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True Healing Cannot Happen at the Expense of Another

True Healing Cannot Happen at the Expense of Another

by | Mar 4, 2024 | Applied Principles, Basics of Natural Lifemanship, Personal Growth

When I was a pre-teen I was horse crazy.

I had Breyer horses in my room and horse shoes with pictures inside of them all over my walls.  One year for Christmas my parents got me a subscription to the Quarter Horse Journal. I read every single word and even indexed all the information so I could come back to it when needed.  I was organized, committed, and passionate.

My horse’s name was Mr. Ed. He certainly wasn’t show or performance material but he loved me, and I was smitten.  Absolutely smitten. I can still smell him today and feel his breath. Bathing him was probably my favorite thing – an even better smell that takes me back to all things wonderful in my childhood.

Mr. Ed was SLOW.  So, I spent a lot of time on trail rides or pretending to help “work cattle” a mile behind my dad.  I can remember singing “you are my sunshine” to my horse, while ignoring my dad’s pleas for me to catch up.

I now know the science behind what was really happening for me in those sweet and utterly perfect moments – those moments that formed me – powerful attachment and regulation stuff that I love nerding on and on about nowadays.  The thing is, it’s not just research for me, nor is it for most of us.

It’s personal.

It’s why we do this work – we BELIEVE in the power of the horse/human relationship to heal and to help us develop and grow.  We want this for ourselves, and we go to great lengths to offer this to others.

We need the horse human relationship

Some of us may not have had a living, breathing pony when we were young, but even so, many of us knew deep down that we NEEDED one.  Intuitively, we knew what those who have come before us knew, what science is finally catching up to, and what those who will come after us will find deep in their bones – the relationship between horse and person is special and somehow part of the very fiber of our existence.

AND most of us, at some point, if we are in the EAS field long enough, find that our heart and our passion get fractured.

Bills to pay.

Horses and families to feed and care for.

A business to fund, and clients and communities with needs well beyond our capacities to meet.

And grief and loss – oh, the loss that is deep when we love our horses, and that can be particularly complicated to process.

So, we plug along.

And plug along some more.

And plug along some more, because. . .

Goodness me, horse people have some serious grit.  It’s a strength until it’s a hindrance.

In Natural Lifemanship, one of our core principles is that true healing cannot happen at the expense of another.  The first time we ever said this, we were talking mostly about the horses, and about how important it is that their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being is cared for in and out of sessions.

But a good principle is a good principle regardless of where it is applied (another foundational NL principle), and true healing for my horses and my clients cannot happen at my expense or at the expense of my family.  I, too, need care for my physical, emotional, and psychological well-being in and out of sessions.

Maybe read that again, because you need this, too. We all do.

Returning to our why

So, this year it is my intention to return to the heart of this work – the relationship that formed me – my real why.

Selfishly, I’d love to have support and a little accountability, so I’d like to invite our NL community to join me.  Connect or reconnect to what childlike love of a horse feels like – this simple, yet profound love is at the heart of what we teach and what we do in the world every day.

My invitation to you is that you spend time each day for 30 days with your horse or horses, then we’ll meet as a community once a week to support each other and reflect on our time.  For those of you that find it useful, we’ll give you prompts each day – some gentle guidance as you deepen your relationship with your horse. You can learn more about what we’re doing here.

I plan to do my best to create space for this each day, with all kinds of grace for imperfection.  It’s okay to miss a day (actually, we’re building in a few extra days for this purpose).  Your community will still be here when you get back.

Remember, true healing cannot happen at the expense of another

As of late, I need this reminder on the regular. And I need time with my horse, while ignoring the world’s pleas to catch up – even if for just a short time each day.

If you need this too, please join me.  Join our community as we take time for ourselves and time for our horses. . . on our own and in community.

 

 

 

NL Membership: A Constellation of Learning, Practice & Community

NL Membership: A Constellation of Learning, Practice & Community

by | Feb 5, 2024 | Basics of Natural Lifemanship, Member Spotlight, Natural Lifemanship Events

Constellations are landmarks. They are a guide and a navigational tool. But they are not formed by going from Point A to Point B. 

You need at least three stars to form a constellation.

The same is true for your learning journey with Natural Lifemanship. 

We often think of a learning journey as one with mileposts that we use to figure out how far along we are relative to “the end” or finish line. 

At Natural Lifemanship, we invite you to think about your learning journey as one made up of constellations, not mileposts. It’s not about going from start to finish, but about uncovering clusters of meaning along the way.

Those clusters are made up of opportunities to learn, to  practice, and to grow in community. This is exactly why we created the Natural Lifemanship Membership many years ago. 

Build your constellation with NL Membership

Here are some ways we create constellations within NL Membership to move you toward your goals: 

Learning

Membership includes over 100 hours of videos and compilations, more than 45 CE credits currently available, and videos and courses being added regularly. Take a look at the content lineup below to see exactly what you’ll have access to as an NL Member!

Practicing

Free events for Members, plus discounts on select events to practice what you’re learning. This includes: 

Connecting

Connect with your peers and build a community of supportive colleagues through:

  • Our online community for members through Circle
  • Community Connection Circles
  • Coffee & Horses virtual meetups
  • Networking opportunities

 

This is just the beginning of what you get with NL Membership. We will be announcing new opportunities to connect and learn in person this year, too! 

 

Membership Content by Category

Here’s a look at Membership content by category, along with descriptions and CEs, where available.

NL BASICS

>13 hours of video; 9 CE credits available

Animal Welfare Issues are also Clinical Issues

Tim Jobe and Bettina Shultz-Jobe discuss how to recognize animal welfare issues, including those that lead to behavior issues and burnout. They share how a lack of awareness in this area can impact our clients.

1 Hour/0 CEs

Distance Doesn’t Have to Mean Disconnection

Learn about the foundational role that detachment (physical distance) plays in forming a secure attachment. Learn how we can help ourselves and others get the relational experiences we didn’t get during development.

1 Hour/1 CE

Doing Attachment-Based Work

Gain a concrete understanding of attachment-based work, why it is important, and why understanding attachment-based work is critical when doing telehealth or transitioning between in-person and telehealth sessions.

1 Hour/1 CE

Introduction to NL

Learn the history and big ideas of Natural Lifemanship, how Natural Lifemanship principles are applied in relationships with horses, and how the NL principles facilitate connection and healing.

1 Hour/0 CEs

Introduction to NL and Trauma Informed Care for Service Organizations

This course lays a foundation for shifting organizational culture to become more trauma informed. Learn trauma-informed principles for building connected relationships that help to heal and reorganize the brain.

4.5 Hours/4.5 CEs

Natural Lifemanship Trauma Informed Care for Parents and Caregivers

NL co-founders, Tim and Bettina Jobe, teach parents relationship principles that help children learn to self-regulate and build healthy relationships, and why these are important especially when parenting children who have experienced trauma.

2.25 Hours/0 CEs

Support or Rescue

Bettina Shultz-Jobe discusses the difference between offering support and rescuing in the context of the therapeutic relationship. She discusses why this matters from a neurobiological and attachment perspective.

1 Hour/0 CEs

Trauma Informed and Developmentally Sensitive Schools

Learn science-based principles for creating trauma-informed and developmentally sensitive classrooms and schools. NL relationship principles provide a framework for translating principles into effective practices.

