HORSES HEALING TRAUMA WOUNDS

Transcription

1 FLORIDA COUNCIL AGAINST SEXUAL VIOLENCE 2014 CONFERENCE MAY 14-16, 2014 HORSES HEALING TRAUMA WOUNDS MARILYN SOKOLOF, PHD, TRI, ESMHL MEMREE STUART, MLS, TRI, ESMHL RITA LAWRENCE, BA SHANNON KELEHER, MBA, PHD CANDIDATE

2 SESSION OBJECTIVES At the end of this session the participant will be able to: Explain the rationale behind the group Understand the nature of this experiential therapy Describe 2 horse activities and processing topics Identify the tools for measuring success and progress Explain how to find a program in your area

3 TOGETHER WE DID AGENCIES collaborating together put TEEN GIRLS with sexual assault histories together with THERAPEUTIC HORSES for positive results: TEEN GIRLS FROM ALACHUA COUNTRY VICTIM SERVICES & RAPE CRISIS CENTER + HORSEMPOWER, INC. + HOPE (HOrses Helping PEople, Inc.) = HORSES HEALING TRAUMA WOUNDS

4 THE PARTNERS THE REFERRING AGENCY Alachua County Victim Services & Rape Crisis Center (ACVSRCC), a county government agency THE FACILITY HOrses Helping People, Inc. (HOPE), a not-for profit therapeutic riding facility in Archer, FL THE EFP COMPANY HorseMpower, Inc., an Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) program

5 Alachua County Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center Rita Lawrence, former Sexual Assault Program Manager and horse owner

6 THE ACVSRCC s ROLE Choosing a format and who to invite Screening participants Ensuring forms are completed Client Info Sheet Providing transportation for the clients Raising the funds Transfer of information

7 ACVSRCC CLIENTS NEEDS Meaningful, safe, effective program for ACVSRCC clients who are sexual violence survivors Alternative programming for survivors to whom more traditional talk support groups did not appeal Reconnection and Re-empowerment Appeal to a wide demographic - Male survivors Adults who suffered victimization as children Survivors victimized as adults Teen survivors

8 (EFP) Marilyn Sokolof, PhD, Licensed Psychologist and Registered TRI and ESMHL Memree Stuart, MLS, Registered TRI and ESMHL

9 HORSEMPOWER, INC. NEEDS Be able to create therapeutic environment in the barn Facility that met PATH standards Barn with stalls and a center aisle No traffic during group to offer confidentiality to clients Access to volunteers who: Would be consistent Were knowledgeable about horses and could read their body language Could be sensitive to the needs of clients (in this case, trauma survivors) Meet PATH standards: Medical background on participants and volunteers Consent forms Liability waivers

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11 HOPE HOrses Helping PEople Mission: To provide a safe and enjoyable environment where individuals with special needs benefit from developmental, therapeutic, and educational equine-oriented activities. To improve the individual's physical, cognitive, emotional, and social skills through equine assisted therapy. To build a cooperative link within the community through educational opportunities. Web address: Contact info: ridingtherapy@gmail.com

12 HOPE HOrses Helping PEople Adapted Riding Hippotherapy Horses Helping Heroes Pony Pals Equine Assisted Psychotherapy

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14 HOPE NEEDS Supervision to protect their therapy horses and facility Financial compensation for the use of the horses and facility Desire to expand and offer programming to new populations Increase sustainability by meeting more community needs Meet PATH standards: Medical background on participants and volunteers Consent forms Liability waivers Ability to orient volunteers to farm and horse needs

15 WHY THIS PARTNERSHIP WORKS Experiential therapy offers big improvement in short time Metaphors that can be used in counseling and therapy long after the group ends Psychotherapy group, not a support group Emphasis on safety - PATH, Intl. standards and certification Funding Measuring Success

16 HORSES AS THERAPEUTIC PARTNERS Why Horses? What is an EFP program? It is experiential therapy that includes interactions with horses to promote healing and change. How do horses do this? They teach us about ourselves! Provide feedback about the emotional state of the client Allow emotional issues to be raised and addressed Demonstrate examples of healthy relationships Present the Human-Animal Bond as a place for healing

17 QUALITIES OF A THERAPY HORSE IN AN EFP PROGRAM Physical Qualities Relationships with Other Horses Behavioral Qualities

18 THE HORSES

19 STARLIGHT Appaloosa Approximately 24 years old Has been at HOPE the longest No longer used for riding sessions due to arthritis in hind end and vision issues but a wonderful ground partner.

20 BELLE Belgian Draft Horse Cross She is a retired police horse from Naples. Owner received a new police horse so she was pastured. Started developing summer sores due to the heat so far south. A favorite of the veterans.

