What kinds of Equine-Assisted Services do we provide?

Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) is a unique approach to experiential learning where clients are offered safe and purposeful experiences with horses to address overall physical and mental health and wellness issues, including resilience-building, self-awareness, stress reduction, and work/life balance. Sessions can be tailored for specific individual or group goals. Activities are unmounted, with no riding involved and no horse experience necessary. While EAL is a non-therapy service, it can be both recreational and therapeutic, benefitting clients of all ages and abilities.

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) offers a unique approach to traditional therapy by utilizing horses to facilitate healing. Horses form an emotional bond with clients, inviting them to reflect on their own feelings and behaviors as well as their interactions with others, including co-workers and family members. This program seeks to help return people to a healthy level of functioning following a crisis. This may include individual crisis support, family support services, and group sessions.

For instance, if someone is grappling with trust issues, the process of building trust with a horse can mirror challenges in communicating with people. EAP is often seen as a more hands-on and experiential approach to therapy, which can be particularly effective for many individuals. Research has shown that EAP can address mental and physical health and well-being while mitigating the heightened risks of Burnout, Moral Injury, Anxiety, Depression, Family Dysfunction, Addictive Behaviors, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Recurring Memories, Sleeplessness, Loss of Interest, Nightmares, and Hypervigilance.

Our Equine Resilience Program draws from multiple treatment modalities and curricula endorsed by leading Equine-Assisted Services and mental health and wellness organizations, including PATH Intl. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International), EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth & Learning Assoc.), and the HeartMath® Institute.

All EAP and EAL sessions are facilitated by, at a minimum, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Certified Equine Specialist.

Why Horses?

Interacting with horses can offer a profound mirror into one's own emotional state. As prey animals, they have an innate ability to be highly attuned to our non-verbal cues and inner feelings. This instinct is imperative to their survival. This allows individuals to connect on a deep, visceral level, fostering self-awareness and personal growth. Horses also offer immediate feedback, helping individuals develop crucial life skills such as communication, trust, and boundary setting. Unlike traditional therapy, the presence of horses can break down barriers, making it easier for individuals to engage in a therapeutic process that may be less intimidating than a conventional one-on-one conversation with a therapist. In EAP, horses serve as co-facilitators, helping individuals build resilience and self-confidence, making it a powerful and distinctive approach.

Why Haku Baldwin Center?

Our program is the only one on Maui that combines equine-assisted therapy with a Licensed Mental Health Provider. We believe it's crucial for clients to understand the qualifications of the professionals offering these services. Many programs that claim to offer "equine therapy" without licensed therapists may not provide the necessary support for individuals experiencing mild to significant trauma, especially in the wake of the recent wildfires. At Haku Baldwin Center, first responders can be confident that they will find a safe and welcoming environment with a trained, experienced, and licensed team. Click here to meet our team.

Confidentiality:

All sessions are private and confidential. Your information will remain strictly confidential and will not be shared.

Eligibility:

This program is offered at NO COST to the Maui fire responders, thanks to the assistance of our community partners and private donors. Anyone in the first responder community is welcome to register for sessions, including Law Enforcement, Fire, Paramedics, Emergency Medication Technicians, Search and Rescue, 911 Dispatchers, Military, and other Medical and Mental Health Teams who responded to the recent wildfires on Maui.