Life can be scary from 7 feet above after an unscheduled dismount from your <3 horse. For many, getting back on their equine after the train wreck can be overwhelming and down right scary. Sometimes injuries result that are a constant reminder of your mortality, and the relationship between you and your equine has been fractured.
My husband and I began incorporating into our therapy practice a program we call Back in the Saddle therapy. Sometime after receiving training in EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing for PTSD) and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy/Learning, we received training that incorporates both, called Equilateral EMDR. This therapy is geared to addressing complex trauma. We find it is tremendously effective in helping our clients. After my husband was thrown from his mule. He wanted to sell him as the mule avoided him and while my husband still harbored a fear of riding him. It was quite an emotional time as he was looking forward to many years of riding this mule. Then my husband received the therapy himself. What followed was miraculous. The relationship between my husband and his mule totally changed. They became bonded and trusting of one another. True healing took place. Mulligan, the mule, is much more relaxed, which makes us happy since he does aide us in working with clients with trauma.
Our programs can help you overcome these fears, repair the damage between you and your equine, and get you back in the saddle again! We may believe that we are OK, and that we can put on a brave face and continue our work with our equine. However, equines make good use of their body language to convey the most basic and important messages to each other. Humans do the same. Sometimes what our mouths say is not in alignment with what our bodies say. In order to heal, we must become congruent with verbal and nonverbal communication. In addition, we have to overcome the trauma and damage that the wreck caused, so the mind is congruent with what we are trying to convey to the equine.
We incorporate EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy to support your trauma recovery and to get you back in the saddle. We work with you and your equine to help you convey both verbally and nonverbally confidence and leadership with your equine. We help you overcome your fears of getting back in the saddle and help you feel more comfortable and confident, whether in the arena or out on the trails. The emotional trauma is felt by both, so both you and your equine benefit from this therapy as your relationship heals. Also we hope to help you avoid a hasty selling of the animal which may include a financial loss as well.
Our sessions are with myself and my husband, both EMDR and EAP/EAL trained therapists. We work as a team, one of us serves as the equine specialist and the other as the therapist. It’s truly a rewarding experience for us, our clients, and their horses or mules.
Fee is for a 2 1/2 hour in-person session with 30 minute phone or Skype followup, travel fees may apply. This session is with Dr. Timothy and Charlotte Test, both EMDR and EAP/EAL trained therapists. We work as a team, one of us serves as the equine specialist and the other as the therapist.
Charlotte M. Test, N.D., M.A.