Ffiona of Ffire Photography and I were lucky enough to meet Liz Milinkovic at Sydney Equine Assisted Learning last week. We were able to officially all meet in person, meet the horse practitioners, and all have a fun and natural flowing chat and photo shoot.
For those of you unfamiliar with the work that Sydney Equine Assisted Learning do, it is in it’s simplest form, counselling with horse practitioners. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is not the traditional talking type, and is more of a experiential type. Clients are given the freedom to be themselves, in their own space, with horses.
Most of the sessions carried out, are within the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) framework, with the horses, an Equine Specialist (Liz) and a registered mental health practitioner (counsellor). The Body Language of the horses becomes the focus, and external questions about them are first used to create interest in their characters, and in creating bonds with them. It is only on a voluntary basis, or when the registered counsellor decides it is time to internally direct questions of the client, that questions become more personal, and towards the stem of why they have come to S.E.A.L.
Horses are quite the practitioners for the role, because they use their prey and herd animal intelligence, distinct personalities and large powerful stature, to teach many different benefits for human life. They can teach humans to be more effectively emotionally aware, assertive, socially inclined, confident, trusting of ourselves and others, empathetic, and help us harness skills to control impulses, solve problems and develop and maintain relationships. I personally know this just by having horses most my life, but the effect that these horse cousellors have on their clients, who can sometimes be struggling with quite significant hardships, is truly remarkable!
This type of therapy doesn’t discriminate against age, gender, ability, or really anything! Anyone can do it, and anyone can feel the benefits of it, all they have to do is be open to the session, and let the horses and their fellow human practitioners work their magic with you. There are a number of programs available, whether it be school holiday and youth, seniors, horsemanship, individual or group horse assisted counselling sessions, or even corporate team building & staff development; there is probably a program to fit anyone.
Liz, the owner and founder of Sydney Equine Assisted Learning, is quite a remarkable lady herself. She has been a horse girl for most of her life, and has 10 years of experience in the Community Service Industry with anything from out of home situations, to working those in crisis. Liz has a Diploma in Community Services Work, and is currently studying to complete a Diploma in Counselling.
Sydney Equine Assisted Learning is the perfect place to visit for anyone, but particularly those that feel they need that out of the box resolution to the things troubling their mind, or skill learning journeys. Horses are amazing teachers, and even though we sometimes feel we are the ones training them, we are the ones that usually walk away with more life lessons to be cherished and harnessed. Visit their website www.horseshelp.net.au, give them a call 0405 117 968, or send them an email at horseshelp@outlook.com to book a session or for more information.
Feature Image and Article Images courtesy of Ffire Photography ©
– Skye Pickering Dip. Horse Business Management.