An equine therapy program is transforming lives in Cape York by providing a safe place for people to address their mental health challenges such as anxiety and trauma.
Some participants have called it "life-changing", while others already want to come back.
"The program created a safe space for me to share and express my challenges, negative self-talk, and patterns of behaviour," a recent participant said.
The two-day Horse Wisdom Equine Assisted Learning Program is an activity that forms part of the Cape York Place Based Mental Health Services, which is funded by Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN).
It is delivered by Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS) (Queensland Section) Manager - Far North Mental Health Jos Middleton and equine assisted learning facilitator Emma Jackson, from Swift FNQ.
Ms Middleton said the program, held at Wolverton Station in the Archer River region of Cape York, had been a great success since its inception in 2023.
To date, seven sessions have been held at the station, covering topics such as the calm state, boundaries, relationships, thoughts, feelings, facing challenges, and awareness.
"These sessions have helped participants struggling to cope with work-related stress, anxiety, traumatic experiences, and relationship challenges," Ms Middleton said.
"One client told me it was 'better than having 50 therapy sessions' and another one said, 'it was life-changing, calming, and created lasting moments to take back to life'.
"The success of this program shows the power of connecting with nature for wellbeing and how we can explore creative methods to support people, while also recognising that a one-on-one mental health consultation at a clinic isn't right for everybody."
On completion, Ms Middleton said participants had less stress, a better understanding of their feelings and bodies, and improved coping skills for tough situations.
"This is a social and emotional learning program that uses horses to explore participants' feelings and thoughts, while providing them with an understanding as to how these link to different behaviours," Ms Middleton said.
"Horses are naturally very calming and easily make participants feel at ease. This helps to create a safe space, while maintaining an environment where people feel comfortable to observe, do, reflect, and share.
"The combination of horse work, scenarios, and creative activities adds another dimension to the participants' learning and growth.
"One participant has already expressed interest in coming back to see how much they have grown."
Another participant recently said the program provided a "positive environment for learning self-discovery, initiating new skills, developing and reinforcing newly acquired skills and coping mechanisms."
Ms Middleton said at the end of day one, the facilitators identified themes for participants to focus on during day two, for example, how to be more assertive in relationships and how to physically and psychologically declutter.
"It's a relaxed pace with some creative activities, for example, we encourage journalling after most sessions to reflect on what the horses have taught the participants, how that can be translated into human relations, and any tools that have been shared," she said.
"During the activities we see participants strengthening their connections to self, community, others, and nature - this alone is enough to improve someone's wellbeing."
