Video 1 – EAGALA
An introduction to the EAGALA model, and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP). It introduces a client named “Laurie” who is a 16 year old adolescent girl, who has participated in the EAP sessions, and she talks about her experience of this model of therapy.
Video 2 – EAP demonstration
Two professionals from “Horse Sense of the Carolinas” shows what might happen in a session during a demonstration day – where children volunteered to participate in activities.
Video 3 – Shattered
Jakob is a 13 year old boy who had witnessed a horrific accident at a motoring event. Jakob was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms, such as waking at night terrified, crying and vomiting.
The following is the transcript from the Dr Phil show. Speaking about Jakob’s work with Dr Laura Trask (who assists Jakob in the video) and utilising in EAP.
Dr. Laura Trask is a certified equine therapist. She uses equine assisted psychotherapy, — horses that help patients cope with post-traumatic stress disorder. She and her team meet with Jakob to help him find a way to connect with his emotions.
“We were watching the race, and we were having a good time. One truck finally came by, and it was trying to do a pass, and it jumped into the crowd. I saw it coming, and I started screaming. I just got smacked, and I heard all the screaming and noises of dirt in my ears. I finally got up, and I turned around, and there were bodies all over the place. The first thing that came to my mind was my father. I ran in one direction, and I finally found him,” Jakob says, his voice breaking. He pauses to wipe away tears. “He was underneath the truck, and his eyes were closed, and I thought he was dead.”
“I’m proud of you, Jacob,” says Dr. Trask. “It takes a lot to go through something like that.”
When the videotape ends, Dr. Phil turns to Jenny (Jakob’s mother). “What was your reaction to that?” he asks.
“It was good to see him talk about it. Since he’s been home, he has seemed better,” she replies. “That night he said, ‘Something just lifted off of me, and I feel better.’”
Dr. Phil welcomes Dr. Trask to the show. “Great work, by the way,” he praises her. “I love this whole concept. Talk about what’s going on and why it’s important to have the animals involved.”
“Actually, the horse represents two things: It represents a challenge for [Jakob], so that he can accomplish these challenges and these tasks, and then build self-confidence and become more in tune to his own abilities, to overcome things, and to give him this confidence in the future,” she replies.
“You put him in that situation, and he stepped up, and he did it in a major way,” Dr. Phil observes. He turns to Travis (Jakob’s father). “You’ve got to feel good about that.”
“I’m very, very thankful for everything Dr. Laura has done for Jakob, and her whole team. He was truly a different boy when he came home that day,” Travis marvels.
Video 4 – EAP session
The client in this video lost his eyesight in a boating accident. He was asked in the session to “do whatever you want” to a symbolic “boat” constructed by the professionals for him.
The client stated that he wanted to “wreck it” so he didn’t have to think about it anymore…