2.25 Hours/2.25 CEs

Trauma Informed Care and Trauma Informed Relationships are for Everyone

The truth is that most of us have experienced some level of trauma. Trauma informed care (TIC) is about becoming empowered to organize or reorganize the brain by understanding how the brain and body develop.

1 Hours/0 CEs

When Two Cultures Collide

Tim and Bettina discuss belief systems and principles that have historically prevailed in the horse world creating cultures that may collide or that may coalesce to bring about health and healing for horse and human, alike.

1 Hours/0 CEs

CONNECTED HORSEMANSHIP

>25 hours of video

Catching Your Horse with Connection

Watch as Natural Lifemanship trainer, Tanner Jobe, demonstrates and explains how to catch and halter a horse with connection.

.25 Hours/0 CEs

Centering

Learn a process for becoming more present to yourself and others. Shannon Knapp demonstrates a process of centering as a way to get in touch with yourself prior to engaging with a horse.

.25 Hours/0 CEs

Connected Horsemanship Deep Dive Workshop

Learn how the process of building a connected relationship in Natural Lifemanship is guided by principles and by a particular responsiveness to THIS relationship, rather than by techniques uniformly applied to all relationships.

3 Hours/0 CEs

Determining if the Relationship is Ready for Riding

As the relationship between a client and horse progresses, the therapy team and the client may decide it’s the right time to explore connection while mounted; however, how do they know if the client’s horse is ready for this next stage of intimacy?

.25 Hours/0 CEs

Developing Felt Safety with Attachment and Detachment

In this video, Tanner works with a new horse named Lizzie and demonstrates how to ask for connection through attachment and detachment. The goal is for Lizzie to stay connected, even in more stressful or unfamiliar spaces.

1 Hour/0 CEs

Equine Essentials: Body Language, Posture, Expressions, and Movement

There are a lot of opinions in the field about what various horse behaviors and physical cues mean; but in any relationship, and especially those with our equine companions, understanding body language and behavior is actually very nuanced. With this course, you will gain skill and confidence in your interactions with horses. Learn the essentials to better understand, care for, and connect with horses. This series is ideal for all equine-assisted/facilitated practitioners and especially those who apply the Natural Lifemanship process. To offer this series, we partnered with horse trainer and riding instructor, Callie King.

1.5 Hours/0 CEs

Facebook Live Collection – Connected Horsemanship

Each video in this collection was originally shot and shared via Facebook Live. Observe the many nuances of building connection in each encounter between a particular human and a particular horse at a particular moment in time.

6 Hours/0 CEs

Haltering with Connection

How might we approach a routine task such as haltering as an opportunity to build connection in our relationship with our horse? Tanner demonstrates how he asks Oreo to be connected and to say “yes” to being haltered.

.5 Hours/0 CEs

Integrating Equine Bodywork in TF-EAP

Learn to apply NL principles while connecting with your horse through equine bodywork. Learn a simple technique to help your horse release tension and learn how the technique may be incorporated into work with clients using the NL process.

2 Hours/0 CEs

Learning about Connection with a Wild Horse

NL co-founder, Tim Jobe, demonstrates how he begins to work with a wild horse in ways that build connection. He discusses how he applies the NL principles throughout the process.

.5 Hours/0 CEs

Relationship Basics with Frieda

In this series of 19 videos, Tim and Bettina build a connected and cooperative partnership with their rescue horse, Frieda. Learn the nuances of the NL process through this series of demonstrations.

4 Hours/0 CEs

Tanner & Nina: Preparing for Mounting

Tanner builds his relationship with Nina starting with asking her to attach in the pasture to follow him into the covered arena. Once in the arena, they work on refining their attachment and detachment and positioning around the mounting block.

1.5 Hours/0 CEs

The Complexity of Touch

NL is a practice of restoring and repairing connection in our relationships whenever and however it is lost. Trust and intimacy are built through thousands of micro-repairs. Bettina and Tanner work on restoring connection around touch with Apollo.

3 Hours/0 CEs

The Process of Mounting at Liberty

Tanner works with Lady to help her become comfortable positioning her body around the mounting block. Through working on connection they build the trust and communication needed for mounting.

1.5 Hours/0 CEs

SPECIFIC POPULATIONS 

>12.5 hours of video; 12.5 CE Credits available

NL for Groups

NL Trainers, Sara Sherman of Discovery Horse and Reccia Jobe of Pecan Creek Ranch, teach and model just how easy and effective it can be to incorporate NL principles into a variety of group settings.

3.25 Hours/3 CEs

NL for Veterans and First Responders

This course includes content on how to apply NL principles to working with veterans and first responders. The presentations cover important skills for working with each population.

5.5 Hours/5.5 CEs

Telehealth with Children and Families when they have been doing EAP

How does one move an equine-assisted practice indoors, or even virtual via telehealth? Learn some helpful ways to transition to telehealth with clients who are accustomed to working outside with you and with horses.

1 Hour/1 CE

The Disease of Disconnection: Applying Natural Lifemanship Principles to the Treatment of Substance-Use Disorders

Addiction is a disease of Disconnection. Its symptoms: Isolation, Fear and Loneliness. This workshop introduces you to a trauma-informed understanding of addiction to reveal the underlying factors that create and perpetuate the addiction cycle.

3 Hours/3 CEs

THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES AND THEORETICAL ORIENTATION

>21.5 hours of video; 12 CE Credits available

Breathing Practices for Nervous System Awareness and Regulation

This practical and engaging two-part workshop explores how bringing awareness to our breath can help us better understand ourselves, and how we can use breath deliberately to support our wellbeing and navigate challenges.

2.5 Hours/2.5 CEs

Conversation with Bonnie Badenoch, Author of The Heart of Trauma

Bonnie Badenoch, PhD, LMFT is the best selling author of The Heart of Trauma. This rich conversation ventures deeply into the science of what it means to be a healing presence for others.

2 Hours/2 CEs

Finding Your Rhythm: Therapeutic Drumming

Enhance connection through rhythm while enriching therapeutic work with people and horses. Learn a specific healing protocol including exercises for wellness, connecting to the rhythm of the group, expressing feelings, and guided imagery.

1 Hour/0 CEs

Healing Attachment Wounds through Movement

Our attachment style and way of relating in the world is developed preverbally. As such, attachment wounding must be addressed somatically. Learn how connecting to the way an embryo moves and develops can help us sense into our bodies powerfully.

1 Hour/0 CEs

Introduction to Equine Connected EMDR (EC-EMDR)

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an effective, extensively researched method for helping people recover from trauma. Learn how Trauma-Focused EAP supports and enhances EMDR in Equine-Connected EMDR (EC-EMDR).

3 Hours/3 CEs

Mindfulness Practices to Build Connection

NL Trainer, Shannon Knapp, presents on Mindfulness Practices to Build Connection. Following the presentation, a small group gathers at an experiential workshop to learn and experience how these practices may look in session with a horse.

2 Hours/0 CEs

Preparing the Horse and Client for (Mounted) Trauma Processing

Rhythmic Riding is utilized to build an internal sense of connection and a level of integration in the brain prior to processing traumatic events. Learn to prepare horse and client for this powerful work.

4 Hours/4 CEs

Processing Trauma with the Help of Horses

How do we process trauma in a connected way with a client who is deeply dysregulated, doesn’t desire or feel connection, isn’t ready to make requests for relationship, has deep attachment wounding, and who has experienced severe trauma?

