Watch out talk therapists, a new form of practice is trotting from the office to the stable.
Through efforts from a number of NSU faculty, anyone can build relationships with horses through equine therapy.
Stable Place, founded by Shelley Green, professor of family therapy, and Valerie Judd, is a non-profit organization that provides equine therapy at affordable rates for couples, families and individuals.
Yes, equine therapy, as in horse therapy. According to Green, equine therapy is relatively new to the world of therapy. It was conceived about 20 years ago and recognized as a practice around 10 years ago. So, she said there’s a lot of development to be done in the field.
That’s where Stable Place comes in.
This year, the organization received a grant with FIU’s Bridge Program and the Ware Foundation that will allow them to run therapy programs with foster children while FIU does clinical research on their work. Green said she is excited to have data that will provide credibility to the field.
While this research is being done, however, Stable Place staff said they see benefits of the practice regularly.
Sheila Santage, equine specialist at Stable Place, said, “Just a small little thing can completely change [clients] in such a way and make them see something that they could never see just in everyday life. Just to be a witness to that is such a privilege.”
In equine therapy, horses are not trained like therapy dogs often are. Green said that because horses are animals of prey, they are very perceptive of the environment. The animals are able to pick up on the slight nuances of a client’s movements and attitudes, and they naturally react to it. This creates the basis for therapy.
Diana Giraldez, adjunct professor of family therapy and staff therapist at Stable Place, said, “I think that unique opportunity that is nonverbal is what creates our approach. It’s just unique and magical and really impactful.”
A typical equine therapy session is hands-on. The client is asked to perform a simple task or obstacle with the horse. The therapist will then ask questions and make connections based on observation. For example, Giraldez said that if a person suddenly gets nervous and the horse reacts, she might talk about why that happened with the client. She said that she then ties it back to psychotherapy and tries to create a metaphor.
Ellen Rondino, a NSU master’s intern at Stable Place, said she thinks that equine therapy might be even more applicable than talk therapy because some individuals may be unwilling or unable to express the issues they may be struggling with.
Green said, “This is so much not about the words, but it’s about the experience.”
Because Stable Place’s goal is to provide therapy to those who may be unable to afford it otherwise, they are able to offer some services for free. Individuals who are interested in equine therapy can contact Stable Place at 954-790-0270.
