EQUI-librium Therapy

Anam Cara is our cornerstone psychotherapy programme. We work in a variety or modalities and methods providing accessible psychotherapy to all. 

We respect all cultures and traditions. We may reference helpful brief systems, narratives and explanations from world cultures. However, we are mindful of not appropriate  the culture of others where this is done without a contextual understanding of what is sacred, complex and that which defines identity, place and space. For that reason do not seek to appropriate the cultures of others. We adopted the name Anam Cara to reflect our own heritage in the west of the British Isles and Ireland. Anam Cara is from the Celtic traditions and we think it particularly apt. It is sometimes translated as “soul friend” from the Irish language. We suggest that both friend and guide work well here. 

Psychotherapist William P. Ryan suggested that Anam Cara was more than just a friendship of the soul friendship. He describes a person who brings their compassionate presence. Others have described how the soul guide or friend has the ability to read peoples hearts and to offer their presence purely for the benefit of the other. This is what we aspire to do, alongside our equine friends, or not. 

We specialise in working with Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy and other nature based therapies such as Forest Therapy, as well as in more conventional therapy settings such as consulting rooms.  

The therapeutic benefits of being with animals has long been known. Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy has been shown to be extremely useful for working with people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), complex PTSD, Anxiety, Depression, Autism, ADHD, Disordered, Personality Disorders, Alcohol and Substance Use and many other mental health problems. The person may or not have a formal diagnosis. We do not have an eligibility criteria based on diagnosis or risk. These categories are provided as examples, but the person behind these words is where our wish to help lies. The therapeutic relationship is key to us, and we think, to you. 

Recent study have shown that those receiving a course of Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy suffering with PTSD experienced a positive  change in their neurobiology to reflect the therapeutic benefit they reported. 

Wa are committed to helping all people regardless of financial, social, race, gender, sexuality, age, religion, belief or other identity. Beyond that we seek to actively progress social inclusion and social justice. For that reason we give priority to those who often experience the greatest of structural and implied barriers. We are delighted to support and priorities veterans, care leavers, NHS staff, emergency services and public servants, and those oppressed by social and economic factors. We are signatories to the Armed Forces Covenant and the Care Leavers Covenant.  

Our expertise in Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy is paired with our significant experience and trainman as Registered Mental Health Professionals. Our ethical approach means that only those who are already experienced Registered and Regulated Mental Health Professionals undertake this work with us. We welcome other organisations adopting a “trauma informed” approach. However, it is our view that the treatment of trauma is safely working with within our Scope of Practice as Psychologists, Mental Health Nurses and those who have significant experience as registered counsellors and psychotherapists with reputable registrant organisations. This is for reasons of safety, effectiveness and for the confidence of our clients and the general public. All of our therapists are: 

• Registered Mental Health Professionals 
• Have undergone extensive psychotherapy specific equine training (Equine Facilitated/Assisted Psychotherapy) 
• Have extensive professional experience 
• Have specific skills in working with psychological trauma 
• Have professional indemnity insurance 
• Have up to date Safeguarding training at level 3 or above 
• Engages in regular Clinical Supervision 
• Undertake ongoing Continued Professional Development (CPD) 
• Are DBS checked 

Our therapists are integrative in their practices and approaches. We have rained in approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, integrative psychodynamic approaches, Eye Movement Desensitisation Reintegration (EMDR), Somatic work in the human:horse relationship, and Internal Family Systems (IFS)