Service List

Shared Hope for Healing: Nature Wellness Center

Enhancing Relationships Through Nature and Animals

Shared Hope is excited to expand our services for children, youth and adults by offering nature-based equine assisted psychotherapy and personal development, art therapy, gardening, nature play and nature awareness programs. Shared Hope, in partnership with Zena Farms, a 160 acre organic farm with a state of the art sustainable forest program offers the opportunity for exploring vision quests and nature connected activities.

Individual, groups and classes will be held at Shared Hope or Zena Farms. Each group is facilitated by a licensed mental health professional and educator. The groups will provide the opportunity for sharing, collaboration and hope.

Service List

Is a 10-week group therapy program for people who are victims of abuse and other traumatic experiences. We discuss trauma from a physical, mental, social and spiritual perspective. We begin the healing journey by learning about relationship through engaging a horse in a dialog of trust, faith, and hope. Benefits include:

· A feeling of mutual empowerment with horse and other

· Gaining a sense of connection

· Mindfulness to manage emotions

· Greater Self-Esteem

· Greater sense of inner peace

· Boundaries

· Proactive and Healthy Communication Styles

· Healthy Empathy

Share Hope: Healing Trauma with Horses

Is a 10-week therapy program for youth who face challenges related to social problems, ADHD, conduct disorder, attachment disorder, abandonment, loss, grief or abuse. Benefits include:

· Self Awareness

· Managing Emotions

· Improved Self-Esteem

· Improved Relationships

Discovering Myself Through the

Eyes of a Horse

The purpose of the barn management program is to provide a “behind the scene” opportunity for youth to learn and participate in the management of an equestrian facility. The objectives of the program are:

· Equine Health and stable management

· Budgeting

· Collaborative work relationships

· Résumé writing

· Interview skills

Barn Management: Vocational skills program for Transitional Youth

The purpose of this 12-week the program is to provide an opportunity for youth to experience learning proactive and pro-social life skills by working with a horse and peers in a group setting. The life skills taught in the program are:

· Boundaries

· Partnership Relating

· Communication

· Awareness of self (mind, body and emotions)

· Empathy

Transitions: Growing up with Horse Wisdom

Nature Play: Exploring the Creative Forces of the Earth

This 10-week program is for adults who know intuitively that life is interconnected with the Earth, animals, the stars and humans. A variety of hands-on experiential awareness modalities are incorporated into the healing journey of participants.

· Equine Assisted Personal Development

· Sand Play Therapy

· Journal Writing

· Art Therapy

· Labyrinth walk

· Music

· Myth and ritual

Playing in Nature: Exploring Sensory Awareness

Training Horses for Emotional Health

Nature Art Therapy

This 10-week program is for children 6-8 who benefit for hands-on learning and can learn coping skills to help with behavioral and mental health issues. The group incorporates elements of nature play to help calm the senses.

· Play Therapy

· Equine Therapy

· Sand Play Therapy

· Art Therapy

· Labyrinth walk

· Storytelling and ritual

This program is for people who understand the healing nature of horses and want to learn more about themselves through creating a trusting and respectful relationship with an equine partner. Participants will work with the Irwin-Method of Horsemanship to learn, grow and create a horse-human relationship that is balanced and peaceful.

A program of an experience of ‘finding your place in the web of life’ and ‘natural world’ through a combination of the principles of Eco-Psychology and Art Therapy. Both Art and Eco-Psychology, share a common language, the language of the senses. Through activation more of our senses through the imagination and play with ritual and symbol in nature, a state of balance, wholeness, and healing occurs – taping into one’s own innate healing resources, as well as assisting in developing an intimate relationship with ourselves and the world around us. Modalities include – Art Therapy, based on the belief that the creative process is life enhancing; Sand Play Therapy, a nature-based creative experience, creating a sense of wholeness, and integration ; and Nature-Related play – bringing together one’s inner and outer worlds. Benefits include

· Improved imagination and abstract thinking

· Improved emotional and self/expression

· Increased Self-Esteem/Personal Confidence

· Enhanced self-regulation for optimal physical and emotional health

· Improved communication – through an expanded sensory awareness

Vision Quests

Vision Quests are provided for interpersonal knowledge through the activation of dormant sensory awareness the interconnection of life. Vision Quests will take place at Shared Hope and Zena Farms to enhance and encourage a sacred awakening of the relationship to the Earth and our place in the web-of-life. Participants chose the form of expression to serve them on their personal path.

· Equine Assisted Personal Development

· Art Therapy

· Sand Play Therapy

· Nature Walks

· Journaling

· Labyrinth Walk