Loss and the grief associated with it are natural parts of life, but that doesn’t make it any easier when our lives and communities are touched by it. When we experience the loss of a loved one, the emotional and physical toll can feel overwhelming. Grief affects every part of us—our thoughts, emotions, and even our ability to carry out daily activities.
Whether it’s the death of a loved one, a major life change, a community tragedy, or another type of loss, the process of healing can be incredibly challenging and is different for everyone.
For some people, grief may develop into complicated grief or prolonged grief disorder, where the intensity of emotions doesn’t fade over time. Finding ways to navigate this pain is essential, and support groups, social support, mental health professionals, and innovative treatments play a critical role in helping individuals process grief.
One particularly innovative approach is the Eagala Model, where professionals partner with horses to help clients explore their emotions in a safe and supportive environment. Let’s explore how grief impacts us, traditional ways to address it, and how equine-assisted psychotherapy provides a unique and meaningful path to healing.
Understanding Grief and Loss
Grief is a deeply personal experience that varies from person to person. While some people process grief quickly, others may struggle for months or years. Experts often describe grief through the stages of grief, including denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These stages aren’t always linear, and it’s normal to move back and forth between them.
The loss of a loved one, disruptive life changes, or another type of loss can bring up intense sadness and feelings of yearning for the deceased. You might find yourself stuck in memories, wishing for one more conversation, hug, or shared moment. You may feel angry for the loss of time with the individual, or for missing what “could be”.
These emotions can feel overwhelming, affecting both your physical and mental health. For some, grief can develop into mental health conditions like major depression, especially when feelings of hopelessness persist.
Grieving is complicated by how it impacts relationships. Each family member experiences loss or major life changes differently, and misunderstandings or communication breakdowns can occur. This makes finding ways to process grief collectively and individually all the more important.
Grief isn’t just tied to death—it can arise from any significant loss, such as losing a job, moving away from a community, ending a friendship or relationship, or facing unexpected life changes. It’s a deeply personal experience that can be difficult to understand, often straining relationships with loved ones and support systems.
Grief isn’t just tied to death—it can arise from any significant loss, such as losing a job, moving away from a community, ending a friendship or relationship, or facing unexpected life changes. It’s a deeply personal experience that can be difficult to understand, often straining relationships with loved ones and support systems.
When Grief Becomes Complicated
Sometimes, grief doesn’t ease with time. When this happens, it may be a sign of complicated grief or prolonged grief disorder. These conditions occur when the natural grieving process becomes stuck, leading to long-lasting emotional pain that disrupts daily life and can strain relationships with support systems.
People with prolonged grief disorder may:
- Experience constant yearning for the deceased.
- Struggle to perform normal daily activities and maintain healthy relationships.
- Feel intense sadness that doesn’t fade, even after months or years.
Prolonged grief disorder can also lead to negative thought patterns, such as blaming yourself for the loss or believing you’ll never find happiness again. These thoughts can make it hard to move forward, creating a cycle of pain that’s difficult to break.
Traditional Approaches to Grief Counseling
For decades, therapists have relied on proven methods like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help clients work through grief. CBT focuses on identifying and challenging negative thought patterns that may be preventing someone from healing. For example, a person might believe they’re to blame for a loss, and CBT helps them reframe this belief in a healthier way.
Another valuable resource for grieving individuals is support groups. These groups allow people to connect with others who are experiencing similar emotions. Sharing stories, listening to others, and building a network of social support can make the grieving process feel less isolating.
While these traditional methods are effective, they may not work for everyone. That’s where alternative approaches, like the Eagala Model, come in.
The Eagala Model’s Role in Supporting Grief and Loss
The Eagala Model is a groundbreaking form of therapy that combines the expertise of a mental health professional and equine specialist with the healing presence and strong intuition of horses. Unlike traditional therapies, which often rely on conversation, the Eagala Model is entirely experiential, client-driven, and takes place on the ground—there’s no riding involved.
This allows clients to engage with horses in a way that feels natural, unforced, and nonjudgmental. Horses are incredibly attuned to human emotions. They pick up on subtle cues in body language and can mirror a person’s feelings. For example, if a client is feeling anxious or overwhelmed, the horse might respond by moving away, changing its behavior, or presenting as skittish or distant.