2 Hours/0 CEs

Rainy Day Activities

Have you ever wondered what to do in your sessions on a rainy day or during the long winter months?  Learn how one can still do Natural Lifemanship when circumstances prevent partnering with horses.

4 Hours/4 CEs

Rhythmic Riding Demonstration

This video demonstrates how mounted work may facilitate regulation of the brain, integration, and modulation of the stress response. Completion of the Fundamentals of NL training is recommended prior to watching.

1 Hour/0 CEs

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy

Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP) is a trauma and attachment therapy model that focuses on the body to connect with and process traumatic material. Learn foundational tenets of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, founded by Pat Ogden.

1 Hour/0 CEs

Somatic Experiencing, Attachment and Touch

Learn how Somatic Experiencing®, Attachment and Touch interweave in trauma treatment involving humans and equines. Includes presentation and experiential workshop.

2.25 Hours/0 CEs

Tapping into Peace: Percussive Tapping Techniques for Self-Regulation and Soothing

Learn the origins of EFT and the ways it can be effective in helping our bodies regulate around physical and emotional stress. The presenters show the tapping points involved in the technique and lead the audience through EFT.

1.5 Hours/0 CEs

The Journey into Self-Leadership: Integrating the Internal Family Systems Model with EAS

This presentation by Jenn Pagone, LCPC provides a fundamental understanding of the IFS model and how it may be effectively integrated with an equine-assisted practice informed by Natural Lifemanship.

4.5 Hours/4.5 CEs

BUSINESS, ETHICS, AND THE FIELD AT LARGE/WEBINARS 

>17 hours of video; 4 CE Credits available

Animal Welfare Issues are also Clinical Issues

Tim Jobe and Bettina Shultz-Jobe discuss how to recognize animal welfare issues, including those that lead to behavior issues and burnout. They share how a lack of awareness in this area can impact our clients.

1 Hour/0 CEs

Business Building 101

Building a business in equine-assisted services can be daunting. Let industry experts, Shannon Knapp and Bettina Shultz-Jobe be your guides! Learn about the multiple considerations that can make or break an EAS business.

3 Hours/3 CEs

Ethical Dilemmas Specific to the Field of Equine Assisted Practice and Psychotherapy

This webinar discusses the many ethical dilemmas specific to Equine Assisted Services. It is critical for practitioners to embrace strong ethical values and guidelines as they navigate the inevitable complications that arise.

1 Hour/1 CEs

Research, Program Evaluation & Documentation: A Collection of Resources

This compilation provides information and resources related to research, program evaluation, and documentation in equine-assisted services, particularly services informed by the Natural Lifemanship.

7 Hours/0 CEs

Support or Rescue

Bettina Shultz-Jobe discusses the difference between offering support and rescuing in the context of the therapeutic relationship. She discusses why this matters from a neurobiological and attachment perspective.

1 Hour/0 CEs

Take Your EA Practice to the Next Level with PonyTracker

Learn about PonyTracker: a web-based tool to help business owners of equine-assisted services stay organized with barn management, therapeutic client management, rider/student tracking, and scheduling.

1 Hour/0 CEs

The Top 5 Things Every Equine Assisted Practice Needs to Know for Business Success

Shannon Knapp and Bettina Shultz-Jobe are passionate about helping equine-assisted practitioners build businesses across the country and throughout the world. They discuss the top 5 things you need to know to be successful in this field.

1 Hour/0 CEs

Transforming Trauma: Resiliency and Healing through our Connections with Animals

Philip Tedeschi reviews some of the important ways that animals are being incorporated into clinical responses to trauma highlighting findings discussed in his book, including the neurobiological mechanisms of change in AAI.

1.5 Hours/0 CEs

Trauma Informed Care and Trauma Informed Relationships are for Everyone

The truth is that most of us have experienced some level of trauma. Trauma informed care (TIC) is about becoming empowered to organize or reorganize the brain by understanding how the brain and body develop.

1 Hour/0 CEs

DAILY HEALING PRACTICES, PERSONAL GROWTH, AND OTHER

>13 hours of video; 8 CE Credits available

A Journey from Parts to Self

This guided meditation led by Jenn Pagone is aimed to assist you in identifying any activated parts that are calling for your attention, and to help you attune to your body to build resiliency and increase resources.

.5 Hours/0 CEs

Breathing Practices for Nervous System Awareness and Regulation

This practical and engaging two-part workshop explores how bringing awareness to our breath can help us better understand ourselves, and how we can use breath deliberately to support our wellbeing and navigate challenges.

2.5 Hours/2.5 CEs

Building an Internal Safe Place

Learn a practice to support you in moments of acute stress and routinely throughout the day. Using psychodrama, Kate Naylor guides us as we explore and draw upon our own internal resources for strength, soothing, and support.

.5 Hours/0 CEs

Chakra Balancing

Chakra balancing is based on the ancient Indian belief in a series of seven chakras, or energy centers. Chakra balancing is believed to promote health and resilience by maximizing the flow of energy in the body. Led by Michelle Holling-Brooks.

.5 Hours/0 CEs

Connecting to Nature through Music

Experience bottom-up regulation as we connect to the elements of air, earth, water, and fire through music. Led by Mary Oliver.

.5 Hours/0 CEs

Orientation: Moving into Presence

Meeting with novelty or threats in the environment, our bodies normally react with a stress response, preventing us from being fully present. Orienting and re-orienting through our senses increases the comfort we experience in our bodies and spaces.

.5 Hours/0 CEs

Spiritual Memoir: Where a Life Meets Mystery

Memoir becomes spiritual with intention. Writing spiritual memoir, we look for holiness within the details of our personal stories, opening ourselves to transformation in the process. Presented by Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew.

1 Hour/0 CEs

Become a Natural Lifemanship Member Today!

Do you want access to all of this amazing content, opportunities to practice and a welcoming community of fellow practitioners and healers? Become an NL Member today. We are waiting for you!

Join Us!

These Boots are Made for Workin’

These Boots are Made for Workin’

by | Jan 8, 2024 | Basics of Natural Lifemanship, Equine Assisted Trainings, Testimonials & Reflections

These boots are made for workin’ and that’s just what they’ll do. . . 🎶

You can learn so much about a person by the shoes they wear.  Really. . . think about it.

I, for example, spend a lot of my time in crocs, Haflinger clogs. . . and round toed, rubber soled, Ariat or Justin cowboy boots (Fat babies or Gypsies to be exact).  Each of these need to be replaced about once a year because I wear holes into the soles.  My shoes tell you a bit about my willingness to greatly sacrifice style for comfort, my heritage, and my trade, among other things, I’m sure.  They tell you about the lifestyle choices I’ve made.

I have a pair of running shoes that I bought almost 20 years ago.  I wear them occasionally.  There was a time in life I had every kind of flip flop imaginable.  I remember wearing a very professional skirt and suit jacket with flip flops. . . and it was appropriate in that situation during that season.  I have some heels that I literally have to dust off each time I wear them.  I bought a pair of red boots with turquoise tops 20 years ago that are still one of my most prized possessions.

Wouldn’t it be fun to tell our life story through our shoes – just pictures of our shoes on a timeline?  I think I’d love that.

People.  Horses.  And Healing.

I remember the day I realized that I had found what I was going to dedicate my life to.

People.  Horses.  And Healing.

