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

Our Therapeutic Approaches

You Choose

Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

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.

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CBT help people in the following ways and has been well documented in numerous research studies to show:

Development of a greater understanding of thoughts, feelings and consequent behaviours in difficult situations
Understanding their problem-solving style and ways of improving it
Development of new skills for managing unhelpful thoughts, feelings and physical reactions
Becoming clearer in their communication and increasing their assertiveness
Understanding personal boundaries and how to maintain them
Developing plans for the maintenance of new behaviours and overcoming obstacles and challenges they may hinder their implementation
Improving self-image, self-confidence, self-esteem and self-compassion
Incorporation of exercise and other activities that support health and wellbeing

Conditions CBT can help us overcome include:
• Anxiety, depression and stress • Anger, bullying and domestic violence • Grief and loss • Social and behavioural disorders • Eating disorders • Problems related to misuse of alcohol and/or drugs • Post-traumatic stress disorder • Relationship and interpersonal difficulties • Life adjustment and transition • Managing complex or chronic illness or disease

CBT strategies include:
• Cognitive restructuring • Future-focused cognitions and forward planning • Identifying emotional triggers • Mindfulness and relaxation techniques • Changing maladaptive behaviour patterns • Behaviour experiments • Avoidance prevention • Exposure treatment • Increase adaptive coping strategies • Problem solving and decision making • Activity scheduling

Other strategies that may be incorporated include, but are not limited to:
Skills Training: Problem-solving skills and training; Mindfulness, relaxation and stress reduction; Emotion regulation skills training; Interpersonal communication.

Anger Management training: Identifying emotional triggers; Increasing awareness of the impact of aggression on others; Increasing individuals ability to tolerate/accept frustration; Assertiveness rather than aggression or passivity; Listening skills; Identifying personal styles of conflict resolution; Balancing the focus between achieving tasks and relationships.

Social Skills and Communication training: Boundary setting in relationships; Assertiveness rather than aggression or passivity; Giving clear instructions; Listening skills; Negotiation and joint decision making; Identifying personal styles of conflict resolution.

Parent management training: Assertiveness rather than aggression or passivity, Balancing the focus between achieving tasks and relationships; Understanding the role of anxiety within the family system; Motivating and supporting others; Developing or enhancing trust; Encouraging team work within the family.

CBT is certainly reported to provide many benefits to psychological, emotion and physical wellbeing.
At Pathways we can provide CBT in a nature based setting to further enhance a participants experaince and to assist in engaging hard to reach individuals and communities. We are also able to combine our CBT therapy with equine assisted therapy.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy The EAGALA MODEL

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) incorporates horses experientially for emotional growth and learning. It is a collaborative effort between a licensed therapist and a horse professional working with the clients and horses to address treatment goals. Because of its intensity and effectiveness, it is considered a short-term approach. EAP is experiential in nature. This means that participants learn about themselves and others by participating in activities with the horses.

The EAGALA model’s powerful approach addresses a variety of mental health and human development needs including behavioural issues, attention deficit disorder, autism, PTSD, substance abuse, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, relationship problems and communication needs. EAGALA (link to site) provides a standard and structure for providing Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Equine Assisted Learning sessions.

Eagala Adult Intake Form EAGALA BROCHURE Mental Health Assessment Adult Indemnity Form Equine Therapy Info Child Indemnity Form EAGALA FAQs

Animal Assisted Therapy

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.

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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

“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.

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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

Emotionally Intelligent Teams

Help your team become more emotionally intelligent, bond, perform better and be happy in the process! We have a variety of flexible options for your organisation. Spend the whole day partaking in Equine experiential sessions with both an individual and group focus. Enjoy a morning tea and wonderful light lunch. Also available as a half day option without lunch.

The “Super Treat” team day runs from 9.30 to 4.00pm and includes equine sessions throughout the day, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a wonderful body balance class in Nature (suitable for all levels of fitness ). We can also include mandala drawing, pottery and some reflective quiet time in the day. Discuss a tailor made day. We promise you a day to remember!

Teams on a budget: We can do half day, whole day or a series of weekly meeting. There will be a series of activities and group events.

Sponsor a program: Become a friend of Pathways MH – Why not partake in a training program or retreat / team building day whilst supporting a local school or youth agency to benefit from the program? We have many individuals, group organisations and schools that would like to partake in our programs but do not have funding.

Could you create an opportunity through your business by providing a sponsorship. Tax benefits and promotional opportunities apply. In return, we would help to spread the word about your commitment to your local community through our press events and community network.