Testimonials
What Our Clients Say
The St Vincent de Paul Society’s, Breaking the Barriers program are proud to be affiliated with the reputable Pathways To Mental Health – EAGALA program.
Through partnering with Pathways to Mental Health, we have been able to provide equine assisted life coaching to over 50 children since 2018, all of which have experienced complex trauma and display pain based behaviours.
The EAGALA program has provided our clients with valuable life skills including; self-regulation strategies, awareness of the impacts of body language on communication, further development of their self-esteem and self-worth, coping skills for educational environments and strategies for positive peer relationships and social interactions.
The EAGALA program provides a safe, secure and nurturing environment for our clients to self-discover and develop their potential in an alternate learning environment.
Feedback from Caseworkers identifies that this program is having a significant positive impact on participants, especially their resilience.
We would highly recommend this program to either individuals or targeted client groups who have been impacted by complex trauma.
The experience was peaceful and calming, sitting among the horses and just letting your mind be at ease was powerful and allowing your mind to just sit still.
I never thought of horses in this way before, I used to ride a lot before I had my children and often felt a calmness when I did ride, coming to do the therapy with the horses was a new experience for me, as the horse felt my being and was there for me and I felt a calming energy ,the horse was and is a powerful creature and yet so loving and understanding and trusting and I felt safe to allow me to just be me.
I recommend this experience to those who feel they are not sure who they are or just need a calming friend and a sense of calmness.
I have had the great pleasure of working with Sally Mills and Pathways to Mental Health in my role as a psychotherapist and Program Development Officer with particular reference to Veterans and other emergency service workers/first responders.
My experience is that of a team of avid ambassadors for the equine assisted therapy model with a deep understanding of the work and an even deeper empathy for their clients. Aside from my close relationship, I have heard reports from other clients that speak to Sally and her team’s diligence and care when working with their clients.
I fully support them in their endeavours and look forward to a long association. To this end I have no hesitation at all in recommending Sally and the team to any prospective client.
Our program has enjoyed a very constructive working relationship with Sally Mills and Pathways to Mental Health. We have supported numerous participants of ours to engage with this service and all the feedback received form participants and staff alike has been overwhelmingly positive.
In turn Sally has referred other clients to our program for ongoing support where needed. We endorse this work as offering highly constructive and profoundly therapeutic interventions and look forward to continuing this collaboration
As the Head of learning Enrichment at Trinity Catholic College I would like to pay tribute to the work done by Pathways to Mental Health. We took a group of students with special needs to the Centre for a full day of activities. The staff were a pleasure to work with in organising the day and in presenting a day that the students both enjoyed and greatly benefited from. We then used the actives undertaken on the day to provide stimulus for writing and measurement activities in term, including the production of a printed book. We found the day and the organisation excellent and would recommend them highly.
My client always looks forward to her regular visits with Sally and the beautiful horses. I notice that afterwards she seems much happier and more relaxed. Sally works with the horses to provide a safe, relaxing and positive environment in which my client can communicate her challenges in life. Together they find solutions to everyday tasks as well as deeper emotional issues. This is a huge support to my client in helping her to fulfil her NDIS goals and have a happier and fuller life.
Pam Kennedy NDIS Support Worker
Pams client wrote: ‘I love all the horses as they make me feel happy inside my tummy. Sally always listens to me talk about a lot of things. If i get upset she is always with me. Sally and I get carrots and Apples for the horses. I love to go to the horses. I like Sally very much because she is such a caring person’
I have been working with Sally since 2011. She is a highly professional, well skilled clinician who engages well with our shared patients. She has a flexible approach and utilises a variety of clinical techniques. I continue to refer patients to her, and have no hesitation in recommending her services to other clinicians.
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