Natural Freedom LLC
in partnerships with
in partnerships with
Kristina Houser PhD
presents
presents
Bridging Family Relationships
By Way of the Horse:
Relationship Repair & Trauma Resolution with Post-Adoptive Families Facing Developmental Trauma Disorder
Families living with the effects of trauma often find that the patterns of interaction resulting from trauma are painful to live with on a daily basis. Not only does trauma change the way we interpret daily life, it affects our interactions with others (behavior), the way we view ourselves (self-attribution) and the way we think about the world around us (cognition).
Typically, attachment-based talk therapy helps the family identify the origins of he problems they are experiencing and teaches skills for new patterns of interaction. The aim of this program is to provide the hands-on experience to integrate these skills into daily living. The goal is to provide an experience for families to start building a bridge to new relationship patterns and interactions.
Through the partnerships of Tri- County Mental Health and Counseling, Inc., Attachment and Bonding Center of Ohio, and Kristina Houser PhD and Natural Freedom, LLC, equine Facilitated Therapy and Learning are used to develop self-awareness, practice relationship skills and create new patterns of interaction.
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"It is not as independent and solitary individuals that we succeed; its through our interdependent relationships - our families, clans, communities and societies - that we survive and thrive. We need each other."
Bruce D. Perry
“At the center of the therapeutic work with terrified children is helping them realize that they are repeating their early experiences and helping them find new ways of coping by developing new connections between their experiences, emotions, and physical reactions.”
Bessel van der Kolk MD, 2005
“Only after children develop the capacity to focus on pleasurable activities without becoming disorganized do they have a chance to develop the capacity to play with other children, engage in simple group activities and deal with more complex issues.”
Bessel van der Kolk MD, 2005
Phases of the Program
Equine Facilitated Therapy & Learning takes place in three phases of treatment. The main objective of the first phase of therapy is to offer a positive experience for the family resulting in a shared experience of fun. In addition, the family will work to bridge three types of relationships:
Relationship with Self
- Awareness of non-verbal cues
- Awareness of the effects of centered breathing on self
- Awareness of personal energy and self-regulation
Relationship with Horse
- Explore and practice relationship skills with unconditional acceptance
- Awareness of emotional congruency
Relationship with Others
-Explore ways to integrate skills in family &other human relationships
Contact Information
Natural Freedom, LLC
41810 State Farm Road
Albany, OH 45710
(740) 698-6031
(740) 541-3053
Contact:
Pam Jeffers
Tri-County Mental Health & Counseling, Inc.
90 Hospital Drive
Athens, OH 45701
(740) 592-3091
Contact: Erin Lucas
News
The Book is Out
DECEMBER 13th
Pam Jeffers MS, Kristi Houser PhD, and Erin Lucas LISW co-authored an article entitled Heart-to-Heart Rainbow: An imagery experience to facilitate relationship development.
Attachment and Bonding Center Of Ohio
3966 Brown Park Drive
Suite H
Columbus 43698
(614)850-9800
Contact: Paula Andreee
Kristi Houser PhD
17 Blue Line Drive
Athens, OH 45701
(740)592-5689
The second phase of the program offers the chance for children to practice horse-handling skills while gaining control of their internal energy and learning to use this energy to impact the relationship with the horse and finally relationships within the family. This portion of the program is parent-directed. Under the direction of the equine specialist, the parent guides their child in the process of working with the horse and mastering skills. This empowers the parent to lead that family in a new way and teaches the child to accept parental leadership in a new way. During this phase, the counselor provides distinct ways for the family to transfer the skills they have learned and practiced in the arena to their home environment.
In the final phase of the program, the family works to develop a coherent family story. They then express this story creatively ( using poetry, dance, art, photos, etc.) in a partnership with their horse. The hope is that the retelling of their story in a new way, will reduce the effects of trauma and increase secure family relationships.
All faces you see in the pictures are volunteers for Natural Freedom and have given permission for these pictures to be on this website and our facebook page.
Many more pictures and updates
