EAP is a professional, innovative and experiential approach to counselling, psychotherapy and mental health that supports clients of all ages in addressing therapeutic goals (emotional, cognitive, behavioural, relationship and mental health conditions), with horses as assistants, support and co-facilitators in this process.

Gail is a registered Social Worker with a number of years of experience working with children, adolescents and clients from various backgrounds. Gail has lived alongside horses for many years and has long believed in and drawn from the immense peace and wisdom they offer. Gail is excited to share this and more with clients of Sweet As Equine Assisted Therapy.

Work and Income Disability Allowance

Work and Income Extraordinary Care Fund

Disability Allowance is a weekly payment for people who have regular, ongoing costs because of a physical or mental disability that is likely to last at least 6 months, including Equine Assisted Learning sessions.

You don't have to be on a benefit to qualify for a Disability Allowance.

Work and Income provide an Extraordinary Care fund which is for carers to help support a child in their care who is showing promise in a particular area or experiencing difficulties that are significantly impacting on their development.

To contact them call: 0800 559 009

Victim Support

Families of homicide victims and victims of sexual violence and serious crimes may be able to get a financial grant to cover the cost of counselling sessions through Victim Support.

To contact Victim Support call: 0800 842 846

Oranga Tamariki

Oranga Tamariki offers financial assistance for support for foster carers and their tamariki.

To contact them call: 0508 227 377

What Does an EAP Session Look Like?

Upon booking your EAP session, you will be sent a form to complete with some basic information about why you are coming along. Based on the information you give, an EAP session can play out in several ways. After our initial meet and greet, we will lead you through a body-awareness self-regulation exercise to prepare you for working with the horses and to help you to get the most out of your session.

After that, we will suggest a format that we feel suits your needs. These include: observing the horses in their natural environment; meeting and greeting the horses in their natural environment; grooming the horses; working with the herd or an individual in the arena; task-oriented work; leading the horses; working one-on-one with a horse in the training yard.

The session always leaves time to integrate the work we’ve done via feedback/Q&A and then we complete the session by showing gratitude to the horses in whatever way feels right for the client.

Horses are beautiful, intelligent, sensitive and strong beings who can evoke strong feelings in clients or engage clients in the learning process. Calm and healthy horses can assist in co-regulating a client's nervous system, can model healthy living and expression of feelings, as well as offering non-judgemental safety and trust. Horses can offer unique bio feedback and hold clients in a way traditional therapy environments cannot. The natural environment can also contribute positively to therapeutic outcomes for clients.

Registration Number: 12952