Phase 1 - EAP Pilot Program
About the Pilot Program
Our Pilot Program came out of a desire to be able to serve survivors as soon as possible. Because we have such a great and BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal!) of a vision for our ranch and programs it will take us some time and significant funding to pull it all together.
Instead of asking survivors to wait on us, we decided to launch a Pilot Program that would accomplish three main goals:
-
Give survivors access to TF-EAP services at no cost to them as soon as possible.
-
Gather anonymous data of the efficacy of EAP to share with future funding sources and donors.
-
Test best practices for the program so we can make
adjustments necessary before continuing to offer EAP services in Phase 2.
How Will TF-EAP Help Survivors?
Horses provide a safe, yet honest environment that allows us to be vulnerable and real. They live in the present so they don’t prejudge people like humans do. Horses are immediate biofeedback machines and will pick up on incongruency in a client that a human therapist cannot. Because horses are prey animals, their brains are naturally very similar to that of a traumatized human brain; they live in survival mode.
Horses provide opportunities to practice assertive communication, set boundaries, make requests, learn emotional regulation skills, and build trust and confidence in a mutual partnership. All of the skills used to build relationship with the horse are transferable outside the round pen to human relationships.
As an experiential therapy, results are quicker than many traditional therapies, long lasting and comprehensive. Learn More
Do I Qualify to Participate?
Are you a survivor of sexual exploitation and/or trafficking? Are you searching for a non-traditional therapy to help you heal and move forward with your life? Are you willing to commit to our 7-month program, including weekly 90-minute sessions?
If you answered "yes" to all of these questions, this may be for you.
We invite you to complete an application. Men, women, boys, and girls over the age of 8 years old are welcome to apply.
Those who are selected for our Pilot Program will receive an opportunity to heal and restore their lives by partnering with horses. You will work at a local barn with a team of qualified professionals including a Trauma Focused Licensed Therapist, a Trauma Informed Equine Professional, and a horse of your choosing (unless the horse picks you first!).
The program will run for 7 consecutive months. You and the therapy team will meet for 90-minute sessions every week during that time. That's 48 hours of experiential therapy at no cost to you.