This provides immediate, nonverbal feedback that helps clients recognize their own emotional states. By working with horses, clients can begin to process their grief in a way that feels tangible and empowering.
Eagala-certified professionals play a key role in guiding this therapeutic process. The mental health professional helps clients explore their emotions and thoughts, while the equine specialist ensures that interactions with the horses are safe and productive. Together, this co-facilitating team creates a supportive environment where clients can heal.
Benefits of Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy for Grief
Equine-assisted psychotherapy offers several unique benefits for those coping with grief and loss:
Physical and Mental Connection
Grief can leave people feeling disconnected from their bodies. Activities like grooming encourage mindfulness, helping clients reconnect with their physical and emotional selves.
Safe Space for Emotional Exploration
Horses provide a calm, judgment-free environment where clients can explore feelings of intense sadness or yearning for the deceased, a major life change, a community tragedy, or another type of loss without fear of criticism.
Promoting Healing Through Action
The hands-on nature of equine-assisted psychotherapy allows clients to work through their grief actively. This can be especially helpful for those who struggle to verbalize their emotions in traditional therapy settings.
Building Social Supports
Group sessions or shared experiences in equine therapy often create opportunities to connect with others who are experiencing similar emotions. This can foster a sense of community and understanding. Working with horses in this structured setting allows clients to build relationships with their four-legged partners in a way they may not feel safe or free to do in their personal lives. This experience can help them develop the skills and confidence to foster healthier, more authentic connections in their daily relationships.
Encouraging Emotional Regulation
Horses’ calming presence helps clients manage stress and anxiety, promoting greater emotional resilience over time.
Why Those Struggling With Grief and Loss May Need Eagala
As a mental health professional, you know that grief can take many forms. When grief becomes so overwhelming that it interferes with a person’s ability to function, they may need your expertise. How the Eagala Model can help includes:
- An experiential approach to healing and recovery
- A safe, nonjudgemental environment where they can explore their grief and loss narrative through metaphor and collaboration with horses
- When traditional talk modalities may not be effective
By becoming Eagala-certified, you can offer clients a therapeutic approach that goes beyond traditional methods. The Eagala Model combines emotional exploration with hands-on, experiential activities, creating a holistic way to help clients process their grief. This ground-based model enables clients to connect with their emotions in a nonjudgmental, action-oriented environment, helping them move toward healing.
Supporting Families Through Grief with the Eagala Model
Grief impacts entire families, but each family member processes loss in their own way. As an Eagala-certified professional, you can create sessions that help families address their shared grief while honoring each individual’s unique experience.
One way to do this is by using activities that promote collaboration. For example, you might have a family work together to guide a horse through an obstacle course, representing their collective journey through grief. This type of activity encourages open communication, mutual understanding, and shared support—essential components of family healing.
By facilitating these experiences, you’re not only helping families navigate their grief but also fostering deeper connections and resilience within their relationships. With the Eagala Model, you can offer families a truly transformative path to healing.
Becoming Eagala-certified equips you with the tools to make a lasting impact in your clients’ lives. If you’re ready to expand your skill set and help grieving individuals and families in a meaningful way, consider joining the Eagala community today.
FAQs
What is the Eagala Model?
The Eagala Model is a therapeutic approach that uses horses to help clients explore emotions and behaviors in a nonjudgmental, experiential way.
Can equine-assisted psychotherapy help with prolonged grief disorder?
Yes, equine-assisted psychotherapy provides a safe and supportive environment for addressing the complex emotions associated with prolonged grief.
How does equine-assisted psychotherapy complement traditional methods like CBT?
While CBT is structured to focus on problematic ways of thinking and reframing the way we perceive our experience, EAP offers hands-on, nonverbal experiences that provide real-time feedback and enhance emotional healing.
Grief is one of life’s most challenging journeys, but with the right support, healing is possible. The Eagala Model offers a unique and compassionate way to process grief, using the healing power of horses to foster self-awareness, emotional growth, and resilience.
If you’re a mental health professional or equine specialist, consider joining the Eagala network to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those navigating grief. Learn more about upcoming training events and how you can become part of this transformative approach to mental health. Together, we can help clients find hope, healing, and a renewed sense of purpose.