Are you or someone you know seeking mental health support in the Pakenham area?
The new Racing Hearts Therapy Centre in Ballarto Road, Pakenham South is now taking appointments with its registered practitioners.
Equine assisted therapy is traditional counselling and/or psychotherapy, offered by a qualified mental health practitioner or equine assisted learning practitioner, in a non-traditional way. Equine assisted therapy has proven success in assisting with a variety of mental health issues, most commonly depression and anxiety, but also includes post-traumatic stress disorder, addictions, major life changes such as death or divorce, and eating disorders.
Many programs have been set up aiming to treat at-risk adolescents, ADHD, autism, and also war veterans.
Racing Hearts owner and operator Lisa Coffey says, “Horses provide both physical and emotional comfort.”
“Our sessions are suitable for all ages, including children and teenagers who may have low self-esteem or mental health issues, and can be tailored for specific groups and requirements.”
Clients are offered safe experiences with horses in a meaningful way, to develop awareness, learn life skills, and learn how they experience relationships.
By building awareness of behavioural, emotional and thought patterns that no longer serve them well, people learn more positive ways to live their lives.
Racing Hearts programs have been developed to assist people to work through stressful times in their lives which can be brought about by emotional, physical, behavioural, or cognitive issues and focus more on somatic experience and behaviour change and less on the counselling process or mental health diagnosis.
Individual appointments are available throughout the year and the school programs are exclusively linked to the Victorian Curriculum Personal and Social Capabilities Framework. Racing Hearts is certified by the Equine Psychotherapy Institute (EPI) and its programs are tailored to individual and group requirements from all ages, from primary school to adulthood.
The success of its therapy programs and increased demand has seen Racing Hearts expand to three locations: Moorooduc, Balnarring and now also at Pakenham, where it offers both individual sessions and specialised schools programs throughout the year.
Saturday Autism Camp, which also includes art therapy and school holiday programs are also available at Moorooduc and Pakenham.
Racing Hearts is at 3215 Ballarto Road, Pakenham South. Call 0452 045 046 or visit www.racinghearts.com.au.
