Each month, we take a moment to recognize one of our members who’s made an impact in our beloved community.
For this month’s Member Spotlight, we’re connecting with Christina Strayer, a lifelong advocate for nature therapy, NL dual certification student, and Natural Lifemanship Member.
Read on to learn more about Christina’s journey connecting with nature, animals, and horses to support her work as a trauma informed therapy professional.
A History of Connecting Through Nature and Animals
From a young age, Christina knew that cultivating a relationship with the natural world around her was important. When she was bullied as a child, she sought solace in nature and with animals, even wild ones. She shares that she even used to leave out M&M’s or other food for a local bobcat in the area where she grew up.
Christina’s journey with horses began in third grade when a local teenager came by to ask her parents if she could ride her black stallion. While she was nervous at first, she got on the back of the stallion, and all of the fear and pain she carried from the adversity she faced at such a young age completely disappeared. Christina continued to build a bond with that horse, learning how to show up as herself and overcome her own obstacles and blocks in order to build a true relationship—a process that she walks through with her clients to this day.
As she grew older, Christina was drawn to counseling and began working with families and children with behavioral challenges. Before animal assisted therapy was widely recognized, Christina had the idea to bring her Boston Terrier, Piggy, to a local boys residential facility for her first ever group session. When the boys walked into the room—big, tough, and resistant to the idea of meeting with a therapist—they melted at the sight of Piggy. As they passed Piggy around and reciprocal love was exchanged between the boys and the dog, they opened up and shared their vulnerable stories in what Christina described as a, ”heartwarming, just amazing, spiritual experience.”
Thus began Christina’s journey into animal assisted therapy, and her road to Natural Lifemanship.
Christina’s Insights About Natural Lifemanship
We asked Christina some questions about her experience with Natural Lifemanship, and this is what she had to share.
What do you think it is about this approach – what you’ve already been doing with dogs and people, and now with horses too – that is so remarkable?
It’s the interconnectedness. It’s the fact that even though animals are nonverbal, it doesn’t mean there is not a connection and that we share this Earth with them.
It’s that reciprocity of being in relationship that acts as a corrective attachment experience for clients. And it’s very humbling that I don’t have to be the expert in the situation, you know? I just have to show up and listen to the animals.
There have been so many times, with horses especially, they are so intuitive that they will read the person’s energy and already know what to do. I just have to step back to watch and guide the client through what they are experiencing.
What has the Natural Lifemanship certification process brought to your practice and your work with clients?
It’s deepened the understanding of all that I’ve been taught and experienced. They can only teach us so much in school. It’s more about getting out in the world and learning how to be in relationship with ourselves.
Since I began with horses, I’ve had a few amazing spiritual experiences myself. I’ve gone through exercises and worked with my own coach with horses before I ever worked with clients, so that I would understand both sides. The certification process has deepened my own secure attachment, my bond with my own animals, and my work with my clients, too.
The NL Intensive is coming up soon. In your experience, why is that particular training a good choice for people to take part in?
The NL Intensive is a lot like when I go into sessions with an animal and a client. You really have to show up and be ready and open minded. Because things are going to happen, as they do with everybody. Even though we’re therapists and coaches, the animals still read our energy and interact with us accordingly. Things can come up somatically.
It’s also the staff’s enthusiasm. I think they are wonderful teachers and leaders. You can feel everything from their presence to the people they’ve selected in their organization and you can see their connection with their own horses and animals as well. I’ve always had a great experience with them. Without these programs, people are missing out on deepening their relationships with themselves and their clients and animals.
If you were to give advice to a fellow therapist who had never worked with Natural Lifemanship before, what would you tell them in order for them to get the most out of their experience?
I would say that we spend so much money and time on certifications we may not use, or that we’re just taking to hurry up and get our CE hours. But Natural Lifemanship is an investment. It piques your curiosity. Just because you go to an intensive or a practicum and work with that one animal, that’s not it. You can go to another one and have a totally different experience. It’s an organization that has a lot to offer. I, personally, invest in being an annual member, and plan to always go to as many trainings as I can with them.
Anything else you think is important to share about your experience with Natural Lifemanship?
The last thing I’d like to mention is their trauma informed approach. I work mainly with clients with PTSD and the principles that NL teaches and the experiences you have are just so profound and can deepen anyone’s practice. And it doesn’t only have to be for people working with animals, it is great for working with humans too. I love their trauma informed approach.
We’re so grateful to have Christina as an annual member of Natural Lifemanship, and for all of the work she does through equine therapy, animal therapy, and nature therapy as a whole.
If you’re interested in joining our membership community and taking advantage of all of the opportunities Christina shared about, we would love to welcome you. Learn more at naturallifemanship.com/memberships.
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