Couples Private Session

Couples Private EAP Sessions

Did you ever think that the missing piece to improving communication styles, conflict resolution, self-expression and your relationship just might come from a pair of…

HORSES?!

Couples Private EAP Sessions

Relationship Recovery is not just Horse Play

Of all of the things that can break up a marriage, and there are several, the most common of these that force most couples to throw in the towel is failed communication. If we can learn to communicate effectively with the one we love, isn’t that a great start to resolve layers of other issues? This is where we believe the horses can help couples to either establish or regain their communication cord so that they can start putting their relationship back together. Working through activities where the individual of a couple team can learn about themselves and each other as they engage in activities with the horses, and then discussing the metaphors, feelings, behaviors and patterns within the context of what happened and if or how it relates to their home life.

All of the interactions with the horses are part of how the treatment team gains a thorough understanding of each client couple’s relationship patterns, problems and goals. When a couple finds their way to our arena it is usually about two people love each other and are committed to strengthening their union above whatever may have gone wrong. To take relationship advice from horses you must both be open to and ready to change the things you can and accept the things that you cannot. Healthy, loyal and longstanding relationships are not without effort or conflict. It is how the effort is nurtured and the conflict resolved that can create authentic union. To build a bond with a horse that has nothing to do with force or dominance, but rather mutual trust and respect, becomes a willing and cooperative partnership with a 1,000 pounds of horsepower. Trust. Respect. Loyalty. Safety. Clarity. Truth. These are the characteristics needed to bond with a horse, and are much the same for building a healthy love relationship.

In the Arena

As an example one activity that we may start out with is the Obstacle Course. In this exercise we ask the couple to utilize the props in the arena and create an obstacle course, or possibly 3 separate areas that may represent their past, present and future relationship. Items are available such as poles, cones, barrel, tarps, chains, tires, construction paper, markers, etc. for the couple to create symbols and reference points. The couple’s goal for this activity is to get the horse through the obstacles or visit each area and then bring the horse back to us. We might ask the couple to complete the activity without any verbalization between them or with only gibberish as language. This exercise gives information to the treatment team about how a couple interacts, communicates, and what body language is displayed by the clients at various portions of the exercise and/or by the horses at any time which can be an honest indication of where they are at with each other/themselves in the “real world."

Another variation on this exercise which could be used to foster trust in one another would be to repeat the obstacle course with one person blindfolded. The couple is asked to pick who will be blind and who will have eyes. The blindfolded member leads the horse through the course completely relying on their partner for guidance and vision. The exercise is then repeated so that the couple can reverse roles of guiding and guided. This trust exercise is very revealing to both the treatment team and the couple as the horse will move/react differently with each of its blind leaders. More so, the couple reveals a lot about their level of trust for one another, their communication styles and how they interact when under some pressure.

The Horses at Spring Reins of Hope Are Ready to Help Couples to: