For victims of crime and trafficking, traditional therapy models may not always provide the most effective path to healing. Trauma often leaves individuals feeling disconnected from themselves and others, making verbal processing difficult or even impossible. The Eagala Model offers a powerful alternative—an experiential, equine-assisted psychotherapy approach that allows survivors to process trauma in a safe and supportive environment.
By working with a co-facilitating team of mental health professionals and equine specialists, clients engage in an interactive process where horses serve as four-legged partners in their healing journey. This global standard in equine-assisted growth creates a space where individuals can reconnect with their emotions, develop healthy relationships, and regain a sense of control over their lives.
Why Equine Assisted Psychotherapy for Trauma Survivors?
Survivors of crime and trafficking often struggle with trust, safety, and personal agency. They may have difficulty articulating their emotions, revisiting painful memories, or feeling safe in traditional settings. Equine-assisted psychotherapy offers several unique benefits:
- Nonverbal Processing – Trauma is often stored in the body, making it challenging to verbalize. Horses respond to nonverbal cues, allowing survivors to express themselves beyond words.
- Immediate Feedback – Horses reflect emotions and behaviors, providing survivors with a powerful mirror of their internal world.
- Building Trust and Connection – Through guided interactions, survivors learn to build trust with their four-legged partners, which can translate to improved relationships with people.
- Empowerment and Control – Working with horses encourages autonomy and decision-making, helping survivors regain control over their lives in a way that feels safe and non-threatening.
The Eagala Model: A Ground-Based Approach to Healing
Unlike other equine-assisted therapy programs, the Eagala Model is completely ground-based. There is no riding involved, ensuring that both clients and horses can interact freely without constraints. This assisted growth and learning method provides an experiential approach where survivors engage with horses in ways that promote self-discovery and healing.
How It Works
The Eagala Model is facilitated by a co-facilitating team:
- A licensed mental health professional who ensures clinical safety and provides therapeutic expertise.
- An equine specialist who understands horse behavior and ensures the interactions remain safe and effective.
Together, these two professionals create a space where survivors can explore their emotions, behaviors, and relational patterns. Horses, as partners in the process, provide honest, immediate feedback that helps clients recognize and shift unhealthy patterns.
Key Benefits for Victims of Crime and Trafficking
1. Creating a Safe Space
Many survivors struggle with feeling safe due to their past experiences. The Eagala Model provides a structured yet open environment where clients can engage at their own pace. The presence of horses—large, powerful, yet nonjudgmental beings—helps clients establish feelings of security and grounding.
2. Rebuilding Trust and Relationships
Trafficking survivors and victims of crime often experience deep betrayals. Horses respond authentically to human emotions, offering survivors a chance to practice trust and connection in a safe way. These interactions provide insights into personal boundaries, healthy relationships, and emotional regulation.
3. Processing Trauma Without Pressure
Traditional therapy models often require clients to verbalize their trauma, which can feel overwhelming. In equine-assisted psychotherapy, clients can process trauma through movement, observation, and interaction rather than forced verbalization. This makes healing more accessible, especially for those who struggle with talking about their experiences.
4. Restoring a Sense of Control
Victims of crime and trafficking frequently experience a loss of control over their own lives. The Eagala Model empowers survivors by allowing them to make choices in a safe environment. Deciding how to interact with a horse, setting boundaries, and problem-solving within the session all contribute to a renewed sense of agency.
5. Encouraging Emotional Regulation
Survivors of trauma often experience heightened stress responses. Horses, being highly sensitive to human emotions, help clients become aware of their emotional state in real time. Learning to regulate emotions around a horse naturally translates into improved emotional awareness in daily life.
Eagala’s Global Standard in Equine-Assisted Growth
The Eagala Model is recognized as a global standard in equine-assisted growth, with practitioners worldwide using this approach to help survivors of trauma, including victims of crime and trafficking. Its structured framework ensures safety, professionalism, and effectiveness in every session.
Eagala provides ongoing education and training to mental health professionals and equine specialists, ensuring that practitioners have the skills necessary to facilitate deep and lasting healing.
FAQs
Why is the Eagala Model effective for victims of crime and trafficking?
The Eagala Model offers a nonverbal, experiential approach that allows survivors to process trauma safely. By interacting with horses as four-legged partners, clients can rebuild trust, regulate emotions, and regain a sense of control over their lives.
What makes the Eagala Model different from other equine-assisted psychotherapy approaches?
The Eagala Model is completely ground-based. Clients do not ride the horses, allowing for free, authentic interactions that focus on self-discovery and healing rather than horsemanship.
Do survivors need prior experience with horses?
No prior experience with horses is required. The Eagala Model is designed to be accessible to all, regardless of equine background. The focus is on personal growth, not horse skills.
How do horses help in the therapeutic process?
Horses are highly attuned to human emotions and provide immediate, honest feedback. This helps survivors recognize patterns, explore emotions, and practice healthy relationships in a safe and supportive environment.
How can mental health professionals and equine specialists get trained in the Eagala Model?
Eagala offers certification programs for mental health professionals and equine specialists who want to incorporate equine-assisted growth into their practice. Training covers the Eagala Model framework, safety guidelines, and practical applications for working with various populations.
Get Certified in the Eagala Model
If you are a mental health professional or equine specialist, becoming certified in the Eagala Model can expand your skills and allow you to make a profound impact on trauma survivors, including victims of crime and trafficking. Join the global network of Eagala practitioners and learn how to facilitate equine-assisted psychotherapy at the highest professional standard.