basic horse-related tasks such as grooming, hoof care or bathing. Heather is a warm and caring teacher with high empathy for the horses and for human students of all ages and experience levels.
HEAL students and clients will find these horsemanship sessions great for stress reduction and fun, for effortlessly building those skills that enhance connectivity and empathy, as well as leadership and effectiveness. You may just want to have some horsey fun and decompress. Or you may want to practice and refine the mindfulness skills you've learned in EFP/L sessions with Leigh.
Heather will also be assisting Leigh in Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy and Learning (EFP/L) sessions as part of the internship for her Masters in Counseling Psychology through Prescott College. Heather is concentrating her graduate degree in Equine-Facilitated Mental Health (EFMH).
The rate for instruction is $60 per hour. Scheduling is flexible in ½- hour increments with a 1 hour minimum. Equestrians who would like to take lessons on their own horses are invited to haul in. Please call the HEAL office now at 360-266-0778 to schedule your horsemanship or riding session with Heather!
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Nickers from Heather Daley
Intern with Leigh Shambo and HEAL
|  As I sit here trying to figure out what to write I keep coming back to the idea of the "power of horse." What is it that draws us to these sentient beings as a recreation of passion, as companions, and most importantly as healers? What is that power and how in the world can one define it? I am not going to attempt to define it but I will tell you that I have experienced that power first hand time and time again.
My name is Heather and I am, and have been from a very young age, a "horse girl." I was not raised around horses; no one in my family rode or owned horses, but for some reason I popped out OBSESSED. I was able to convince my parents to let me take lessons after what felt like forever at the age of eight and pretty much from that point on have figured out any way possible to spend every waking moment with a horse... not much has changed since then. I have been working as a horse trainer and riding instructor for eight plus years and although I love the work, I also have a passion for people and personal growth. In order to bridge these two passions, I am currently in the process if completing my Master's in Counseling degree at Prescott College with an emphasis in Equine Assisted Mental Health.
I am so honored to have been able to learn from Leigh over the past few years and am beyond thrilled to be preparing to begin an internship with Leigh in the upcoming weeks. I have seen the power of the horse engaged and honored so beautifully in my experiences at HEAL, and I so look forward to the many lessons I will learn over the upcoming weeks, months, and even years. What a gift!
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The Resilience Factor (cont)
Review by David Young
7 Skills: Resiliency
1 - Learning ABC's
Adversity, Beliefs & emotions, Consequences
2 - Thinking Traps
Identify habitual traps and avoid them
3 - Icebergs
Learn to identify these deep beliefs & unresolved history
4 - Beliefs
Test the accuracy of your beliefs about the problem to find solutions
5 - Put in perspective
Stop the "what-if's", catastrophic thinking & deal with real problems
6 - Calming & Focusing
Focus on becoming calm and concentrate on the task at hand
7 - Real Time Resilience
Change your thoughts into resilient thoughts
It is my understanding from a personal conversation (not published) that Skill 5 and Skill 7 have been revised since the book was published in order to help people put these skills into experiential (bottom up) practice.
Thinking Traps:
1 - Jumping to Conclusions
2 - Tunnel Vision
3 - Magnifying & Minimizing
4 - Personalizing (me style)
5 - Externalizing (not me)
6 - Over-generalizing
7 - Mind reading
Four Pillars:
1 - People can change positively and permanently
2 - Thinking is the key to boosting resilience
3 - Accurate Thinking
4 - Refocus on the Human Strengths
Here is a partial, brief, comparison of approaches: The Resilience Factor and HEAL.
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The Resilience Factor: 7
Skills
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HEAL :
8 Keys to Relationship
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Skill
1 - Locating Emotion Radar: how thinking drives what we feel
& do
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We
might say: how feeling drives what we think. We often take a more
somatically-based, bottom-up approach
Key
1 - Body-based awareness/ arousal level/window of tolerance:
regulation skills (breathing, thoughts, and awareness of mutual regulation)
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Skill
2 - Avoiding thinking traps: 7 mistakes
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Key 2 - Distinguishing
thoughts from feelings, a true self vs. a false self, creating harmony in the
tri-brain
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Skill
3 - Navigating around problem icebergs: detect, melt, steer
around or embrace
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Key 3 - Boundaries
(power/no power): experiential use of boundary exercises to help people
identify heightened arousal in the moment and learn to work productively with
self-regulation and with respectful mutual regulation (i.e. negotiation)
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Skill
4 - Getting flexible with explanations: more effective problem
solving
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Key
4 - Natural Logic of Emotions (Neo-Cortex & Limbic: an
essential combination.)
Key
5 - Dynamics of Shared Emotion: learning to recognize helpful
and non-helpful patterns
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Skill
5 - Harnessing Resilient Emotion Radars: exploring the positive
emotions we feel and how to get more of them
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Key
7 - Stretching Beliefs: learning to look for the positive while
still connected to what is (i.e. seeing realistically & being open to the
best)
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Skill
6 - Tapping Resilient Icebergs: positive values about leadership
and work
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Key
6 - Yin and Yang of It: experiential practice in collaborative
leadership & relationship with horses
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Skill
7 - Getting connected: to job and home, more satisfaction,
reaching out
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Key 8 - Authentic
Community: making connections and seeking support
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All content is (c) 2009 Leigh Shambo unless otherwise noted.
Thank you
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