Individual and Group Psychotherapy
Would you like for your child or
Student to:
- Be more confident
- Use creative thinking
- Be more responsible
- Overcome fears
- Make wise decisions
- Problem solve
- Communicate effectively
- Become a leader
- Practice team building
Anyone who has ever worked with horses knows the bond between horses and humans is a very special one. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) are exciting new ways to use horses to help people learn critical life skills.
The focus of these experiential sessions is not riding or horsemanship. In fact, 100% of the activities will take place on the ground. Activities involving the horses will require the client(s) to apply certain skills in verbal and non-verbal communication, assertiveness, creative thinking, and problem-solving.
Using horses in group activities is especially powerful in teaching teamwork, leadership, communication, relationship building, character and self-confidence. Children will learn about themselves and others by actively planning and participating in specially designed activities with the horses. Here are some things kids have said about the group experience: “Horses teach us that bad habits are hard to get over.” “Horses teach us to listen, cooperation, sensitivity, and communication.”
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At Winning Strides we offer individual and small group counseling for elementary and middle school children helping them with issues such as family changes, anger management, motivation, grief and loss. Equine assisted learning groups are also offered to enhance skills in responsibility, self confidence, peer relationships, leadership, and communication.
At Winning Strides, our mission is to impact the lives of young people and adults by providing a learning environment with educational and therapeutic programs that will enhance their life skills through contact with horses.
Using the horse as a tool, growth and learning skills are developed as specific tasks are completed by the client. Thus, the client(s) get a better understanding about themselves emotionally as well as developing an ability to internalize their understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses. The horse becomes a metaphorical learning tool allowing clients to become more confident and improve their communication skills.
All sessions are conducted by an Equine Assisted Psychotherapy team consisting of a mental health professional and an equine specialist. The belief that our clients have the best solutions for themselves forms a foundation of the EAGALA approach and the Winning Strides approach. Rather than instruction or directing solutions, in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy we allow our clients to experiment, problem-solve, take risks, employ creativity, and find their own solutions. At Winning Strides we follow the EAGALA Code of Ethics in our standard of professionalism.
Winning Strides’ goal is to become a “first choice” for parents of children with emotional and educational issues.