Of the 2.4 million Americans deployed in the recent Middle East wars, an estimated 30% have returned with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). That’s in addition to the 479,000 Vietnam veterans that the Veterans Administration has diagnosed with PTSD.
Our society did little to rehabilitate the veterans returning from Vietnam.
Of the 2.4 million Americans deployed in the recent Middle East wars, an estimated 30% have returned with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). That’s in addition to the 479,000 Vietnam veterans that the Veterans Administration has diagnosed with PTSD.
Our society did little to rehabilitate the veterans returning from Vietnam. The result was thousands of lives ruined by alcohol and drug addiction, mental illness, suicide, and spousal abuse—to say nothing of the high emotional and medical costs borne by society as a whole. The lifetime cost of treating each veteran is estimated at $1.4 million.
Ranch based therapy is effective for a wide range of mental health disorders including addiction, depression, anxiety and trauma. The Holistic healing for heroes program uses interaction with horses and cattle to offer clients a new way to connect with themselves, process their emotions and explore behaviors and relationship patterns that have become problematic in their day-to-day lives.
Horses and cattle are majestic, gentle creatures and their sheer size and strength can stir deeply buried emotions in clients. Clients are able to bond with the animals and learn valuable lessons about respect, empathy and communication that will help them in their recovery journey.
What It Is:
Clients interact with horses and cattle with the help of specially trained therapists. Through practices like bathing, grooming and caring for the horses and working the cattle, clients can explore their own feelings, behaviors and interactions with others.
Interactions with the horses bring up thought and behavior patterns that are related to the issues that have brought clients into treatment. We identify these patterns and customize experiential exercises to address each client’s individual needs.
How it helps:
Through working with horses and cattle clients gain valuable insights into themselves, their addictions and/or mental health disorders and how they can better relate both with themselves and with others. Clients are often able to connect with and feel empathy for the horses or cattle before being able to connect with or feel empathy for themselves or others. Clients are often able to connect with and feel empathy for the horses or cattle before being able to connect with or feel empathy for themselves or others. They can test new possibilities by taking initial risks in the context of a relationship with another living being, before taking the bigger risks in the context of human interaction. (cont.)
1. Cognitive Behavioral Counseling
Various types of psychotherapy (talk therapy) are used to help people overcome PTSD. The type of therapy depends on their situation and access to professional care. Although many patients report experiencing increased distress during initial therapy sessions, as they get accustomed to discussing tra
1. Cognitive Behavioral Counseling
Various types of psychotherapy (talk therapy) are used to help people overcome PTSD. The type of therapy depends on their situation and access to professional care. Although many patients report experiencing increased distress during initial therapy sessions, as they get accustomed to discussing traumatic memories, one study found that talking about trauma in therapy sessions resulted in 86 percent of participants showing improvement in their PTSD and psychotic symptoms by the end of treatment. One type that has been shown to be very effective is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in which thoughts are examined in order to determine how they affect behaviors and self-perception.
Some of the primary goals of therapy for PTSD include:
Our therapists often work with patients with PTSD to help them learn to become more aware of their inner experience and to begin to befriend what is going on inside themselves. This includes physical sensations, emotions and thoughts. Learning from past experiences and better vocalizing of feelings are other important areas to address. This is because helplessness and social withdrawal are both very common with PTSD.
2. Desensitization & Exposure to Fears In addition to common types of talk therapy, several forms of exposure therapy are also used to desensitize patients to perceived threats, relieve stress,and help them to face fears directly. Our professional therapists usually conducts exposure therapy. The therapist can be a guide as the patient gradually faces situations, objects or locations that bring up strong feelings of the traumatic event.
Prolonged Exposure (PE) — This is a type of therapy that involves discussing, facing and recalling the traumatic event in detail in order to gain control over upsetting thoughts, physical reactions and feelings about the trauma. (cont)
Weeks 1-2: Introduction to the Clinton Anderson Method of horse training
Topics Covered:
1. Introduction to assigned horse
2. Feeding Your Horse
3. Nutrition
4. Hoof Care Horse
5. Clothing
6. Basic Tack for Your Horse
7. Proper Attire for Riding
8. Stabling Your Horse
9. Working on the Ground in the Round-pen
Weeks 1-2: Introduction to the Clinton Anderson Method of horse training
Topics Covered:
1. Introduction to assigned horse
2. Feeding Your Horse
3. Nutrition
4. Hoof Care Horse
5. Clothing
6. Basic Tack for Your Horse
7. Proper Attire for Riding
8. Stabling Your Horse
9. Working on the Ground in the Round-pen
10. Working on the Ground in the Arena
11. Safely Tying Your Horse
12. Catching and Haltering Your Horse
13. Grooming Your Horse
14. Saddling and Bridling Your Horse
15. First Ride in the Round-pen
16. Second Ride in Larger Arena
17. Bathing Your Horse
18. Riding After One Week of Practice
Weeks 3-8 - Training a new horse
We will work on the colt training as well as spending more time out on the ranch working cattle. We will also do several pack trips out on the ranch and into the forest.
Topics Covered:
1. Round-penning Exercises
2. Desensitizing to the Lead Rope
3. Desensitizing to the Stick and String 4) Yield the Hindquarters
a. Stage One
b. Stage Two
5. Backing Up
a. Method 1: Tap the Air
b. Method 2: Wiggle, Wave, Walk
c. Method 3: Marching
d. Method 4: Steady Pressure
6. Yield the Forequarters
7. Lunging for Respect Stage One
8. Flexing the Head and Neck
a. Steady Pressure
b. Bumping on the Halter
c. Poke and Flex
d. Flexing From the Opposite Side
9. Sending Exercise
10. Circle Driving
11. Lunging for Respect Stage Two
12. Leading Beside
13. Fundamental Desensitizing
a. Slap and Walk
b. Helicopter Exercise
c. Head Shy Exercise Riding
14. Flex With the Bridle on the Ground
15. Flexing at the Standstill
16. One Rein Stops
17. Cruising Lesson
18. Follow the Fence
19. Diagonals
20. Touch and Rub Exercise
21. Yield the Hindquarters
22. Yield to a Stop
23. Bending at the Walk
24. Bending Transitions
25. Vertical Flexion at the Standstill
26. Draw to a Stop
27. Yield the Hindquarters and Back Up
Your loving support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve conditions. Your generous donation will help fund our mission as we ramp up operations to help our heroes recover from the devastation that is PTSD. We have an urgent need for help to reach our goal of $450,000 by February 2023.