The light was shining through the sliding glass doors that created one wall of our ground floor living room apartment.  There was this little wicker couch with heavy boucle cream colored upholstery from the 80’s and a sage colored papasan chair I’d bought at Pier 1.  We had gotten most of our furniture from Thrift stores and my roommate’s artwork was hung on the walls.  Even today, the print of Beth’s clay pots hangs in my office.

I had just gotten back from a 6 month break from Denver Seminary.  Due to a complete faith crisis coupled with a nasty break-up, I had decided to move to Massachusetts with my sister to live in a primarily Buddhist community and learn about a cancer diet my mother had dedicated herself to after a bout with ovarian cancer. (But this is a story for another time). I had just returned to Denver Seminary to finish my Masters in Counseling when I stumbled upon this career that has become my life’s work.

Image2

10-year-old Bettina with Mr. Ed

Coming Back to Horses

I am one of the lucky girls whose first love was my Dad.  He loved horses, so I am also one of the lucky girls whose second love was my horse, Mr. Ed.  I loved that horse and I have always believed that he loved me – he at least went to great lengths to keep me safe.

When I was 15 years old he and his pasture mate, Babydoll, were both hit by cars on a foggy Florida morning. (This too is a story for another day)  For me, this was the beginning of a long hiatus from horses.  My father tried to get me the palomino I had always wanted but we couldn’t really afford it, and I was far too heartbroken to build a relationship with another horse.

Anyway, as the sun came through those glass doors in that little apartment, on the heels of a renewed commitment to finish the path I had begun at Seminary, I felt myself drawn back into relationship with my second love.  I have heard many stories about the thin moments people in this field experience when they realize they can help people with the help of horses.

They can get a new office among the animals and nature they love.

They can wear their boots to work!

I’ve also heard many stories about people who “came back to horses” through this field.  I often hear bits of my story in the stories of others.  For many of us, this is a dream and a coming home.

Buy the Boots

The first person I called when I’d found my calling was my Dad.  He was so excited for me and with me.  One of the first things he said was, “We have to get you some new boots!”  There is certainly more to the story, but the brown boots with the yellow tulips you see at the top of this blog are the boots he got me at the very beginning of this transformative journey I have been so blessed to have found.  I have been honored to watch many, many new practitioners come into this field to find their calling and their passion.  Almost always, one of the first things they do is buy the boots.  Seriously, I’ve seen it over and over again.  We all wear different boots for very specific reasons.

Y’all this field is much harder to get started in than more typical office therapy, coaching, etc.  We have to do quite a bit more than hang out a shingle, but it’s simpler to get started than most people think. Yeah, you need a horse.  Yeah, you need some sort of space to be in with a horse and person.  Yeah, you need some education, but I am here to tell you that none of these things need to be perfect for you to start.  Lots has happened over the last 20 years, but first I bought the boots, and I’m so glad I did.  Wearing my boots to work most days is a lifestyle choice I will never be sorry I made.

Walk with us

If it is your desire to come to horses or to come back to horses and help people heal and grow through the powerful connection that can be formed between horse and person, I say buy the boots! That’s the first step to getting started. If you want to know the next steps, we’re going to be diving into exactly what you need to do to get started in this business in our upcoming webinar on January 18th at 5:00 pm Central. Register here!

Building a strong foundation, from the boots up, is the best place to begin. If you’re eager to make 2024 the year you really dig deep into this work, I want to personally invite you to join us for our upcoming Fundamentals of NL. Registration happens to be open right now and there is no better time to begin than right now. Learn more about Fundamentals and join us.

Maybe one day you can tell the story about how you found your way into the coolest niche field ever simply by showing us the shoes you wore to work in 2023 and shoes you wore to work in 2024.  Wouldn’t that be amazing?!

P.S. These boots are made for workin’ and that’s just what they’ll do . . . 🎶

I hope this song is now stuck in your head because, 1. It’s been stuck in mine for weeks and I need some company, and 2.  It’s a great beatem’ up song to sing on the days you need some serious power to get through, because even dreams and miracles require a lot of work, and some days will be hard.  Sometimes you have to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, so the boots you wear are super important!  Buy the Boots!

 

 

 

The Top Five Questions Our Certification Students Ask

The Top Five Questions Our Certification Students Ask

by | Oct 10, 2023 | Basics of Natural Lifemanship, Natural Lifemanship Events

By Laura McFarland and Bettina Shultz-Jobe

Natural Lifemanship Certification is a journey that involves taking the Fundamentals of NL and the NL Intensive and then seeing clients while occasionally meeting on zoom with seasoned NL practitioners to get individualized support regarding your specific clients, horses, facilities, funding sources, and more.  Consultation and mentorship is the lifeblood of the certification process, and it is where we get to know you best and learn what you need from us most.

This year we have specially curated workshops for our conferences, Sunrise Summit and Sacred Landscapes, to address the top five concepts our students regularly tell us they are grappling with.

Concept # 1: Is it really necessary to use pressure or make requests?

For years we have been answering this question cognitively in blogs like this one, on consult calls, and in many of our trainings.  Many of you have heard us communicate that pressure simply is. It exists implicitly in any relationship in the form of expectations and desires and it exists explicitly in the form of requests. It is literally gravity on our body, and is needed to help us wake up in the morning and move throughout life. Oftentimes, our mind follows this train of thought, but our body resists!

We all have a reaction to the word “pressure” – many of us have a complicated, sometimes even negative relationship with the word and idea.  This year we are going to take a fresh look at the principles of pressure from a somatic perspective, so that you can explore your own personal relationship with pressure, energy, and requests – and how that relationship impacts your world both in and out of the round pen.

Our relationship with pressure is often the result of our most early attachments – when we explore our body’s experience of pressure we are standing on sacred ground – what better place to delve into this concept than at a conference dedicated to exploring the sacred landscapes within us and around us.

When Sacred Landscapes Roots Pass holders attend the November 8th workshop, “My Relationship to Pressure: Exploring a key principle to better understand the Natural Lifemanship process,” they can count it toward two consult hours as part of Basic NL Certification! (this is a savings of $350)

Concept #2:  How do I increase my energy in a calm and connected manner?

This question is very much related to the first one. It comes up ALL the time. Once we realize that making requests is essential to building trust and connection in our relationships and we understand the concept of pressure intellectually, we may still struggle with managing pressure within our own bodies. For example, increasing pressure while using the least amount of energy (an NL principle) requires that we increase our body energy while staying present, calm and connected. This can be super challenging for any of us who have experienced an increase in body energy as something frightening or associated with disconnection, especially in our early relationships.

So, we asked Jennifer Harper, founder of Mindfulness with Horses and Little Flower Yoga, to tackle this topic:  “Mindfulness with Horses: Not just for calming down!”

According to Jennifer (and we agree!), “Many people hear mindfulness and think about calming down. Slowing the breath, slowing the body, and finding stillness in the mind. While these can be powerful aspects of a mindfulness practice, they are only a small part of the story.  Mindfulness supports our capacity to be present and embodied at ANY energy level. It offers us practices to stay regulated while accessing our power. Stay curious while increasing body energy. Stay grounded during big movement….”

In this 3 hour workshop Jennifer will guide you to explore ways to increase your energy without escalating emotion, supporting your ability to communicate clearly and powerfully with both horses and humans.

Concept #3: Detachment – do I really have to?

Detachment with connection is another area many people find themselves grappling with as they learn NL – another topic we have covered in blogs, webinars, and numerous trainings. Detachment (distance, space, boundaries) does not necessarily mean disconnection, yet it can certainly evoke anxiety, which we feel in our bodies. If you cringe at the thought of asking for detachment, you are not alone and we hear you!

