Equine Assisted Psychotherapy & Equine Assisted Learning

Joy Nussen Timsit, LMFT

Summary:

The key to transforming our lives is the same in every great self-improvement practice: quiet that self- talk. Until we create inner silence, literally, peace of mind, we are unable to transform our lives into more peaceful and purposeful ones. The reason the horse can become such a gifted teacher for us is because it does not need an inner voice. Rather than using words or vocalizations, which are sounds that help a predator pinpoint its prey, horses have learned how not to make sounds and how to make sense from being, not thinking. EquineWorks, Inc (EW) was formed in 2009 by Joy N. Timset to provide innovative psychotherapy services incorporating the use of horses. Through a series of ‘non riding’ activities, a skilled team consisting of a mental health professional and equine specialist identify unique behaviors and patterns displayed by a client during their interaction with a horse and offer metaphors to the client for relating these observations to their life challenges.

While technology has blessed our lives in numerous ways, it frequently isolates us, keeps us out of touch with our true selves and further from “nature.” Horses keep our wild/natural side alive and healthy, and offer balance in what can be a very unbalanced existence. We are texting and instant messaging instead of face-to-face communicating and our loved ones are having an increasingly difficult time knowing how to talk directly with one another. Our equine-assisted activities create opportunities for improving communication skills and re-connecting. Due to the state of the economy in CA and with so many out of work, there are increased feelings of hopelessness and more than ever, a need for creative problem solving. Our equine-assisted activities create opportunities to gain insight into one’s coping strategies and to think outside “the box”.

Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to identify the goals of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy & Equine Assisted Learning.

2. Attendees will be able to identify how horses differ from using dogs or other pets for behavioral health services.

3. Participants will be able to identify a minimum of 3 ways that EAP differs from office-based psychotherapy.

4. Attendees will be able to identify populations that EAP and EAL can benefit.

Bio:

Joy Nussen Timsit, the founder and executive director of EquineWorks, is a CA licensed Marriage & Family Therapist of 21 years. She earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology from UCLA in 1984 and her graduate degree in Educational Psychology from California State University at Northridge, in 1988. Joy is certified by the internationally recognized Equine Assisted Growth & Learning Association (EAGALA) to utilize horses experientially for mental health treatment and human development. EAGALA has over 3,500 members in 40 countries and there are now over 500 EAGALA programs. Services help change the lives of people with a diverse range of struggles such as street children in Mexico and South Africa, those suffering from addictions, depression and trauma, and improving relationships in families and groups.  More Equine info: Joy Nussen Timsit 14 Brookmont, Irvine, CA 92604 949-333-1233 Cell: 949-422-6355