About Us
Here at Ash Hollow farm, we work to ensure that you get the proper care that you need. Find out how we take a therapeutic approach using equines. Below you can find session information, activities that we do with the equines and client, what is Eagala, and why we use mules and donkeys (long ears).
Session Information
Each session is a therapeutic service used to address significant mental health and behavioral issues. Sessions are structured to incorporate equines to effectively address the client’s treatment plan and learning goals. This program helps with issues such as trauma, PTSD, addiction, domestic abuse, behavioral disorders, depression, anxiety, self regulation and works to grow one's confidence.. Each session is one hour long. Typically 12-15 sessions unless otherwise specified by the Mental Health professional and equine specialist. Provided by a licensed Mental Health Specialist and a certified Equine Specialist.
Sessions start out with the client doing groundwork (no riding) with the equine(s) .
During a Mindful Riding session, the client will be mounted on the equine.
Through the use of real-time feedback from the equine(s), clients are able to discuss challenges through the use of story building, narrative therapy, and metaphors. Clients are will also learn how to develope self regualtion/coping skills and body awareness. Equine therapy is especially effective for individuals who would benefit from a non-traditional therapeutic environment.
What is
EAGALA?
EAGALA is Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association. The Eagala model is a professional and clinically supported therapy, which incorporates the use of equines (horse, mule, donkey) experientially within mental health and personal development therapy session. During a private therapy session, a client will work with a credentialed mental health professional, a qualified equine specialist, and at least one equine. This team approach helps the client work through their issues through observation and activities with the equine, which aids in the client telling their story. All sessions under the EAGALA model are ground-based, meaning there is no riding.
What is Equine Assisted Learning (EAL)?
Equine Assisted Learning incorporates the use of equines to help a client work through or on personal, educational, professional, life skills or any other circumstance in life that they would like to work on. The equine(s), equine specialist and client work on these issues together by creating individualized goal(s) and completing planned activities.
- confidence building
- independence
- self-regulation skills
- mindfulness
- self awareness
- problem solving
- decision making
- critical thinking
- teamwork
- focus
- creativity
- stress reduction
- resiliency
- teaches empathy
- leadership development
- communication
(Verbal/Non-Verbal)
Some benefits of EAL are:
What is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)?
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is an experiential form of therapy that is conducted with a qualified mental health professional, certified equine specialist, and equine(s) that work together to help the client meet their psychotherapy goal(s). The benefits listed above for EAL are also gained during an EAP session.
What is the difference between EAP and EAL?
The difference between EAP and EAL is that in an EAP therapy session, the client is working with a qualified mental health professional that is trained and skilled in the treatment and diagnosis of mental health conditions such as:
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PTSD
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Trauma
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Suicidal Ideations
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Depression
Mental health conditions can not be discussed in an EAL session.
Why mules and donkeys (long ears) and not horses?
Here at Ash Hollow Farm we love all equines and they all have a tremendous therapeutic value, but we focus on using long ears in our equine therapy program. The reason for this is because we feel they are wonderful listeners (after all they do have large ears), are perceptive, form strong bonds with people and are deep thinkers. This deep thinking requires people to exercise patience, to be confident, and believe in themselves. You can't force a long ear to do something that they do not want to do and sometimes there is more than one way to do something. They often make us think outside the box. Mules and donkeys are often said to be stubborn, but that really isn't the case. They are thinking about their situation and what is the best way to respond, which is something we want our clients to think about.
Find out how long ears could help you!
Activities we do with the Equines.
We have a wide variety of activities that we utilize to provide a therapeutic setting here at Ash Hollow. Our activities include: observation, working on coping and self regualtion skills, creating an obstacle course for the client and the equine(s) to traverse, painting the equine(s), grooming, drawing, learning how to complete tasks, using an array of items/objects, which represent something in the client’s life, and observing how the equine(s) reacts to it, communicating to the equine(s), touch therapy, leading equine(s) on walks, mindfulness, reflection time, playing games with the equine(s) that work on focus, creativity and patience.