The Waccamaw Way model of care has been long instilled in the Boys and Girls Home of North Carolina, but animal assisted therapy has become a major key component for the majority of youth on the campus.
Home President and CEO Ricky Creech firmly believes in the value of interacting with animals and nature, and has made certain that it has been included in the model. He said it aids in the treatment of those with attachment disorders, and helps to fast-track building relationships.
“Animals bring non-judgmental attitudes, loyalty, trustworthiness, listening, and acceptance to the client,” said Creech. He said they have incorporated this interaction with equine therapy at the farm on their facility.
Amanda Thompson, Equine Therapy and Events Coordinator, and clinician Stephanie Tucker, are using the Eagala Model when having kids interact with the animals.
Instead of just riding, it puts the kids in more direct contact with the horses and attending to the gentle giant’s needs. The therapy is directed toward children with mental and psychological disorders such as ADD/ADHD, depression, anxiety, confidence issues, and extreme issues associated with physical and mental traumas.
“Eagala is specifically designed to be a mental health treatment model using horses that are highly attuned and offer a safe place for clients to discover themselves,” said Thompson. Tucker said “Eagala is a special modality because it allows the youth to interact with the horses in a hands-on approach without the pressure of talk therapy.” She feels it gives the children the opportunity to address issues or struggles in their own time.
To become a certified Eagala practitioner requires the Fundamentals of the Eagala Model training course. The course runs five days and is a hands-on, on-location training class. Thompson was certified in February of this year, and Tucker will earn her certification in October.
Thompson said the biggest thing she took away from the training course is the fact that it is very different from other therapies, and it lets youth overcome their challenges by finding the best solution for themselves.
“With this certification, we can now use the horses for more than just riding, as many of our kids initially lack the confidence to do so. It provides an entirely different outlet for our kids that may be less stressful and engage them in a way other therapies may not,” she said. The Eagala organization was founded in 1999 as a non-profit, and continued to grow and develop the Eagala Model. It has a nationwide reach and an extensive network of professionals who support each other. It is run by a volunteer board of directors who maintain the highest standards of business practices. For more information about the Eagala organization, visit www.eagala.org.
