​Health is about relationships; how we relate to ourselves, everybody and everything around us. Specially trained occupational therapists and horse handlers recognize that it is difficult to learn and/or function when the brain and nervous system are hijacked by fear. They approach the relationship dynamics with a trauma lens and an understanding of attachment to help clients shift out of survival into greater safety, security and functionality. 

How does it work?

​The foundation of trauma healing with horses was wonderfully explained by horse trainer and clinician, the late Ray Hunt …
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“First you get the feel of the horse,
Then you get the feel of the horse feeling back for you.”

Our equine partners live primarily in the moment and are all about feel.  Horses are not weighted with the human stress conditions that we are often incapable of healing from on our own.   When truly joined up with a horse, the client can softly direct their healing path, often in much less time, and with tremendous results.   

Resilience is the capacity to recover from stress and trauma. Resiliency requires body-brain connections. The horse environment is rich with opportunities to enhance and teach many of the resiliency skills. We help build resiliency skills by integrating mind and body. Helping clients learn tools and strategies to bring their stress levels down to a place where they can function.

Incorporating nature and energy work we help clients become truly aware of their internal state. Horses help us teach clients how to be grounded. Horses bring us into our bodies by engaging all of our senses. In turn, learning to live more fully in our bodies helps us relate better in relationships. We provide a space for clients to find connection with horses in order to find connection to themselves, which opens the connection to others.

Did you know emotions are contagious? Information related to our physiology and emotions is contained in the frequencies of vibration of our heart biofield…. And can be altered by other biofields with which we interact = co-regulation. Horses are sensitive to these frequencies and create opportunities for our clients to recognize patterns of dysregulation and strategies and/or tools to co-regulate and learn to self-regulate. 
 
It does not matter whether the traumas are relational in nature, or because of physical injuries, brain injuries, falls, or other fear-inducing experiences – the resulting impact can be pervasive, complex and impact functioning for human and horse on many levels.

By working one-on-one with clients, Stable Connections’ occupational therapists and specially trained horse handlers help clients develop the skills, such as those listed below, for independence and quality of life.

• Interoception skills: Growing the capacity for body awareness & tracking sensations.
• Self-regulation skills:  tolerating and managing difficult emotions
• Exploring co-regulation and connection, and recognizing patterns of disconnection
• Social skills: building healthy relationships based in mutual trust and respect & developing recognition of subtle body language within yourself and others
• Building resiliency by cultivating access to internal resources and strengths

       And so much more!
 
Just think!  Redirecting the destructive thought process into hopeful life skills.
Then teaching all ages how to diffuse their own stressful situations and self-regulate.

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Testimonial:
​To whom it may concern, 
I’m writing to let you know how important and what an impact Stable Connections has had on mine and  my family’s life. Sarah and Karen are amazing people and are great at what they do. I believe whole  heartedly that my oldest child wouldn’t be alive today and my family would have fallen apart if it wasn’t  for Sarah and Karen. My oldest child started seeing them just over a year and a half ago. Up to this point  we had tried many resources for them that just wasn’t working. They could not connect or trust other  people. Somehow both Sarah and Karen managed to get my child to trust and open up to them. We  tried one on one counselling through MATC, they were in the CATS program one on one and group  sessions, they also ended up in P1 north which is the children’s Psych ward. They were seriously  considering ending their life and they were already self-harming and had made attempts to end their  life. We finally heard about Stable Connections and how they use horses in their therapy. I thought why  not it can’t hurt. It has been one of the best decisions I have made for my child and this family. There  has been death, divorce and abuse that they have helped us work through. So not only have they seen  my oldest, they have also seen some of the rest of the family, including myself one on one and in a  family setting. My family actually gets along and functions now. They have helped us work through the  worst time in our lives and have unique ways by using the horses to help better to connect to ourselves  and others. I've never seen anything like it before and didn’t know it even existed but I’m glad we found  them and have been able to have this experience. We have gone from arguing all the time and living in  constant fear that my oldest would succeed in killing themselves and Sarah and Karen have helped them  work through and will continue to work through their issues. We no longer live in fear of having to  attend a funeral.  
Thank you for taking the time to read this and find out what Stable connections has done for my family  and I. They do very important work and I would recommend them to anyone. 
Deanna

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Testimonial:
A remarkable team and outstanding advocates! Both Sarah-Michelle and Karen are incredible. There are no true words that can describe the care, knowledge and passion they have.

After only a few short weeks under Stable Connections wings, our daughters have made significant gains and continue to move in a healthy direction. The holistic therapeutic approaches around mind, body and soul through equine-assisted therapy are magical.

By far one of the most inspiring experiences we’ve had during our journey as parents with children who have experienced trauma.

We highly recommend Stable Connections! The outcomes are far greater than traditional talk therapies and out-way any medicinal treatment. It’s an honor to be a part of this profound organization & team of amazing professionals.

Sincerely,
Tamara & Troy

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