One of the most wonderful parts of horseback riding is being able to enjoy your time out on the trails and being in nature with your horse. However, riding out on trails can be anxiety-inducing for some riders. It could have been a previous experience that triggered this for you. Or, a simple distrust in […]
Early adolescence is a turbulent time of enormous physical, emotional, cognitive, and social changes and growth. Adolescence is a time to practice self-governance by feeling, behaving, and thinking independently. This is the groundwork for becoming a confident, independent adult who is not unduly influenced by other people or forces. This can be a challenging time […]
Visiting the barn and your horse should be a sanctuary. A place to escape the rest of the world and spend time with your four-legged therapist. It’s even better if you can spend time and ride with other amicable horse people. Unfortunately, it’s not unheard of for equestrians to encounter people at our barns with […]
Have you ever heard a song that brings you right back to a specific moment in your life? I know that I have. I can hear the disco music as I remember dancing with my mom as a child cleaning the house. The freestyle music of a Brooklyn block party in the 90s. The dance […]
It’s been over a year of the Covid-19 Pandemic and for most of us there have been a lot of unexpected changes to our daily routines. Our “normal” has shifted considerably. We have come a long way. From the inundation of information (and misinformation) to having a grasp of recommendations are for safety and wellbeing. […]
In my previous blog, we discussed what trauma is and how it impacts our minds and bodies after a riding accident. Next our focus is on healing the trauma you experienced while riding. As equestrians, we’re trained to be brave and strong-willed. There’s no space for us to be afraid or second guessing ourselves. You […]
One, two, three, one, two, three, one… His approach was too long to make the jump. The distance wasn’t right and you were unable to correct it. You didn’t see it coming and you’re unbalanced. In a split second, you find yourself tumbling over his shoulder, hitting the ground, and seeing his front legs two […]
When elementary school-aged children begin child therapy, many parents wonder how involved they will be or should be in their child’s treatment. Here at Brave Minds, you can expect your child therapist to build a relationship with you and communicate with you directly. There are several reasons for this. 1. Child Therapists can Provide Validation […]
In the past two blogs, we have discussed the many ways EMDR can help individuals overcome trauma and PTSD. EMDR is a very well-researched form of trauma therapy that helps individuals who feel “stuck” move forward from trauma. It can be used in a variety of clinical settings by clients of all ages. However, it […]
Last month, we discussed a valuable therapeutic tool used at our Scotch Plains, NJ counseling clinic, EMDR. EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and it can be used to help clients of all ages, even children! In fact, EMDR is especially great for children because it requires less talking and is a relatively quick therapeutic […]