Dr Nikki de Bondt, Clinical Psychologist
Horse Wisdom Group Program
What is the Horse Wisdom Program?
A structured 7 session social-emotional learning program for children, adolescents or adults.
Our beautiful herd of horses assist in the delivery of this program which focuses on: emotion regulation, awareness, boundaries, developing and maintaining healthy relationships, developing kind/helpful thinking, feelings as natural and facing life's challenges.
Group is offered on a demand basis. Program can be tailored to children from the age of 8 up to, and including, adulthood. You will be matched appropriately with other participants.
Why might these skills be helpful to myself or my child?
Being aware of your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations and relational patterns can help you to respond in ways that are thoughtful, choiceful and different. With increased awareness, one can make deliberate changes to unhelpful patterns. Our feelings and bodily sensations can give us clues into whether something is right or wrong for us and we've just learned to tune it out or not trust what our body is telling us.
Who may benefit from this program?
Anyone! Being in a group environment can help you explore your internal world more deeply by hearing others experiences and also help you feel like you are not alone. We can all benefit from creating a space in which we can reflect on our internal world and how we may be co-creating our experience (either negative or positive).
This program can augment your regular therapy by providing a different way of exploring your internal world.
Clients who have reached their 10 session Mental Health Care plan annual limit can potentially access an additional 10 subsidised group sessions with an appropriate GP referral. These can be interspersed with your regular therapy with Dr Nikki de Bondt or an alternate Psychologist from another practice.
Do I need previous horse experience?
No you do not.
How are horses included in sessions?
In clinical psychology sessions, clients may interact with horses through observation, paddock meet, grooming, leading, or nonverbal communication to build trust, regulate emotions, and improve self-awareness.
How can horses augment my experience?
Including horses in therapy, can enhance emotional awareness, trust-building, and communication by allowing you to interact with horses in a nonjudgmental, calming environment. Horses' sensitivity to human emotions can help you regulate your feelings, build confidence, and practice mindfulness, making it especially effective for those struggling with anxiety, trauma, or social difficulties.
Will riding the horses be included?
No, you will not be riding horses in this program
Details
Location: In person, Brookfield
Who: The facilitator is Dr Nikki de Bondt (Accredited Equine Assisted Psychotherapist through the Equine Psychotherapy Institute Australia)
Participants: 4-6 participants per group. Group members will be matched appropriately by age
Sessions: The program is delivered across 7 sessions (usually 7 weeks) which are 60-90 minutes in length (all sessions must be attended to receive a completion certificate).
Whilst there are a lot of advantages to being in a group setting, we understand that this is not for everyone. The program can also be offered individually. Please contact admin@earthmindbodypsychology.au to enquire regarding availability.
Fees
Cost: $125 per group session. The full amount of $875 is payable to secure a position – please reach out to administration to discuss a payment plan if needed.
Eligible NDIS participants may be able to use funding for this program – check with your NDIS coordinator for confirmation
Please also note that Medicare rebates may be applicable if a relevant group therapy referral is received from your GP (rebate up to $36.85 per session, $617.05 out of pocket for full program).