587-7​07-2779
TRI​NIT​Y@OPENHEARTHERAPY.CA
MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS SERVICES
HEALING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HORSES​
Equine Facilitated Mental Health (EFMH) is an approach to counselling with a focus on creating a therapeutic horse-human relationship. It's an unconditionally accepting relationship, grounded in non-judgment and genuine affection, creating a safe space for expressing and healing painful matters of the heart.
WHY THE HORSE?
Surprisingly, despite its incredible size and strength, the horse is quite passive and playful when in a relaxed and emotionally regulated state. Being a prey animal, its highly intuitive and instinctual nature allows for an authentic experience where the horse remains grounded in knowing what it needs for connection, naturally inviting the individual to cultivate a safe internal state of calm emotional awareness. It is through this calm inner presence that undigested emotions connected to prior traumatic injuries can surface, be witnessed and released, liberating the individual to cultivate new healthier states of being and relating with others.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Individuals select a horse they wish to work with and are guided through a series of exercises to help foster a connection. The process of building a relationship with the horse can greatly assist with the healing of relational trauma. There is a unique opportunity to heal old dysfunctional patterns through a state of calm emotional awareness. The emotionally benign and non-judgmental nature of the horse presents the individual with an opportunity to learn new and healthy relationship dynamics encompassing mutually healthy boundaries, respect, assertive communication, patience, acceptance, trust, humility, understanding, forgiveness and empathy for the self and others.
EFMH EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
Trinity Nina Nathoo is a Registered Psychologist (AB) with a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology. Trinity’s experience with horses includes groundwork, western, english and centred riding, attendance at a variety of horsemanship clinics and a daily care regimen for their herd. For the past seven years, Trinity has been working towards obtaining triple certification with Pro-EFW Canada in the Mental Health (MHP), Learning Professional (LP) and Equine Professional (EP) streams. They also engage in regular consultation with their mentor, Sue McIntosh, MA, CCC, founder of Healing Hooves, who is a well respected member of the equestrian community, a mental health professional, and a tri-certified professional trainer with Pro-EFW Canada.
