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Mindfulness
4 Week Group 
Upcoming Sessions: 11/21, 12/5, 12/19

WHY HORSES?

 

"There is something about the outside of a horse

that is good for the inside of a person."

 ~ Winston Churchill

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Horses provide opportunities for learning about life because their life in a herd is similar to human social dynamics. They provide a natural opportunity to develop work ethic, responsibility, assertiveness, communication, and healthy relationships.

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INTELLIGENT PREY
ANIMALS

To evade predators, horses have evolved to be extremely sensitive to their environment. They instinctively analyze and react to our body language and other nonverbal cues providing us with valuable feedback and insights for other areas of our lives.*

LARGE AND POWERFUL

 

 

It's hard to ignore a horse with their size and presence. We can't just control a powerful horse. Approaching horses helps us reflect how we approach our relationships and how we can face other big or overwhelming things in our lives.*

HERD ANIMALS WITH DISTINCT PERSONALITIES

 

Horses are social animals with defined roles within a herd. They have distinct personalities, attitudes, and moods. They could be stubborn or they could be playful. In other words, horses are a lot like us.*

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)

Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL)

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SIMILARITIES:

Equine assisted psychotherapy and equine assisted learning share a lot in common, including, but not limited to: 

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  • FROM THE GROUND - all work with the horses is done from the ground; there is NO RIDING.

  • BETTERMENT OF SELF - both types of work with the horses result in an individual or groups betterment of themselves.

  • EXPERIENTIAL - it is the experiences with the horses that bring out the biggest lessons learned.

  • GOAL - ORIENTED - both types of sessions focus on specific goals set by the individual or the group.

  • CODE of ETHICS - all sessions are conducted following a strict code of ethics .

DIFFERENCES:

Equine assisted psychotherapy and equine assisted learning are also different in some important ways.

EQUINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY (EAP):

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  • EMOTIONAL GROWTH - EAP sessions focus on emotional growth of an individual.

  • MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL - EAP sessions legally require the precesence of a  a licensed mental health professional.

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EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING (EAL):

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  • PERSONAL GROWTH/DEVELOPMENT - EAL sessions work on goals such as team-building or leadership development, 

  • MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL NOT REQUIRED - Although EAL sessions still involve a licensed mental health professional, it is not required by law.

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THE EAGALA MODEL - A TEAM APPROACH​

 

Liberty Reins conducts sessions using the Eagala model. As can be found on the Eagala website, the Eagla model provides a professional, experiential therapy that drives change. Below you will find a description of the model as explained on the Eagala website.*

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Mental health needs are at an all-time high.

The Eagala Model provides an innovative solution that provides a unique space for an emotionally safe, hands-on experience for clients. With real-time feedback, clients are able to reach issues where traditional talk-based therapies leave off.

The Model requires a licensed, credentialed Mental Health Professional and a qualified Equine Specialist who structure sessions incorporating horses to effectively address the client’s treatment plan or learning goals, helping with issues such as addiction, domestic abuse, behavioral disorders, depression, anxiety and trauma.

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Horses are the perfect partner.

Because horses are highly sensitive, clients can work through their life struggles by interacting with the horses without feeling judgment or interpretation by another person.

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All the work is done on the ground with no riding involved.

The horses are equal partners on the team and are left unencumbered to allow them to interact freely with the client.

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Overcoming challenges by being the expert in their own life.

Everyone has the innate ability to solve their own problems. The role of the Eagala team is to provide guidance that assists the client’s own process and creates lasting solutions.

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Their stories naturally begin to shift, and have a deeply felt, profound effect.

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CLIENT CENTERED. SOLUTION ORIENTED. EVIDENCE BASED.*

The Eagala Model is so effective because it embraces the science that humans learn best by doing. The model prescribes a hands-on approach where clients are given the space to project and analyze their situations, make connections, and find their own solutions. Since the solutions are personally experienced in conjunction with intellectual understanding, they tend to be deeper, more profound, and longer lasting.*

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HOW IT WORKS*

The Eagala Model is a team approach that includes a licensed, credentialed Mental Health Professional, a qualified Equine Specialist, and horses working together with the client in an arena at all times. When inside the arena, all the work is done on the ground with the horses front and center, deliberately unhindered and never ridden, and allowed to interact with the client as they wish. This creates the space for the client, with the support of the professional facilitators, to reflect, project, and make deep connections.

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*A Global Standard in Equine-assisted Psychotherapy and Personal Development, https://eagala.org/model

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OUR TEAM
 
#1: The Horses! 
Our equine partners are a vital part of our team in every session. Their barn identities are not shared as we want each horse to become whatever character they might represent in a client's story. â€‹

Mental Health Professional: Marlena Johnson, LCSW
Marlena (Nina) is a licensed clinical social worker with experience working with adults in individual, and group therapy. I provide therapy services for people experiencing mood disorders, emotional distress, interpersonal difficulties, or have a history of past trauma, or addiction. Learn more about Marlena (Nina) and her private practice at: www.livingtreewellnesscenter.com

Equine Specialist: Allison Watson
Allison (Ali) has spent nearly her entire life connected to horses in some way, shape, or form. She has a Master's degree in Education and spent 15 years teaching science, developing a lifelong love for growth and learning. Allison's mission is to provide a place where humans can come and be their authentic/real self, wherever they are at in their journey.

Current Offerings
Teen Group

Current Offerings

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Come as You Are . . .    Leave Changed.

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  • Group Sessions - these sessions include are conducted in partnership with Living Tree Wellness Center and include a licensed mental health professional, an equine specialist, and at least one horse.

    • < 3 people $75/person/session

    • >4 people $60/person/session

  • Individual Sessions - these sessions include are conducted in partnership with Living Tree Wellness Center and include a licensed mental health professional, an equine specialist, and at least one horse.

    • $200/session

  • Relational Horsemanship - these sessions are conducted with an equine specialist and at least one horse.

    • Individual - $70/person/session

    • Group - $60/person/session

  • Hanging with Horses - these sessions are conducted independently with at least one horse.

    • Prerequisite: must have a minimum of 4 Relational Horsemanship Sessions

    • Prerequisite: must have approval of Liberty Reins director

    • Individual: $40/person/session

    • Group - $30/person/session

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Individual Session Openings:

Monday (every week) 3:30

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*please contact us if one of these times does not work for you as we still may be able to make space in the schedule.  

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Restoring Life - Group for Teens

Next Group Start: TBD

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Restoring Life is a eight-week equine-assisted therapy group designed to help teens navigate the impact of the pandemic on their social and emotional life. Topics covered include, but are not limited to:

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  • Connection skills

  • Elements of communication 

  • Relaxation/Grounding

  • Listening Skills/Body Language

  • Leadership/influence

  • Boundaries/Assertiveness

  • Attunement/Empathy

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Dates:

TBD

Time:

TBD.

Location:

20560 Fernview Road, West Linn, Oregon, 97068

Cost:

$480; ($100 non-refundable deposit due at registration, balance to be paid before first group)

**If cost is an issue, please reach out and ask us about payment options**

Note:

 ***Group is limited to 8 participants***

 

For more information contact us at:

 

Allison Watson, Liberty Reins, LLC

Marlena Johnson, LCSW 

libertyreinsllc@gmail.com

708.567.6497


 

“The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a person.”

~ Winston Churchill

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