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Equine therapy’s laundry list of benefits – from tackling stress and anxiety to improving emotional awareness – prove one thing. When you’re looking for a breakthrough, just add horses.

Before she founded MW Therapy and Training, Maxime Willems wasn’t quite sure what a therapy session with horses could look like. Given her background – not only in competitive dressage, but in various different kinds of therapy – equine therapy was a natural next step, but it wasn’t until she started the sessions that she understood its power.

“Equine therapy has definitely been the most efficient type of therapy I’ve ever experienced myself,” Maxime says. “It combines many elements that contribute to increased emotional and self-awareness, and therefore general wellbeing. From mindfulness to physically working through unhelpful patterns, to creative and intuitive expression, it is so supportive for making helpful, meaningful decisions.”

For one, it is practiced outdoors, in nature. Maxime says that this experiential approach can especially help people who struggle with stress and anxiety. Rather than having to sit in a chair, you’re working with beings who are non-judgmental in their approach and connection.

“Some people find this setting to be more supportive than being in a room, focusing only on talking about their challenges and concerns,” she adds. “For those who suffer from trauma, equine therapy offers a safe environment to explore their boundaries and needs. As a result, it offers significant insights into relationship challenges – be they romantic, family or work-related.”

So, what does an equine therapy session look like?

Maxime explains that each session is tailored to the participant’s needs, supporting them to identify what they want and need – not only from the session, but from any given moment.

“We might start by checking in, noticing what feels important to explore and unpack during the session,” she explains. “Then, we take a moment to ground ourselves by checking in with the beautiful environment and the horses.”

Participants are then invited to explore their focus for the session with the horses. This could be a feeling, thought or behaviour. The goal is to create more awareness around this focal point, before coming back to unpack anything that came up during the experience with the horses.

Why are horses helpful for therapy?

Horses are a social herd animal, Maxime says – and ultimately, humans are too. We can heal and thrive through a sense of belonging; through authentic, meaningful connections.

“Connecting with horses allows us to explore our own social skills,” says Maxime. “And because horses are a pray animal, they have an incredible level of self-awareness. This can help participants to deepen their own sense of self.”

What are the benefits of equine therapy?

Maxime has seen many breakthroughs through her equine therapy sessions.

“One story that comes to mind was a young lady who never used verbal communication outside of her close family environment,” she recalls. “This lady whispered a couple of words to me and the horses on her first session.”

Another participant who Maxime works with on a weekly basis, has a very busy mind. When he feels overwhelmed, he tends to repeat the same statements multiple times.

“Now we start each session with sitting with the herd, feeling into what it would be like to be one of the herd members, in stillness and silence. Often, after only two or three minutes, he will feel himself sink into mental stillness. He will even start rubbing his eyes and yawning.”

Where can I do equine therapy?

There are many equine therapy providers on and around the Gold Coast. Just take Sugar Beach Ranch.

Founded by Stevey Arena – the eldest daughter of music industry legend (and late manager of INXS) Chris ‘CM’ Murphy OAM – Sugar Beach Ranch combines her two decades of experience in special and corporate events planning and her love of horses.

“Horses have always been my sanctuary, my happy place in a busy world,” Stevey tells us. “They’ve always been part of my life, from pony club and horse shows as a little girl to breeding and training some of Australia’s best polo horses with my dad. There’s something profoundly calming about being in the presence of horses, feeling the rhythm of their movements and building the trust you must have in each other.

“After my father’s sudden passing, I was tasked with making some hard decisions. It was at this time that I meet Maxime Willems and learned of equine therapy.”

Now, through Sugar Beach Range, Stevey says she witnesses firsthand the profound impact horses can have on humans, offering comfort, healing and a sense of belonging. She’s seen a change in her horses, too.

“It’s not just about therapy,” she says. “It’s about fostering a deeper connection with ourselves, with nature, and with each other through the remarkable bond we share with horses.”

www.sugarbeachranch.com

Looking for more Gold Coast wellness? Check out our ‘Wellbeing’ segment, right here.