Coaching with Horses
As prey animals, horses have a remarkable awareness of their surroundings that gives them an ability to sense what we are feeling, sometimes better than we do, horses mirror our emotions, often showing us what we have been avoiding. They are honest and present, responding openly without pretense. We always know where we stand with a horse.
Coaching with Horses is designed to help you:
- Overcome anxiety
- Improve communication
- Build self confidence
- Work better together
- Build trust
- Set boundaries
- Develop resilience
- Increase independence
- Learn problem solving strategies
WHAT TO EXPECT
Coaching with Horses provides participants a unique opportunity to learn about themselves and others through various interactions with horses. These equine teachers make them perfect partners to help us reflect on how we approach life and face the unknown, guiding us to a calmer and higher connected emotional state.
WHY WE USE HORSES
Through your interactions with horses, you will learn to better interpret and engage in non-verbal communication while practicing creative thinking and problem-solving. The objective is to help clients develop a sense of calm awareness which will be beneficial in every area of life. Guided by a coach and horsemanship expert, clients are encouraged to develop their communication and teamwork skills, build confidence and a positive attitude.
Stand-alone Sessions
Sometimes a packaged program doesn’t address all a client’s needs. Some things need special attention. We are able to structure activites to meet your goals precisely through indivudual coaching sessions in partnership with our horses. We do require a mandatory introductory session.
Returning clients can schedule single sessions at any time.
Scheduling is very flexible.
Program Based Coaching
Coaching is not a quick fix, and although some sessions might feel transformational, the lasting change comes from consistentcy. This requires time, developing a relationship with your coach, increasing confidence and trust while being supported as you begin to make healthy choices for what you want in life. It’s a process that doesn’t happen overnight.
Program focused coaching have established outcomes that have proven to compliment personal growth.
Program Descriptions
Teen Coaching with Horses
Teen Coaching with Horses helps participants acknowledge and express their feelings as well as identify their behaviors and unconscious habits over the course of 5 sessions.
The workshops require a very active engagement from the teens as individuals. Adopting this kind of experiential learning is extremely effective to allow the participants to practice at their own pace.
In addition, unlike classical education, where student sit and listen, the horses’ presence introduces an element of playfulness and fun, requiring teens to be fully present. The teens are encouraged to watch and respond to the horses’ subtle communication signals.
During their first session, teens will be introduced to horses and the herd environment. We will review issues of safety and horsemanship. Teens will be encouraged to explore connections between their goals and the horse environmen
In following sessions, activites will be tailored to the teens goals, interests, and abilities in order to help them develop Self-confidence, Assertiveness, Healthy Boundaries, and Independence.
Throughout the program, teens will be expected to exercise an active healthy work ethic as we care for and maintain the horse and barn environment.
Family Coaching with Horses
Family Coaching with Horses helps families acknowledge and express their feelings as well as identify both healthy and unhealthy behaviors and habits over the course of 5 sessions.
By using horses who are sensitive and honest, we reveal new levels of understanding in ourselves. Horses possess so called mirror neurons, which means they excel in reading emotions. We create fresh and fun opportunities with very fast results and success for everyone involved, through intentional play with the horse!!
During their first session, families will be introduced to horses and the herd environment. We will discuss issues of safety and horsemanship. Family members will be encouraged to explore connections between their goals and the horse environment.
In the following sessions, activites will be tailored to the goals, interests, and needs of the family in order to foster improved communication, trust, confidence, discipline, and boundaries.
Throughout the program, families will interact with the horses under the guidance of both a coach and an equine professional. Family members will be expected to participate in various elements of caring for the animals and barn environment.
Other Programs:
We offer customized coaching programs designed specifically for the unique need of individuals and groups including first responders, adoptee and foster families, addiction recovery, and trauma survivors.
Coaching Questions
While both are helpful resources for personal wellness, coaching focuses on strategic, forward-moving action to reach individual and team potential and goals while counseling focuses on an individual’s overall peace of mind by addressing past challenges and hurts that affect one’s current mental and emotional health.
Simply put, everyone! No matter your vocation, life-season or daily responsibilities, we all need a little extra motivation, perspective or support to keep moving forward from time to time.
Coaching sessions generally involve an interactive relationship of open, meaningful questions by the coach surrounding the topic or focus the client wishes to discuss—all with the purpose of reaching deeper understanding and clarity towards informed and meaningful client action steps.
Rising Hope offers 60-minute and 90-minute coaching sessions depending on client preference. We also offer 4, 8, or 12 session packages as a helpful way to establish rhythm and build momentum.
While not required, studies have shown that coaching sessions are most effective when a client has spent time prior to session considering what specifically they wish to talk about in the session. So we provide a pre-session worksheet.
Because coaching does not specifically treat areas of mental or physical health, it is not covered by insurance.
Your Rising Hope Coach has received thorough training and certification from accredited programs of the International Coach Federation, the gold standard for coaching. All coaches adhere strictly to ICF best practices and code of ethics and are committed to ongoing training and personal development.
Because the client is always in the driver’s seat in a partnership, the pace, rhythm and session length is all up to you. You can opt for meeting on a session-by-session basis, or take advantage of diving into one of our 4, 8, or 12-session packages. And because everyone is different, we offer the choice of 60 or 90-minute sessions for you to choose from.
Coaching is all about gaining clarity, shifting gears, developing momentum or engaging areas where one is stuck, circling or overwhelmed. So whether you are in leadership, a parent or spouse or wish to discover and learn more about who you are and how you operate best in this world, a coaching partnership would be a helpful fit.
Absolutely! Some of our coaches have been helping couples navigate marriage challenges and crisis points for years. And they come with helpful tools for you to learn and use over and over again in your marriage. Some topics include: Interpersonal Communication, Boundaries, Sexuality, Family Dynamics, Changing Life-Seasons and Transitions, Sudden Crisis or Grief, Developing a Marriage and Family Vision and Mission and more.
You can expect empathy, compassion and a loving partnership that pushes you beyond comfort to your potential. Each coach commits to providing a faithful presence of empathetic and active listening, insightful question asking and strategic action planning.
Because we understand that there can be hesitancy surrounding “getting help”, our coaches are prepared to provide an initial “jumpstart” conversation just to help potential clients get to know the coach and better understand the process to make sure it’s the best fit possible.
We always say: In coaching, you get out what you put in. But as the client, if you come willing to engage with purpose, no matter the coaching focus, you will experience an output of greater clarity, focus and empowerment to set plans into motion.
All clients will be asked to read and sign a coaching agreement that will outline the terms and duration of the coaching partnership. While this is a sign of the commitment of both client and coach, clients are always given the freedom to opt-out of the partnership under the rare circumstance that they are unsatisfied or find the coaching unhelpful to them.
Yes. While our coach is versed in providing Christ-centered care, we respect and honor the beliefs of all of our clients.
If you’d like to make an appointment or talk with someone about your specific questions regarding coaching, contact Rising Hope via the contact page or email Gary at gary@risinghopeccw.com.
Because of the unique nature of coaching, we are able to provide in person, online or phone coaching world-wide.
Yes. Our coaches adhere to the same level of confidentiality that our counselors do, following HIPPA guidelines for client confidentiality and parental consent for clients under the age of 18.