Mary Jean VonderBrink's Contact Details

Mary Jean VonderBrink's Company Details

BayStar EquiCenter

Shandon, OH, US • 5 - 9 Employees
Hospital/Clinic

BayStar EquiCenter offers Equine Assisted Psychotherapy as well as Equine Assisted Learning for individuals, groups, families, adults and adolescents. Both are non-riding modalities with all activities completed from the ground. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy or EAP is used for any situation that traditional counseling would be appropriate for. Addictions, grief, fears, emotional behavioral issues, PTSD and family dynamics are some examples. Considered a complimentary therapy, EAP brings issues to the surface often very quickly, enabling traditional therapy to be even more effective.Equine Assisted Learning, or EAL is more often used with groups and addresses topics like communication, organization, hiring practices, decision-making and life choices. Both EAP and EAL are facilitated by an Equine Specialist, a Mental Health professional and one or more horses.Horses are prey animals and as such behave in a much different way. They are capable of a wide range of emotions and convey them in a clear, no- nonsense fashion. Horses mirror human emotions and reflect them back to us. Using specific activities interacting with one or more horses, each person experiences whatever is relevant to them at the moment and is then urged to discover what that means to them and develop practical applications for life. Metaphors are created which prove relevant not only in the moment but also the future.Best of all, it is fun, engaging for all ages ...and it WORKS!!