Tim and Tanner Jobe are preparing a workshop you will not want to miss: “How to Stop Hating Detachment.”  (We tried to come up with another title, but this one just stuck!)

In this workshop, Tim and Tanner Jobe will talk about and demonstrate how to harness the power of connected detachment to enhance relational development and reveal fun and exciting pathways for growth and even greater intimacy.

Concept #4: What about my horses’ relationships within their herd?  What about their relationships with the EAS team?  How do the NL principles apply?

The Natural Lifemanship principles extend to all of life’s relationships. This is why NL is such an effective approach to partnering horses and humans for therapeutic and learning purposes. However, in what ways do the NL principles extend to all of life’s relationships for our equine partners, who dwell in a herd and who spend their days working with their human partners offering equine-assisted services? We have several excellent workshops that will explore these two aspects of equine experience.

In “Getting Along: Facilitating Healthy Relationships within your (Horse) Herd”, Tim and Tanner Jobe share how they go about nurturing the bonds within the herd itself. This is super important to equine welfare and development, especially when equines are working in EAS settings.

Rebecca Hubbard and Reccia Jobe explore the ways in which the relational dynamics between equines and human practitioners impact the general healing landscape for clients participating in equine-assisted services. You won’t want to miss “The Human-Equine Relational Landscape: How Practitioner Treatment and Interactions with Equines Impact the Healing Landscape.”

In “Creating a Holistic Wellness Program for Your Horses:  Incorporating Energy and Body Work” with Michelle Holling-Brooks you will be invited to look beyond the basic nutritional and traditional training needs of your horses.  This session will dive into the different components of a truly holistic approach to working with and caring for our equine partners’ body, mind, and soul.  You will also have the opportunity to learn and practice balancing your own energies as well, often the missing but key component.

Michelle Holling-Brooks will also present on “Developing the First Stages of Building a Secure Attachment for All (Including Horses) – Trust, Respect, and Willingness.”  In this workshop you will explore the foundational skills needed to support clients and horses in building secure attachment. Michelle will introduce you to the first three pillars of what she calls the “Bridge of Connection” – building trust, respect, and willingness for ALL beings; horses and humans alike.

Dr. Amanda Massey is an AVCA certified animal chiropractor. In her presentation titled, “How to Assess your Horse’s Physical Discomfort to Help Them Thrive,” she will explore how stress impacts our equine partners.  She will be giving demonstrations and sharing her experiences as an equine chiropractor to tell if your equine partner is experiencing discomfort from past traumas and how to improve their adaptation to environmental stressors with bodywork and chiropractic care.

Question #5: How do I integrate somatic work and movement into the services I provide?

We have numerous presentations, workshops, and practices that address this topic!

First of all, every single keynote will help you integrate the body and movement into your work and your life.  Our community circle will guide you in the experience of some of these practices.

In “Healing Relationships with Place and Space:  Engaging with the environment to foster transformation” Kate Naylor will guide us to consciously explore both space and place in our work, experiencing the deep healing that is found when we sink into our interdependence with the natural world, embracing the connection being offered in everything we do.

The keynote presentation with Mark Taylor and Bettina Shultz-Jobe, “Moving Through Space: What We Can Learn from Observing Movement in Session.” In this presentation, Mark introduces sixteen patterns of movement that allow us to move on land. You’ll learn to observe these movements within your own body, and how to observe patterns of movement when facilitating a client in session with a horse.

Another excellent movement focused workshop is offered by Kathy Taylor, who teaches: “Moving in Three Dimensions: A Simple Framework for Using Your Body to Establish, Maintain, and Nurture Connection While Working with Clients and Horses.”

Yet another workshop, “We Hold it All: A Sacred Root” by Jessica Benton, invites us to pay special attention to the root of our spine and pelvic floor and how this space in our bodies houses our emotions, histories, belief systems, and important functions. This root space deserves time, mindful connection, and healing.

Finally, in “Deepening the Satisfaction Cycle,” Mark Taylor invites participants to increase their sensory awareness of movement, to embody the Basic Neurological Patterns, and to explore their personal relationship to the elements of the Satisfaction Cycle (yield, push, reach, grasp, pull).

There is more!  Check out the detailed schedule here.

So, why can this conference count toward certification for the first time ever?!!

Because the presentations listed above barely scratch the surface of what can be learned, experienced, and embodied at our conferences!   The learning at this conference will be rich!  You can read every single presentation description here if you want more detail!

If you are a Roots pass holder for the Sacred Landscapes conference, you may attend the “My Relationship to Pressure” session on Nov 8th and it will count for two individual consultations (a savings of $350!).

When you attend the Sunrise Summit (LIVE or watch at least 12 hours of recordings) and Sacred Landscapes in person either November 8th – 11th (Roots Pass) or 9th – 11th (Community Pass) you can apply the conference toward a speciality training, which is one of the requirements for Advanced Certification (a savings of up to $2,000 + travel and lodging!).

This is a bit of an experiment for us.  There are so many presentations that we believe will profoundly contribute to your specialization in this field.  We look forward to your feedback.

**To apply the NL conference toward a specialty training for Advanced NL Certification, you will intentionally choose your unique specialization path at the conference and share with us (in your certification course) how the conference contributed to your specialization in this field.  

We hope to see you there!

 

 

 

Why Horses?

Why Horses?

by | Aug 26, 2023 | Basics of Natural Lifemanship, Horsemanship

By Bettina Shultz-Jobe, Tim Jobe, Laura McFarland, and Kate Naylor

The following is an excerpt from the Natural Lifemanship Manual.  Our manual is intended to serve as a resource to support students’ learning as they move through our Fundamentals and Intensive trainings. (The suggested citation is at the end of this article)

Additionally, much more is taught about this subject in week 5 of the Fundamentals of NL.  This subject is also covered in this free webinar.

 

On every website for programs and practitioners utilizing equine assisted services (EAS) you are bound to find a page called, “Why Horses?” And rightly so.  Answering this question is vital to legitimizing our field and building a valid and intentional practice of EAS.

As professionals including sentient beings as partners in healing work, answering the question “why” is our ethical obligation, and drives everything we do.

The answers to this question (and there are many) will inform our planning before sessions, our choices within sessions, our processing after sessions, and our care for our horses throughout.

First, why do we call our business Natural Lifemanship?

If you’re a horse person you know that Natural Lifemanship is a play on words from Natural Horsemanship (a horse training approach that has grown in popularity since the 1980’s), but it is also a clear departure from it.

Fundamentally, we teach a different way of thinking about the nature of the horse/human relationship, and we believe that the principles of how we engage with our horses should be the same as with humans and the rest of the world of which we are a part.  When beliefs and underlying principles change, behaviors and techniques are organically transformed.  We don’t have to prescribe techniques, for either humans or horses, when there is a clear and embodied understanding of guiding principles and beliefs.

The emergence of Natural Horsemanship was, thankfully, the beginning of more widespread, humane treatment of horses.  That said, oftentimes, the underlying principles are still steeped in power, domination, and control.  Kinder, gentler control is still control.  Mind control is still control.  Natural Lifemanship began a revolutionary change in the beliefs and principles at the heart of all healthy relationships, including those with horses.

At times, we use similar terms but they often have different meanings and unique logic that governs them.  Sometimes we change the term to reflect the differences, and sometimes we seek to reclaim the word being used.

