FAQs
frequently asked questions
FAQs
What is it about partnering with horses in a coaching, learning, or therapy session so powerful?
Horses seek connection.
As herd animals, horses experience secure and insecure attachments as well as social dynamics as they learn to survive and thrive with each other as well as in relationships with us.
Horses respond to heart rate.
Because of this sensitivity, we can observe and learn how our behavior impacts them and vice versus, growing in co-regulation ability and empathy.
Horses respond to the environment.
Horses have a fully active brain and nervous system enabling them to respond to the environment and other living creatures for the sake of survival. They are not mirroring us. They are responding to us, providing us with valuable information to explore our patterns of interacting with others. When we discover these patterns, we can begin the growth process and develop new habits of being in this world.
Great question. No! Traditional coaching techniques are used in sessions without horses and can take place online or in-person at the Stables. The Personal Vision Course is also a program that is not equine-based.
Equine-Assisted Coaching and Learning provides a unique way to explore growth because horses are willing to engage in connection and also resist it if they don't feel safe. They are created with a brain and body response system that works for their survival. As herd animals, they rely on their senses and one another for protection and also the provision of needs. By entering into an experience with a horse, we can explore what we bring into a relationship as well as what we can get out of it. As a result, we learn about ourselves and the needs of others in a fresh new way.
Natural Lifemanship principles utilized in equine-assisted coaching and learning sessions are built upon the concepts of healthy attachment and building attuned, connected relationships. The principles applied between the horse-and-human relationship equally apply to our human-to-human relationships.
Neuroscience research demonstrates that our brains can change through new and healthy experiences. In our sessions, we explore the cultivation of new thinking patterns (neuropathways) to move toward healing, growth, and transformation.
The way to change old patterns that no longer serve us is to practice something new. The learning is accomplished in our sessions, utilizing principles we put into practice in all of our relationships. The goal is to learn how to have connected and attuned relationships, which leads to healthy development, contributes to healing at any age and enhances well-being.
You don't need any horse experience at all. Actually, the less you know about horses, the more remarkable your experience can be because you'll show up teachable and without any preconceived notions about what to do. This is all unmounted work. If you would like riding lessons, we can put you in touch with a fabulous instructor at the farm.
The farm sessions are held in heart of Pennsylvania horse country at Honey Brook Stables, in Honey Brook. If you are from out of town, we will schedule your sessions on back-to-back days or the same day. Feel free to request a list of local accommodations.
You can learn about the ARISE Method here.
Absolutely! I can come to your business, organization, conference, workshop, or retreat location to teach and train on various topics. Feel free to reach out to discuss your needs.
Although most people believe that trauma needs to be a big life event, anything that causes you to experience fear of harm can result in a traumatic experience and hinder the way you see yourself, others, God (if faith is part of your life), and your place in this world. For example, all these events can be categorized as trauma:
- intrauterine and birth trauma
- abuse and neglect
- domestic violence
- grief and loss
- car accident
- flooding and fires
- natural disaster
- divorce
- family separation
- combat
- detainment/deportation
- incarceration/imprisonment
- homelessness
- poverty
- community violence and civil unrest
- sudden changes in relationships
- sudden and unexpected moves
- individuals eager to gain self-awareness and heal
- mothers ready to discover a new way to relate to their children
- families seeking to cultivate new ways of connecting and communicating
- couples longing for a deeper understanding of each other
- young adults looking for the courage to embrace their college and career endeavors
- leaders and teams ready to find unity in their vision and discover how to work together more effectively
When it comes to caring for horses, the expense can quickly add up in order to provide quality veterinary care, food, pasture space, grooming supplies, and board. As a professional working with horses, there is also the matter of liability insurance. As such, the cost of an equine-assisted experience will be more than an online coaching experience. However, what you learn in one session with a horse may take multiple sessions online, depending upon your level of awareness.
Elisa Pulliam, who goes by Lisa, is the founder of StableMinded and the facilitator of all programs. She is a certified Natural Lifemanship Trauma-Informed Equine-Assisted Specialist and Coach, Life Breakthrough Coach, Highlands Ability Battery Consultant, and is pursuing an MA in Clinical Counseling with a trauma concentration at Eastern University. Lisa also spent 18 years living at a boarding school with her husband, a high school Chemistry teacher, and serving as a mentor to the students. She has a heart for the next generation, which she believes is best served by equipping the adults who influence their lives.
What can you expect from equine-assisted coaching?
The equine-assisted coaching and learning process may be hard to picture. How you can benefit from time with a horse? Grab a few minutes to listen to a simple, and personal, explanation about the process and how you could personally and professionally benefit from connecting with a horse and coach.
Ready to get started?
Connect with Lisa to begin the kind of growth process that will result in lasting change and impact.
