05/02/2022
Feeling excited to have been invited for an interview with SA Life Magazine about equine-assisted psychotherapy. It appears in the new February ‘Health and Wellness’ issue out now on p.150!
At last, interactive, and experiential modalities of therapy such as creative arts and animal-assisted/nature-based therapies are starting to gain traction in Australia, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to be given a rare chance to educate the general public on such a large scale about this.
I especially thank my friend, colleague and kindred spirit Sarah Harris who also features in the article for looking after my beautiful golden boy daily, collaborating with me on group programs, teaching me so much about the care of horses, and generously providing me with a heavenly environment to invite clients to do this work.
Also, to Caitlin Horwood-Skelton and matchmaker Juliarna Clark for helping the stars align to bring this remarkable horse into my life. The gratitude in my heart for him still brings tears to my eyes when I inhale the scent of his mane in the sunshine and feel his velvety nose and warm breath searching for carrots in my hand.
Of course for all the creatures, Badger, Mitch, Maggie, Derek, Roly, Ellie, Gregory, Murphy, Sophie, Gretel, Eddy, Winnie, Ludo, all the chooks and most of all Trapper I’m so filled with love and awe each day when your teachings, playfulness, affection, willingness to show up, curiosity, and intuitive sensitivity contribute to the healing of so many people.
And to Meg and all my friends and animals at the Equine Psychotherapy Institute...thanks for giving me the knowledge and skills for me to live my dream life!
*****Ok pardon the long post…(Golden Globes music cue to exit stage left by now I'm sure! LOL)****
I am incidentally compelled to make a few clarifications/corrections based on the lovely Zoe (the journalist) perhaps not quite hearing or understanding me as intended on the day of our interview…
My private practice (Adelaide Art Therapy) is not new and has been going since 2012 when I completed my first qualification in art therapy.
I didn’t study “equine-assisted art therapy” (such a thing does not exist … yet :D) after being diagnosed with BC. I completed a Grad Dip. In Art Psychotherapy during chemo treatment and studied equine-assisted psychotherapy in early 2019.
I have not given up my academic work entirely and am still guest lecturing for Ikon. I have resigned from my permanent academic role though to focus on my private practice and master’s degree more.
My stance on the expert-patient model versus a humanistic, phenomenological approach was not aimed at psychologists alone – it was meant to encompass all mental health professionals in clinical settings (i.e., psychiatrists, G.P.’s, social workers, psychotherapists and many more). Firstly, I am not a psychologist. Secondly, I have many amazing colleagues who are, and who do adopt the Rogerian person-centred approach to therapy. I truly hope this doesn’t offend anyone. The paraphrasing of what I said could have been a little clearer on that.
Finally, the academic in me really cringes when statements are made without citation or reference to original research articles (although I realise the impracticality of this for a lifestyle publication). Still… the part about the electromagnetic field around a horse’s heart was based on the research by Dr’s Baldwin and McCraty (2014) presented by the HeartMath Institute in the USA for anyone who wants to fact check 😊.
Besides that, I think Zoe did a really great job of condensing a whole morning’s conversation into her undoubtedly challenging word count. I think the basic foundations of EAP can finally be read and understood by anyone coming across the article which is all I could hope for!!
And PS, this is the picture I drew when I was 12 that Zoe mentioned with the dust cover blurb for even more entertainment. I think I've arrived at my inner 12 year old’s dream life!
