Engaging with People, Horses and More-than-Human Animals
Connection and kinship with nature are at the heart of my work with people, horses and more-than-human animals.
When you deepen your understanding of the needs of more-than-human-animals, the impact of systemic oppression, and our own human lens, you can begin to create solutions for change.
I offer consulting services that support practitioners who incorporate horses into human healing, in being the best advocates they can be for their horses.
Unexamined Practices
After 30+ years in the horse industry, I know that people love their horses and want what’s best for them. I also know this love is accompanied by contradictory practices like the use of force and pain, lack of choice and autonomy, and misinterpretations of equine behavior. This results in horses who are shut down and living in a state of learned helplessness, depression or anxiety.
Unfortunately, many equine-assisted psychotherapy and coaching programs borrow from unexamined practices in the horse industry. In these programs, horses that are used to help humans heal are exposed to excessive amounts of aversive or punishing training techniques. You may have noticed these practices, too, and felt in your gut that something's just not right.
"What animals are experiencing should matter to our anti-racist movements if we understand the "animal" as a social construct was designed to prop up the ruling class and the "human.”
― Aph Ko
Reimagining Equine-Assisted Practices
The ethical inclusion of horses in human treatment requires stepping outside traditional horsemanship. It means we must honor the science of learning, all we know about equine behavior and the integral role that safety plays in connection. It is an enormous responsibility to understand, care for, train and prepare a therapy animal.
This often requires us to unlearn what we've known about horses and reimagine equine-assisted practices, so that our experiences with horses can help bring us back to the essence of who we are.
You’re Ready to Unlearn and Learn Anew
My approach is centered on advocating for the horse as a foundation of relational safety for any client you are working with. I draw on my experience as a Certified Brené Brown Daring Way Facilitator to help you identify your deepest values and create practices and behaviors that embody those values. I create a container of relational safety and unconditional acceptance so you have space to examine what’s coming up for you as you unlearn and learn anew. Our work together provides you with room to speak truth to thoughts, feelings and actions that feel shameful, and I provide guidance on ways to move forward with self-compassion and self-kindness.
Related Blog Posts
Therapy, Horses, Social Justice and Love
by Julia Alexander
What Horses Teach Us About Systemic Oppression
by Julia Alexander
Four Ways to Address Systemic Oppression at the Barn
by Julia Alexander
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You Deserve More Love, Belonging and Connection
When you experience shame, it can block your ability to feel a sense of love, belonging and connection. Download my guide for Identifying and Moving Through Shame to learn the differences between shame, blame and guilt, and discover techniques for building self-compassion.
You Deserve More Love, Belonging and Connection
When you experience shame, it can block your ability to feel a sense of love, belonging and connection. Download my guide for Identifying and Moving Through Shame to learn the differences between shame, blame and guilt, and discover techniques for building self-compassion.
In addition to this free tool, you'll also receive occasional emails and announcements from my practice to help you alleviate shame, heal trauma and discover your inner resilience.