Through your training with us, you will begin to understand why we say “It’s not about horsemanship, it’s about lifemanship.  AND it’s all about the relationship!”

These principles, which focus on the health of the relationship first and foremost, are not only about horses, and not only about humans – they are guides to relating to the world, and our lives, at large.  This is where the conversation about “why horses” begins.  And so, we call this Natural LIFEmanship.

Our Equines’ welfare depends on how we answer the question “Why Horses?”

Equine assisted services is the fastest growing equine related field in the world, and the truth is, our industry is one of the few that puts the welfare of the equines we work with at the forefront of the conversation.  How we interact with our equines now, the methods we choose and the ideals we put forth, will no doubt influence the rest of the equine industry.

In this way, we have a responsibility to think deeply about this question of “why horses”, and about how we answer this question.  In order to attempt to answer it satisfactorily we want to talk about a few big concepts.  Since our approach is grounded in the sentience, consent, and individuality of horses, new questions arise that may not have been explored before.  First, what is objectification (a common practice we argue has no place in equine assisted services)?  Second, what is a horse, really? And lastly, what is a horse not?

The Subject of Objectification as it Relates to Horses

One way we have looked at equine welfare is through the work of Martha Nussbaum.  Martha Nussbaum is a philosopher and law professor at the University of Chicago and speaks and writes on the subject of objectification, particularly as it relates to feminism.

She, of course, is speaking of humans, but what she expresses aligns with our principles and fits for all living beings, as we see it.  At the core of objectification is power, domination, and control whether we are speaking of humans or animals.

And when we think about trauma, what is underlying the traumatic experience is often power, domination and control.  So we must become incredibly intentional about how we interact with our horses in this work so as to not unintentionally re-enact the trauma that brought so many of our clients to us in the first place.

Let’s look at some of Nussbaum’s tenets of objectification:

  • Instrumentality, treating the other as a tool for his or her purposes.
  • Denial of autonomy, treating the other as lacking in autonomy or self-determination.
  • Fungibility, treating the other as interchangeable with others of the same type – as though each individual is mutually interchangeable.
  • Violability, treating the other as lacking in boundary integrity and violable.  This one is foundational to the concept of consent.
  • Denial of subjectivity, treating the other as though there is no need for concern for their experiences or feelings.
  • Ownership, treating the other as though they can be owned, bought, or sold.

Reading through this list, you probably notice that most of these concepts currently and actively exist in our wider cultural paradigms about equines.  What we must address then is, what does it do to our work when we objectify horses, and how do we objectify as little as possible?

Keep in mind that all of these concepts occur on a spectrum – even Nussbaum doesn’t name a tipping point at which we move into objectification, well, objectively.  It is our aspiration though, to objectify as little as is possible – this requires a deep exploration of our beliefs and practices regarding equines.

Let’s break it down to the other two questions mentioned earlier…

What is a horse?

  • A horse is a living animal, and more specifically, a mammal.
  • A horse is a relational, herd animal.
  • A horse is a sentient being.
  • Each horse is an individual.  If we truly want to have healthy, connected relationships with our horses we must shift our focus from what is good for the horse to what is good for this horse.  Attunement is key, and at the core of the therapeutic work done in NL.

What is a horse not?

  • A horse is not a tool or an instrument. If you find that you are using the horse like a tool, then it’s a good idea to utilize an inanimate object (a machine that mimics the movement of the horse, rocking chairs, swings, etc.). Way less liability and expense! Fewer ethical concerns.
  • A horse is not a mirror or reflection of me. A horse is a living, breathing, sensing, feeling, and thinking being. A horse can certainly respond to me, but this is quite different from mirroring my internal experience in some way.
  • A horse is not a metaphor.  Objects are often powerful metaphors, but when doing therapy, learning, or coaching, a living being should never be a metaphor for another individual.  However, our relational patterns can, indeed, surface in any relationship, including that with a horse.  We can experience triggers by the ways in which another, including the horse, might behave similarly to someone else in our life, but the horse is not a metaphor for that person. The relationship with the horse is a real relationship where patterns emerge, triggers can happen, and conflict resolution is sometimes necessary.
  • The horse is not a deity. A horse is not perfect. Not always present. Not always honest. (etc. etc. etc.) The desire for, or the illusion of, perfection always gets in the way of genuine connection. Deification is still objectification.
  • A horse is not a human. In order to do ethical work in this field we must explore and celebrate similarities AND differences.
  • A horse is not a therapist.

Some qualities that horses and humans share

  • Horses have a mammalian brain and nervous system
  • The nervous system of a horse can engage in fight, flight, freeze, and fawn
  • Attachment, bonding, and relationship are basic needs
  • Horses can embody trauma (i.e. hold onto trauma in their bodies)
  • Horses can check out, submit, appease, and dissociate
  • The horse’s brain, as a prey animal, naturally develops similarly to the traumatized human brain
  • The horse’s brain is plastic (changeable) and use dependent

Why then do we partner with horses?

NL partners with horses because of the reciprocal relationship that is possible. Horses are capable of engaging in healthy, genuine connection, relationship, and partnership.  This relationship can be profoundly deeper than words.

Within this relationship the client and horse are responding to each other which requires full body and brain activation and offers, when done consciously, a complete bottom-up brain experience.  Horses do, indeed, invite us to clearly communicate beyond words with our entire being.  They are beautifully sensitive to our internal states and energy, but this does not mean they are merely a metaphor or a mirror.

Why Do We Ride Horses?

The mounted work in particular can be especially healing – when done systematically there is proprioceptive and vestibular engagement, as well as the use of the other five senses, plus relational connection, and thinking.  This is how we heal and build new neural pathways.

Often in trauma, particularly developmental trauma, we have to go back to repair and rebuild parts of neural pathways that were missed the first time around (in fetal development, infancy, and early childhood), or damaged due to trauma later in life.  From a developmental perspective, the amount of brain activation and development that is occurring when a mother or caregiver holds an infant is critical to laying the foundation of future neural networks.  We can mimic this with mounted work.

We can connect with the one who carries us!

In the womb, and later when a caregiver holds an infant, the two are responding to each other in movement, verbal and non-verbal communication, touch, emotion – it can be a full brain and body experience that is simply not possible when using the horse as a tool.

Can human relationship principles really transfer to horses?

We are often asked if we can really transfer human relationship principles to the horse and vice versa?  The answer to this question can be found as we seek to understand the mammalian brain, body, nervous system, and attachment needs.  This will be discussed at length as you continue to learn with NL — especially in the Fundamentals of Natural Lifemanship.

If you haven’t yet taken the Fundamentals, or are looking for a refresher on the principles and relationships we build as we do this work, join us! We kick off our final 2024 cohort of Fundamentals on September 9th and we have a space for you!

When we embrace our similarities, we can truly embody what is meant by humane and ethical treatment of both horse and human.

Copyright © by Natural Lifemanship, LLC.  All rights reserved.

SUGGESTED CITATION:

Jobe, T., Shultz-Jobe, B., McFarland, L. & Naylor, K. (2021). Natural Lifemanship’s Trauma Informed Equine Assisted Services. Liberty Hill: Natural Lifemanship.

 

 

 

What Services Do Your Equines Assist?

What Services Do Your Equines Assist?

by | Aug 23, 2023 | Applied Principles, Basics of Natural Lifemanship, Equine Assisted Trainings

By Bettina Shultz-Jobe with Kate Naylor

In a recent webinar we discussed the importance of having a clear understanding of the service you provide when offering *Equine Assisted Services in your community.

