Equine Therapy | CBT | Eagala | AAT - Pathways to Mental Health

Our Capacity Building Programs

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Pathways’ Capacity Building Programs

Pathways to Mental Health offers individualised Capacity Building programs that target NDIS capacity building goals. These programs are tailored to each individual’s needs and are supported by evidence-based practices. Qualified and experienced practitioners facilitate these programs.

The main areas that Pathways’ Capacity Building Programs focus on are:

Increased Social & Community Participation: Our programs provide development and training to enhance skills for community, social, and recreational activities.
Improved Relationships: Support is provided to develop positive behaviours and improve interactions with others.
Improved Daily Living: Assessment, training, or therapy is offered to increase skills, independence, and community participation in daily living activities.
Finding & Keeping a Job: Employment-related support, training, and assessments are provided to help individuals find and maintain employment, including school leaver employment supports.

These Capacity Building programs teach individuals skills to effectively manage their conditions and target specific areas of psychosocial vulnerability that may hinder progress towards their goals, such as education, employment, and social connection.

Participants can expect various benefits from attending these programs, including increased social participation, skills, and confidence, reduced inappropriate anger, increased self-acceptance, increased use of community resources and supports, improved general functioning, increased interest in finding meaningful daily activities and/or employment, and enhanced relationship management skills at work.

As part of the programs, Pathways assists participants in equipping themselves with knowledge and confidence to seek mainstream support services within their community and access healthcare treatments not funded through their NDIS plan. The aim is to work towards and maintain independence and strong self-efficacy.

It’s important to note that NDIS funding does not cover therapy or clinical services that are more appropriately provided by the healthcare system (Medicare) or therapy unrelated to managing disabilities and skills-based learning. However, Pathways does have a referral pathway for individuals seeking clinical services not approved for NDIS funding. Referrals from non-government and charitable organizations are also welcome.

Our three non-NDIS funded, clinical services are:

Mental Health Nursing
Privately funded CBT / DBT / Equine Psychotherapy
PUP – Parents under pressure (www.pupprogram.net.au)

NDIS Capacity building sessions ‘therapeutic supports’

Counselling and Capacity building sessions

Our ACA approved counsellor can meet with you and discuss your NDIS goals.

NDIS specific counselling or therapeutic support / capacity building sessions must directly relate to a participant’s disability and NDIS goals. The aim is to help build resilience, manage stress, and deal with the emotional impact of a disability to enable greater independence.

The following areas are often focused on during these sessions:

Coping Strategies can be worked on to equip you with effective coping strategies to navigate both the physical and emotional challenges of living with a disability or, in general, with everyday life. A professional NDIS counsellor will teach you coping mechanisms that empower you to navigate difficult situations and build self-confidence.
Many NDIS participants may struggle with managing daily tasks and routines. A certified NDIS counsellor may incorporate life skills training such as time management, personal care, and household chores. Gaining independence in these areas enhances the quality of life to foster greater self-reliance.
People with disability may face social isolation and can feel lonely or depressed. Social skills training through counselling can help to build meaningful relationships and connections within communities, which positively impacts one’s overall well-being and happiness.
Family and Caregiver Support Counselling may involve family members and caregivers to foster better understanding and support for a participant’s needs and goals. NDIS counselling involving family and carers may also help address potential conflicts, enhance communication, and promote a more cohesive and supportive system for everyone involved.
Major life transitions like moving from school to work or to independent/shared living can be challenging. Counselling provides valuable support in these critical periods to help participants adapt to change and confidently face new experiences and challenges.
Personal Growth and Empowerment NDIS counselling fosters personal growth and independence for participants. It supports NDIS participants self-aware and empowers them to confidently advocate for their needs and make informed decisions about their lives. Gaining insight into your abilities and strengths helps develop a positive self-image and gives you a sense of purpose.

Please note that NDIS does not fund counselling for non-disability related sessions. These can be obtained through the Medicare services.

Please speak to your support coordinator to enquire if counselling or capacity building / therapeutic support sessions are included in your plan.

Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

(not funded by NDIS plans)

Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy (CBT) helps people to understand the thoughts and feelings that underlie emotional and behavioural disturbances. It assists them to develop more helpful ways of thinking and behaving. Incorporating CBT principles into Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT) sessions provides frequent opportunities for people to learn about the relationship between thoughts, emotions and behaviours. This increases awareness of the underlying patterns of thinking and behaving that maintain psychological difficulties.

Activities with the horses present opportunities to explore and discuss these processes, and for the person to identify, develop and practice (in and out of sessions) behavioural changes, greater self-management and improved coping skills. All of this makes it easier to function in day to day life.

CBT has been shown to be effective with many psychological and mental health conditions (evidence). It is often referred to as the ‘treatment of choice’ for the majority of referring health professionals. Due to the strong scientific rigor surrounding this modality CBT is often chosen over and above other less researched approaches.

More Information

www.healthdirect.gov.au/cognitive-behaviour-therapy-cbt

Animal Assisted Therapy

(not funded by NDIS plans)

Studies suggest that the effects of being with animals can be beneficial to physical, social and psychological wellbeing. Research has found that stroking a pet can reduce blood pressure. The presence of pets can also promote social interaction and reduce psychological responses to anxiety’ Hall & Malpus (2000).

Therapy Animals can help humans in different ways including: coping with emotional, social, or mental problems and helping them to reach recovery-based goals.

Animal assisted therapy can help people to develop social and personal skills, as well as strengthening their self-esteem. Psychological distress can make us inwardly focused. Actively working with animals helps us to be more present and externally focus.

