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 "Resilient Youth" Hosted by The Mane Intent 

An Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy Group for Young People

Building Confident, Competent, Resilient Youth Through Learning, Growth and Connection with Horses

 

Resilient Youth is a 6-week trauma-informed, evidence-based equine-assisted psychotherapy group with a focus on building resilience through a series of facilitated human and horse ground-based horse interactions supported by mental health professionals. No previous horse experience is required. Your child will learn transferable life skills such as self-esteem, empathy, emotion regulation, relationship building, healthy boundaries, team work, communication and leadership. 

 

Participants will learn and experience personal growth through:

  • Enhancing self-awareness of personal values, our own and other’s emotions

  • Understanding and using emotions as information

  • Learning self-regulation skills when coping with stress

  • Building self-confidence, feelings of self-worth and personal competency

  • Building social skills including active listening, empathy, and personal boundaries

  • Learning and connecting in a safe space with other youth who may be struggling with similar emotions and challenges. 

 

Location: 2410 Cameron Line, Indian River, ON K0L 2B0 (15 minutes east of Peterborough) -- Must be able to provide your own transportation.  

 

Fee:

  • $900 per participant payable by cheque or e-transfer to Connie Oates, Psychologist at Peterborough Assessment and Therapy

  • Up to 6-8 participants

  • Participants will receive 12 hours of equine-assisted psychotherapy facilitated by a Registered Clinical Psychologist and a Registered Psychotherapist with training in Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy

  • Equine-Assisted Group Therapy is covered by most benefit providers. Check with your provider.

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What to Expect: 

  • This program includes an initial consultation session with the psychologist and each participant and their parent/guardian to the program, obtain informed consent to participate, build trust with participants, assess risk and group readiness, current supports and coping strategies. 

  • All parents must sign waiver and release forms prior to their child’s direct contact with horses. 

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About Connie Oates, Clinical Psychologist, Co-Founder, PAT Clinic: 

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Connie is a Clinical Psychologist and Co-Founder at PAT Clinic with over 25 years of experience, Previously Connie served as a Clinical Psychologist at Peterborough Regional Health Centre and for many years has had a private practice in Peterborough. 

 

Connie is committed to providing a safe therapeutic place for children, youth and families to learn and practice new skills, strengthen relationships and connections, and explore new perspectives and insights. Connie supports individuals living with anxiety, mood disorders, grief, and adjustment to stressful life events.  She uses tools from cognitive behaviour therapy, mindfulness, art and play therapy to create opportunities to learn, express and promote growth and change. She has a strengths based approach and strives to understand individuals in the context of their history, family, and community. Connie has recently expanded her approach by completing training in Equine assisted psycho- therapy

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Connie Oates Psychologist
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About Jennifer Garland, Registered Psychotherapist and Owner/Program Director, The Mane Intent:

 

Jennifer Garland, RP, MACP is the Owner/Program Director at The Mane Intent. Jennifer is a Registered Psychotherapist with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario and has a Masters in Counselling Psychology. Jennifer’s approach is to draw upon the principles of positive psychology, solution-focused therapy and a variety of body-centred and cognitive-behaviour therapeutic interventions. Jennifer has trained in a wide range of evidence-based trauma therapies including:  Trauma Counselling, Somatic Experiencing™, Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment, Connection-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills and Facilitated Equine Experiential Learning.  

 

The Mane Intent offers psychotherapy and equine-assisted psychotherapy intended to help clients (age 7+) build confidence and resilience, work through difficult experiences and emotions, manage stress and even achieve post-trauma growth. Equine-assisted psychotherapy is trauma-informed and strengths- and evidence-based. Equine therapy can help build resilience, a greater sense of mastery, self-confidence and social skills. Working on the ground in partnership with horses also promotes greater emotional self-regulation, mind-body connections, and impulse control while promoting trust and connection. 

 

Jennifer is passionate about sharing her genuine appreciation for the therapeutic benefits of working with horses (and other farm animals). We can learn so much about our own nervous system and how we experience the world simply by being in their presence (no previous horse experience necessary). These benefits are heightened by the natural beauty of the farm and the surrounding land, inviting us to exhale and simply appreciate the moment. In 2022, The Mane Intent received two business excellence awards from the Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce. Learn more at www.themaneintent.ca

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