21 ALVIN Arabian Approximately 20 years old Retires from his show career at 16 due to arthritis in front leg Very spunky personality Great judge of character is calm for children but reacts differently to experienced horse people

22 ANDY Paint Approximately 24 years old Successful hunter/jumper career until injured due to a bad trainer Set to be euthanized because no longer considered useful Owners found out and brought him to HOPE Best friends with Rocky the mini horse Once worth over $100,000 Rocky

23 SUNNI Palomino Paint A retired champion show pony (hunter/jumper) that the property owner s daughter outgrew He loves to be groomed

24 THE CLIENTS 4 girls between the ages of 15 and 17 All had histories of sexual violence, including childhood abuse, date rape, and molestation by trusted adults All exhibiting trauma symptoms such as panic attacks, flashbacks, nightmares and social withdrawal

25 THE PROCESS 5 weekly sessions; 3 hours each Group Therapy Mixed with Horse Activities Therapeutic Lesson Plan for each Session

26 GROUP THERAPY IN THE BARN Teen girls discussed their experience and the effect it has had on them Reviewed Homework Exercises

27 LESSON PLAN: EMPOWERMENT Objective: To identify and practice elements of healthy empowerment Discuss: Clarity of intention and Aggressiveness- Passivity-Assertiveness Activity: Moving the Horse

28 LESSON PLAN: GROUNDING AS A COPING SKILL Objective: To teach sensory grounding Discuss: Grounding as a Coping Skill Activity: Sensate Focus

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30 STRAIGHT FROM THE CLIENTS MOUTHS Say what you mean and stick to it. How to say NO! If you ve got pain you can release it onto your horse; never give up. How to be comfortable with myself opened my eyes a little more.

31 Why are we trying to collect data? Limited empirical research - most research that exists is qualitative or anecdotal. By creating or improving a tool that is generalizable to the population empirical evidence can be collected and analyzed, which will allow for: Therapists to code the services they are providing accurately to insurance companies for reimbursement One insurance company's policy: This treatment is considered experimental and investigational because there is insufficient scientific data in the peer reviewed medical literature to support the effectiveness. Non-profits and other groups operating therapeutic riding facilities to qualify for and potentially receive grant funding.

32 Instruments we are Currently Using Behavioral Assessment System for Children (BASC) Self-Rating Scale (SRS) * Parent-Rating Scale (PRS) * Chosen for reliability and validity with both sexes Standardized on a large national sample that is representative of the general population of U.S. children Trauma symptom checklist Evaluation forms

33 An Instrument for Future Use Psychosocial Session Form Used in rating client social behavior at the end of treatment sessions Designed to: Track client progress across treatment sessions in a consistent and measureable format Provides a determination of how much change may have occurred between sessions allowing for the measurement of the differential impact of sessions. Provides repeated measures of clients positive and negative social behaviors Uses a 6-point Likert Scale

34 Client s Name: Psychosocial Session Summary Date: Session Number: Length of Session: Session Format Individual: Group: Family: POSITIVE BEHAVIORS Rate behaviors based on a comparison of the client with what is considered to be typical, normal healthy functioning. NEGATIVE BEHAVIORS SESSION SUMMARY Total Positive Behaviors Score (add scores and divide by number of items scored) Total Negative Behaviors Score (add scores and divide by number of items scored) Total Behavior Score (subtract total negative score from total positive score) An increasing total behavior score across sessions indicates overall improvement in positive behaviors relative to negative behaviors. SIGNIFICANT HAPPENINGS: No Opportunity to Observe None Very Low Low Medium High Very High Interaction X Cooperation X Assertive X Attention to Task X Follows Directions X Respectful X Integrity/Honesty X Leadership X Teamwork X Eye Contact X Expression of Feelings X Expression of Thoughts X Expression of Needs X Empathy X Sharing X Helpful X Problem Solving X Self-Esteem X Self-Confidence X Insight about self X Insight about others X No Opportunity to Observe None Very Low Low Medium High Very High Guarded X Unreceptive (closed) X Manipulative X Argumentative X Deceptive X Fidgety/Hyperactive X Verbally Aggressive X Physically Aggressive X Passive X Withdrawn X Belligerent X Angry X Sad or Depressed X THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION(S): Therapist Signature/Date: Developed by Dr. Cynthia K. Chandler, 2004 Modified with permission by Dr Kay Trotter EPIC Enterprises 2004.

35 RESOURCES FIND A PROGRAM NEAR YOU Things to look for Standards Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, Intl (PATH) Standards go through 3 years of rigorous field testing Standards for the safety of all; client, equine, mental health professional, equine specialist and facility Training and certification of horse handler as equine specialist specific to EFP Trauma specialists Scope of Practice List of facilities 40 centers across Florida Many already serve clients with emotional, behavioral or mental health needs

36 MORE RESOURCES For copies of the PowerPoint or a bibliography, please contact Marilyn Sokolof PhD, TRI, ESMHL at msokolof@aol.com American Psychological Association Division 17 Human/Animal Interaction Section;

37 CONTACT INFORMATION HorseMpower, Inc: Marilyn Sokolof, PhD, TRI, ESMHL; Memree Stuart MLS, TRI, ESMHL; Rita Lawrence, BA; H.O.P.E.; Shannon Keleher, MBA, PhD Candidate;