Right now 132,500 people in Devon are suffering with a mental health problem. That's 1 in 6.
6,600 of them (5%) aren't getting anywhere with talk-based support. This often leaves them feeling lost, hopeless and like they have nowhere left to turn.
But we are here for them!
We provide TheHorseCourse Restart a highly effective action-based intervention that makes a lasting difference. There is no speaking about past experiences or current thoughts and worries, instead through partnering with the horse and using effective body language and energy, participants achieve fun tasks such as getting the horse to stand on a pedestal or to kick a giant ball. While working on these tasks our participants learn 8 key skills that make a lasting change in their lives.
Our Restart course last up to 10 hours, usually over 4 days.
The Restart is short but the results are long lasting.
In a study supported by the Charities Evaluation Services (NCVO), taken 2 months after participants finished the Restart:
95% of participants had positive changes in identity such as improved self esteem and confidence
80% of participants were less anxious
85% of participants had increased engagement with work, school or training
80% had reduced problem behaviours including eating disorders and self harm
80% improved relationships with peers, family members and professionals
These changes wouldn't be possible for these people without the Restart programme.
Talking therapy is great but it isn't for everyone an we are here for those that it can't help.
Through our flagship Restart course we teach, rehearse and repeat key resilience skills in an intensive and challenging, but fun way with feedback in-the-moment from specially trained horses.
Development of skills is embedded in work towards a horsemanship groundwork certificate. Tasks are guided by the facilitator and the horses are selected and trained to provide especially clear and easily observed physical feedback to participants, many of whom will not have interacted with horses prior to taking part in the programme. The methodological focus is on social/emotional shifts being made ‘in the moment’, in response to difficulties encountered. Participants are unmounted handlers, learning to work in partnership with the horses on the ground. The course employs an approach using a series of specific tasks as tools to develop positive habits. Specifically, the skills addressed by the course are:
On the last day, each participant has a robust reflective session with their facilitator – looking at their progress in each of the areas of the Skills. Upon successful completion of the course, participants are presented with a certificate.
For more information on the Restart course please see the videos on our webpage.
In addition to this we run shorter lighter touch versions of the Restart for those with lower levels of need that only need to develop 1 or 2 of the 8 key skills.
We also provide non-horse workshop training for professionals and family members who support people who aren't responding or engaging with talk-based support.
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