When communicating with clients, collaborative partners, or funding sources it is imperative that we can speak to how our service helps others, who it helps, if there is any research on this service, and last but certainly not least, how does incorporating horses into that modality make that service a richer, deeper, more embodied and effective experience for the participant?    

While this  blog will not focus on the “Why Horses?” part of the conversation, (admittedly, the part that most of us love to talk about!) how we answer this question IS super important, and was discussed during this webinar if you’re interested.  It’s also a conversation for another day.

So then, let’s talk about the first part of our communication about what we do, which is also very important – the services your equines assist. . .

*Learn more about our terminology here.

 

Foundations of Service

It is crucial that we understand how we would serve our clients without horses present before we can ethically and effectively incorporate horses into our work.  Yes, horses are such powerful partners, but they aren’t the only part of the process….AND there is just so much more to hold when they are part of your services.  

In this field we offer what is called Equine Assisted Services – an umbrella term that encompasses things like:

  • Equine Assisted Mental Health and Counseling or Equine Assisted Psychotherapy which is facilitated by a licensed mental health professional.
  • Equine Assisted Coaching facilitated by a certified coach.
  • Equine Assisted Energy Work
  • Equine Assisted Health and Wellness
  • Equine Assisted Spiritual Direction
  • Equine Assisted Reading Support (yes, even this is a thing!  I discussed it in the webinar I mentioned at the beginning of this blog.)
  • The list can go on and on. . .

NL teaches you how to incorporate horses into the service you provide in a trauma informed manner.  This approach is based in the relational sciences and is attachment focused. 

In order to use the Natural Lifemanship approach ethically and effectively, you must know what services you provide separate from the inclusion of horses. You can explore this idea further by asking yourself…what have I learned about how humans heal, and what do I believe about how humans heal? What skills do I offer people to support their healing? What are my goals when I work with a client? If I couldn’t work with the horses today, would I still be offering competent services to my clients?

Several of you have asked that we provide some suggestions of places you can get more support, guidance, and education as you hone the services you provide.

There simply is no way for us to give you an exhaustive list, so I have narrowed this list down the following ways:

    1. The list below includes only trainings that do not require participants to have a Master’s level education or license in the therapy field.  Mental health, occupational, and physical therapists often find it easier to describe the service they provide, so I wanted this blog to offer support, or a starting point for those who are outside of the “therapy” box.
    2. I shared several trainings that I have personally completed and have found to be very helpful in the work I do with people and horses.  Many licensed professionals will find these trainings beneficial, but a professional license is not a requirement to attend.   Again, all of the trainings below can help build a skill-set and refine the service someone outside of the therapy field is offering.
    3. I have also included some trainings that NL  trainers or certification students have completed, but I, personally, have not.  We have over 300 certification students that come from various backgrounds and I spend a lot of time with most of them  – during the certification process it is often clear to me when a person has trained in a way that better prepares them to integrate NL into their practice.
    4. Lastly, I have chosen services in which the integration of horses as partners seems natural and organic.  Horses do a beautiful job of assisting these services, if you will.

I hope you find this list helpful as a starting point.  I also included a few links to some NL content if you are interested in exploring a certain category of services with us.

By the way, more learning for NL Members is coming soon in every single one of these categories!   To be notified when we release new trainings and resources in these categories, sign up for our newsletter.

 

Trauma Informed Care

Trauma informed care is for everyone!  This is why it is the backbone of the Natural Lifemanship trainings, and informs many of the services that follow in this list.  NL offers a detailed overview, however there is plenty more to learn if this is to be a service you choose to offer.

Trauma informed care simply means that one is working from a place of 1)understanding the neurobiology of humans and how trauma affects that neurobiology, 2) understanding the value of rhythm and how to offer it, both literally and figuratively, and 3) is relationship first focused (relationship before task – this is easier said than done in day to day life).

Trauma Informed Care is a perspective, an ethos, a philosophy, as well as an approach, and can therefore be utilized in literally any service.

The Neurosequential Model:  Dr. Bruce Perry.  Tracks offered for clinicians, educators, caregivers, sports coaches and trainers, clinical supervisors, and clinicians who work with young children.

Nurturing the Heart with the Brain in Mind:  Bonnie Badenoch

The Mindsight Institute:  Interpersonal Neurobiology with Dr. Dan Siegel

 

NL content available if you are interested in exploring this direction:

The Fundamentals of NL teaches many of these foundational concepts.

Conversation with Bonnie Badenoch for NL Members

Trauma Informed and Developmentally Sensitive Schools for NL Members

Trauma Informed Care and Trauma Informed Relationships are for Everyone for NL Members

NL Connection Kits to support bottom-up regulation

 

Somatic Work

“Somatic” means “relating to the body”.  As our understanding of human beings has evolved and deepened, one thing has become clear no matter the theory or perspective…the body is not simply a machine executing the brain’s wishes, it is alive with its own way of thinking and feeling and it informs all that we do.

If we wish to support humans in a healing process, at the very least, a basic awareness of how the body is involved in developing a person’s lived experience is necessary.  Not only will somatic training aid you in supporting humans, it will deepen your relationship with yourself and your horses as well.  All of this learning will complement what NL teaches.  Horses are natural partners for somatic, body-based, and movement practices.

Somatic Experiencing

The Center for BodyMindMovement

Uzazu Embodied Intelligence

Body-Mind Centering

 

NL Member content available if you are interested in exploring  this direction:

Healing Attachment Wounds Through Movement with Bettina Shultz-Jobe

Orientation:  Moving into Presence with Mark Taylor

Somatic Experiencing®, Attachment and Touch with Sarah Schlote

NL Intensive and Personal Immersion delve into this much more.

 

Coaching

Coaches typically assist people in identifying, pursuing and achieving specific goals and objectives.  When working with humans to support their growth and development, no matter the modality, it is necessary for providing ethical services that the provider have a basic rationale for why and how they will approach a session, as well as develop goals to guide the work.

Coaching trainings will support you in learning how to provide that structure for your clients. Horses tend to give very genuine and honest feedback so their interactions with humans can help clarify patterns of behavior, relating, and communication that may be contributing to a client feeling stuck or blocked from moving forward in their life.

International Association of Trauma Recovery Coaching

Neuro Somatic Intelligence Coaching

Ontological Coaching

 

Experiential Facilitator Training

The human nervous system needs experiential learning to turn information into embodied knowledge. Purely cognitive approaches to healing take us only so far – in order to promote lasting change in a client, we must include the whole experience – not just thoughts, but emotions, sensations, perceptions, relationships, etc.

Facilitating a client experientially can be quite different from traditional talk approaches and requires a separate skill set. Learning to support your clients in having a healing experience takes training and practice.

Facilitation 101

We!  With Chad Littlefield

Mark Collard – based in Australia, but has super valuable online learning

 

NL Member Content available if you are interested in exploring this direction:

Rainy Day Activities: Trauma informed, experiential activities that can be done without horses AND that blend well with EAS programming

 

Mindfulness and Meditation

Mindfulness and meditation practices focus on bringing the mind into the present moment, which can include noticing our surroundings with our senses, observing our internal experience, and tracking the body’s experience as well.  Often some breathwork is involved. These practices support clients in grounding and regulation which are the foundation of any future healing, and can be utilized anytime, making them incredibly approachable practices.

Both mindfulness and meditation trainings are a great entry point for those wishing to provide healing services – often trainings offer a protocol or specific skill set that can be implemented immediately.  Of course, fine tuning one’s offering takes time.

The Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

Little Flower Yoga:  Mindfulness and Yoga for Children

 

Content available to NL members if you are interested in exploring this direction:

Mindfulness Practices to Build Connection with Shannon Knapp

 

Therapeutic Drumming

The research that supports drumming keeps rolling in.  The individual or group connection that occurs through rhythmic music making can be a powerful offering in the support or healing of clients. It is also playful, creative, and engaging! (AND so amazing when the horses are part of this!)

Upbeat Drum Circles with Christine Stevens

Health Rhythms

Village Music Circles with Arthur Hull

 

NL Content available if you are interested in exploring this direction:

Finding Your Rhythm:  Therapeutic Drumming with Mary Oliver and Reccia Jobe for NL Members

NL Rhythm Resources

Rhythmic Riding and Personal Immersion both integrate therapeutic drumming

Rhythmic Passages for Wellbeing with Mary Oliver  for NL Members

The NL Drum Connection Kit

 

Breathwork

Everyone breathes, it happens automatically.  And, everyone can control their breath, with practice.  Our breath is linked to our nervous system in intricate ways and the one influences the other.  Learning to aide clients in breathwork is a simple and effective way to support them in regulating themselves, staying connected to their own internal and external experiences, and begin healing from the inside out. The breath is a tool everyone has access to, regardless of circumstance, making it a highly approachable service to offer.

Heart Math Institute

Online Breathwork Teacher Training

 

NL Member content available if you are interested in exploring  this direction:

I recently did some teaching for NL members about ways we have integrated the HeartMath emwave into our work here and here.   

Breathing Practices for Nervous System Awareness and Regulation with Jennifer Cohen Harper.

 

Energy Work

So much of our human experience occurs in the unseen exchange of energy between ourselves and the world around us. Training in energy work can support a practitioner in honing in on this exchange of energy and facilitate energetic movement that fosters healing in a variety of populations.

The language of horses is largely energy based.  Horses communicate with their bodies and provide rich opportunities for people to learn how to tap into this deeper knowing of the rhythm and flow of the energy of their own bodies.

Reiki – Many of our certification students are trained in Reiki.  Mary Oliver, our Rhythm and Art Education Coordinator, recommends that you find a qualified Reiki Master for Usui Reiki (teachings of Mikao Usui) that has good reviews.  Some of our students recommend Torsten A. Lange,  The International House of Reiki, and Simply Reiki. 

Eden Energy Medicine

Emotional Freedom Techniques:  EFT Tapping Training Institute

 

NL Content available if you are interested in exploring this direction:

Personal Immersion and NL Intensive touches some of these concepts

Tapping into Peace:  Percussive Tapping Techniques for Self-Regulation and Soothing for NL Members

Chakra Balancing with Michelle Holling-Brooks

 

Yoga

Yoga is an excellent way to support connection to one’s own body and internal experience – it offers rhythmic and intentional movements that explore, soothe, and strengthen.  When conducted in a trauma informed manner, yoga can be very healing for the body and cultivate growth that is beyond or beneath words.

The Trauma Conscious Yoga Institute

Little Flower Yoga:  Mindfulness and Yoga for Children

 

Parts Work

“Parts work” is the idea that every individual is multi-faceted, or contains multiple sides or parts of self.  These parts come alive for different reasons, to serve different purposes, and make up the beautiful and complex nature of being human.  Supporting clients in working with their “parts” destigmatizes and expands the range of human experience, which often allows clients to experience less shame and a more integrated, central sense of self.

Jungian Archetypes also address a similar concept – that the human experience is both collective and individual, we all experience a wide variety of ways of being in the world and identifying too strongly with parts, or rejecting parts, can lead to suffering.

In archetypal work and parts work, the practitioner supports the client in seeking balance, and feeling whole – this is a perspective anyone can operate from to support healing in self and others.

IFS Institute

Life Architect

Pacifica (This one is an M.A. or Ph.D program)

Jungian Archetypes Diploma Course

 

Content available through NL membership if you are interested in exploring this direction:

A journey from Parts to Self with Jenn Pagone

 

Psychodrama

Psychodrama is an experiential way of facilitating clients that involves making what is internal become external. Psychodrama supports the processing of memories, intentional acknowledgement of the present, exploration of dreams, engagement with parts and unavailable others, and practicing for the future – which makes it a suitable facilitation approach for a variety of practitioners, and blends well with a variety of other methods. This approach can be done with individuals and groups and involves constructing figurative and literal representations of an image, experience, place, etc so that the “director” and client can walk through the experience together.  

American Board of Examiners in Psychodrama, Sociometry, and Group Psychotherapy

American Society of Group Psychotherapy and Psychodrama

Federation of European Psychodrama Training Organizations

 

Polyvagal Theory

Polyvagal theory is an emerging approach that addresses the experience of the nervous system in response to social and environmental cues.  Techniques developed from the theory support practitioners and clients in noticing and regulating nervous system functioning in order to find safety and calm within the body. This groundbreaking theory and its ongoing development will no doubt continue to be cutting edge in the field of health and wellness.


EQUUSOMA

Deb Dana’s Rhythm of Regulation

 

Content available through NL membership if you are interested in exploring this direction:

Doing Attachment-Based Work (in-person and through telehealth)

 

Working with Children and Parents

Children and their parents make up a significant portion of the clientele seeking equine assisted services. Learning to support families in cultivating their own health can be an incredibly satisfying endeavor, with a wide ripple effect. When we understand how the relationship is the vehicle for change, we can positively impact children and their parents no matter our background.

Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI)

Being With with Robyn Gobbel

 

Content available through NL if you are interested in exploring this direction:

NL for Young Children and Parents

 

Spiritual Direction

Healing often requires engagement with mind, body, and spirit/soul. There are many ways to become a spiritual mentor to anyone who feels called to the role.

Spiritual Direction International

The Living School is considered a wisdom school so it doesn’t fully fit under this category, but I am placing it here because of the profound manner in which its students seem equipped to guide people in contemplative spirituality.

The Sacred Art of Living A school offering many learning paths in the art of both living and dying.

 

Content available through NL if you are interested in exploring this direction:

Natural Lifemanship for Spiritual Connection

 

Enneagram

The Enneagram is a powerful tool for inner work.  It helps us and our clients understand why we do what we do – the subconscious drives that motivate us and shape our patterns of relating in the world.  The enneagram begins with self- awareness and empowers individuals to take responsibility for their own growth and development, offering choice and leading to healing and greater freedom and integration.

The Enneagram Institute

The Narrative Enneagram

Chestnut Paes Enneagram Academy

Integrative 9 Enneagram Solutions

The Enneagram Prison Project

Unbridled Change Enneagram Series

 

Master the Fundamentals

The Fundamentals of NL is the best place to start for those who have a clear sense of the service they provide, and for those who are still refining their service or scope of practice.  This training provides foundational knowledge, skills and hands-on experience to help you take the next step.  If you’re ready to incorporate horses into your work in a trauma-informed and relationally focused way, NL will meet you where you are on your journey.

The Fundamentals of NL is the first step on the NL Certification path and is only offered a couple times a year.  Our final cohort for 2023 begins in September. Join us!

 

 

 

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