The Healing Power of Horses (or dogs, cats …….)

1. The Healing Power of Horses (or dogs, cats …….) Sue McIntosh, MA, CCC Healing Hooves CCPA 2012 Annual Conference May 25, 2012

2. Our Agenda • Why Animals? • Human Animal Bond • Person Centred Foundation • Motivation to attend • Trust and Rapport • Relationship and Attachment • Indirect Approach • Safety and Ethics The grace to be and the space to become …..

3. The Human Animal Bond • Large body of research showing health benefits of being with animals. • Examples include: • Physical health benefits • Impact on anxiety levels • Child Development - cognitive, self esteem, self concept, nurturance, empathy, social support. (Needs positive attachment to an animals) • Benefits for the family • Social Lubricant effect: Makes us more likeable and trusted (comes with responsibility and risks) • Benefits for seniors, special needs groups, in times of challenge, trauma and mental health concerns • Biophilia hypothesis

4. The Person Centred Foundation • Unconditional Positive Regard • Genuineness • Empathy

5. Providing Motivation to Attend • Many of our clients have had negative experiences in counselling/ negative perception of counselling • Many of our younger clients have a negative perception of adults and professionals in general • The animals are less intimidating for many clients • Talk about ‘horse time’, ‘cat time’ or ‘horse therapy’. Some call to make an appt. with the horse not me! • We never force a client to ‘talk’, BUT – we are always clear we are counsellors • Makes counselling fun!

6. Building Trust and Rapport • Remember research around the ‘social lubricant’ • Many of our clients don’t trust – many for good reason • The quality of our relationship with our animals is important – our clients will notice if our animals don’t like us! • Allows for a therapeutic rapport to develop with clients where it may not happen without the animals • Can happen quickly – clients may be starving attachment wise and can form attachments to the animals – and then to us -quickly • When we draw on this in therapy it comes with great responsibility • We may be by-passing defenses that are in place for a reason – don’t move too fast!

7. Relationship and Attachment • The relationship with the horse providing the person centred conditions – the foundation and the context – cannot proceed without this in place, plus ongoing focus. We think of this as the ‘grace to be’. • The power of that relationship – with the animal - all by itself • Learning and practicing relationship skills • Transfer to relationship with human counsellor • Transfer to relationship with other caretaking adults – we should not be the most important person in our client’s life!

8. An Indirect Approach • Working around the edges rather than going directly for the big wounds • Trusting the work on the developmental processes • Working experientially through interactions with the horses/ other animalse.g. boundaries • Working metaphorically through interactions with and between the horses/ other animals • Working through animal stories • Keep it indirect unless/ until the client makes the transfers • Sometime one step removed is not far enough.

9. Safety • Physical safety – animal and facility considerations including adult supervision, animal training, safe and safety equipment • Emotional Safety – of all involved. Incl. confidentiality, awareness of what is happening ‘under the surface’. Resist the temptation to move too fast or use ‘sensational’ exercises that ultimately increase risk of long term harm. • Training and Certification – in your human services field, with the animal(s) you work with, in your AAT approach and with the populations(s) you work with. Knowing when to refer. • Scope of practice – understanding, defining and working within this, including when you need to refer/ be supervised. NAEFW guidelines.

10. Ethics Our animals did not apply for this job! It is our responsibility to protect them. • NAEFW view of horse as a sentient being – not as a ‘tool’ to be ‘used’. • This means they experience emotions and have the right to express opinions. • Need to know your individual animals and how they experience stress – especially if/ when they do not express it in an obvious way. • Need to ‘debrief’ with your four legged partners – in ways that works for them • Animal care is both physical and emotional – both are important. • Their relationships and attachment needs are also important. • This is NOT an appropriate career for all animals.

11. Questions?For more informationabout EFW/ AAT including nationally approved training, resources and certification:sue@healinghooves.cawww.healinghooves.ca