More Information

Animals can teach empathy and interpersonal skills
Help individuals develop social skills
The relationship between therapy animals, the participant and the therapist can be a model for a healthy relationships
The presence of animals is soothing and can more quickly build the therapeutic relationship for children, adolescents and adults.
Therapy animals demand participants to have skills in order to look after them. Participants can then use this skill base to help with activities of daily living.
Patting an animal has been demonstrated to lower blood pressure, lower anxiety and lessen stress.
It has been shown that animals have the potential to lower human anxiety by simply being present.

AAT is suited to:

ADHD/ADD
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Anger management
Anxiety
Behavioural issues
Bereavement
Complex Mental Health
Emotional and Behavioural Disorders
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (alongside specific therapies)
Relationship issues
Victims of crime and/or abuse
Brain injury / intellectual disability

Animal Assisted Therapy and Animal Assisted Activities help by:

Enhance problem-solving skills
prevent disease
Improve balance
Improve fine motor skills
Improve mood
Improve self-control
Improve social skills
Improve willingness to be involved in a therapeutic program or group activity
Increase focus and attention
Increase self-esteem and ability to care for oneself
Increase trust, empathy and teamwork
Lower blood pressure
Lower cholesterol levels
Lower the risk of a heart attack
Motivate and encourage exercise
Reduce and prevent stress
Reduce anxiety, grief and isolation
Reduce blood pressure, depression, and risk of heart attack or stroke
Reduce potential need for medication

Social support and connection plays an important role in the well-being of humans.
A therapy animal provides comfort to the client, unlike the touch of another human which can be distressing for some participants. For people who have experienced physical or sexual abuse the comfort of an animal provides a safer experience for the participant, enabling them to receive a number of benefits from the connection.
Participants that find it difficult to trust therapist in more traditional office based settings may be highly suited to AAT.

Ecotherapy / Nature Based Therapy

(not funded by NDIS plans)

“We have a vital opportunity now to shape a new Western psychology that acknowledges humanity as, first and foremost, natural, of nature – not separate from it. Its time to rewild psychology, with ideas and methods rooted in the rhythms, patterns, principles and other-than-human encounters of greater nature ” – Bill Plotkin “Wild Mind- a Field Guide to the Human Psyche”

Ecotherapy is a formal type of therapeutic treatment which involves doing outdoor activities in nature. There is no single definition of ecotherapy, but it’s often used to describe a regular, structured activity that:

is led by trained professionals
focuses on doing an activity, rather than health
takes place in a green environment
is related to exploring and appreciating the natural world
involves spending time with other people, although you can always choose to interact at your own pace.

Ecotherapy can take place in both rural and urban settings, including parks, gardens, farms and woodlands. It involves varying amounts of physical activity, depending on the type of programme. It can include activities that focus on:

working in nature, such as a conservation project, gardening or farming
experiencing nature, such as enjoying the views or sitting in nature / mindfulness-based therapy

Our ecotherapy sessions follow a set structure and incorporate evidenced-based practice, such as CBT and skills based learning opportunities. Other approaches can be more informal, or vary depending on the time of year and what work needs doing. People attending may have mental health concerns or be living with a physical disability but the main focus is usually on working together on a shared activity, not the health problem.

More Information

There is increasing evidence to support the benefits for Eco therapy / Nature based therapy, including promoting good mental health and physical wellbeing by:

Reduction in stress levels
Reduction in depression and anxiety
Improved self-esteem
Increased levels of physical activity
Better resilience
Enhanced social interaction and confidence boosted through the learning of new skills
Feelings of happiness by positively contributing towards the environment

Ecotherapy is an establishing and emerging field, applying contemporary therapeutic frameworks, and facilitation connections to nature. Ecotherapy is the application of Ecopsychology, a relatively new term. Said to have begun when ecologists and psychologists put their heads together in the 90’s.

Ecotherapy is becoming more common in mental health, disabilities and aged care, and occupational and recreational therapy. It is popping up in children/ family programs, youth at risk as a treatment for anxiety and depression. It can be found in correctional services, in community gardens, cultural harmony projects, drug and alcohol rehab, Veterans, as well as rehabilitation programs for stroke and accident victims.

“Ecotherapy is an umbrella term for nature-based methods of physical and psychological healing.” – International Association for Ecotherapy

Ecotherapy creates therapeutic space with and in nature, that promotes and encourages wellbeing, and flourishing. Nature/ plant life cycles and ecosystems coincide and interweave with human life cycles. The split between human and nature begins to heal. We are nature, as indigenous cultures have always known.

Through caring for nature, ourselves and others we can find an environment that prevents disease and encourages wellbeing. If you have ever known the power of nature to calm the nerves, balance your perspective in challenging times, or simply feel renewed by a walk in a rainforest, or by the ocean, you know Ecotherapy! While the healing offered by nature is not new, it is being harnessed in new ways and settings.

An Ecotherapist is an emerging form of therapist skilled in facilitation and application of ecopsychology; a focus on bringing nature back to people through nature-based immersions and experiences. Work opportunities within clinical or community settings, are increasing; be it in mental health, disabilities, aged care /dementia, rehabilitation, youth at risk and with children.

There is evidence that being in nature lowers blood pressure and the heart rate, lowers the stress response from stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. It also encourages deep breathing, which supports people to slow down, and be present, rather than somewhere else in their heads.

Being with growing things, that require care and nurture, is a wonderful metaphor for personal growth and self care which can invite our full humanity. As a part of an allied treatment process or as a stand alone program, ecotherapy has a lot to offer this modern era of being busy and dependant on technology.

“Given that the human soul is the very core of our human nature, we might note that, when we are guided by soul, we are guided by nature. Both soul and greater nature do guide us in our individual development, whether or not we ask for this guidance.” Bill Plotkin “Wild Mind- a Field Guide to the Human Psyche”

Aboriginal Spirituality paper on wellbeing by University of Sydney