More About Pegasus Inner Wellbeing

Pegasus, the mythic winged horse, symbolises the power of freedom that can arrive when we dare to face our source of suffering with self compassion, curiosity and love.

When we connect to the essence of Pegasus, we are transported with grace and courage to explore possibilities that can move us beyond the limitations of mind, body and the circumstances in our life. There is a potential to create a fulfilling and meaningful life. (Blog: “The birth of Pegasus Inner Wellbeing 1/11/2021)

When we feel unsafe, untrusting and isolated in certain situations or constantly in survival mode it can compromise our health and wellbeing. In this state it is difficult to be creative and discover new possibilities like Pegasus invites us to do.

Healthy horses know how to keep themselves safe, manage stress and self regulate. They can then go back to grazing (regulated and calm state) after processing and discharging activating energy. Horses thrive in safe environments that offer connection and trust and this is the same for humans.

During Equine assisted Therapy sessions, the horses offer a powerful presence with their natural intelligence, sensitivity and beauty. They can model living in the present moment safely and with full bodied awareness, healthy boundaries and a healthy nervous system.

By spending time in the natural environment and with the horses, interacting through creative activities, brushing, leading, meditating or observation, there is an opportunity to integrate the emerging themes into the counselling process.

Sessions can promote personal growth, emotional regulation and the development of new skills and resources that may support mental health, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions and illness.

There is no horse back riding and no horse experience is necessary.

We endeavour to meet the participant where they are at and follow at their pace, with kindness and compassion.

“You can’t believe in yourself without believing in possibility

and you can’t believe in possibility without believing in yourself”

~ Dr Joe Dispenza

As you approach the entrance to Donington Farm, look for the ancient Grandmother tree and the giant Gatekeeper rock. They have been on this land a long long time and way before you and I were born.

Welcome to Donington Farm

We offer a natural and enriched environment where the herd can live together. They are free to explore, play, forage and engage with each other and the human herd every day.

We have created areas amongst the trees and rocks to safely engage or observe the horses and have an arena, yards and a small covered area for counselling sessions, small group workshops and for weather protection.

For your session, please wear appropriate clothing to suit the weather conditions, comfortable covered walking shoes, and bring a water bottle, sun protection and anything else that will support you.

There will be additional information about your session upon booking.

call: 0400723476

or email: info@pegasusinnerwellbeing.com.au

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My early nursing career shifted into the Mental Health field where I graduated and worked as a Psychiatric Nurse. During this time my husband and our young family were share-farming or leasing dairy farms and we always had our horses living with us for cattle work, bush riding, endurance and eventually horse development and companionship.

I feel so blessed that horses have been my teachers and companions for over 40 years. I look back and value all the benefits that this lifestyle gave to our children, a grounded way of living, close to nature, animals and life lessons that now informs their values as adults.

Life took a completely different and unexpected direction, after the devastating and sudden death of our 6 year old daughter, Georgia. Every hour every day was consumed with deep despair, navigating new territory of grief and trauma and still somehow as bereaved parents we had to continue to get up each morning to care for our children, cows, horses and farm.

It was like living in a nightmare and a thick fog at the same time. The medical model offered little support apart from medication.

Based on my Psychiatric nursing experience, I understood the slippery slope to mental illness and the importance of mental health and wellbeing.

I searched for ways to adjust, heal and support our children and our marriage.

It was important to me to somehow integrate the loss of Georgia into our current life and find meaning.

I started yoga to decrease physical and emotional stress, felt the healing benefits and eventually trained as a Yoga and Meditation teacher with Dru Australasia.

I continue to enjoy teaching yoga and meditation on a weekly basis and love bringing like minded women together at workshops or retreats.

My yoga practice and being with horses taught me to stay in the present moment, how to self regulate and create conditions for healing.

I became interested in the field of Equine Assisted Therapy, trained and became a certified practitioner with the Equine Psychotherapy Institute of Australia (EPI)

The EPI model of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) has a solid theory foundation; ethical human and horse practices and is based on the Gestalt Psychotherapy model.

Further training in a Diploma of counselling and registration with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) has allowed me to facilitate relational experiences with horses in a natural setting to support client’s psychological health, address therapeutic goals and build awareness.

I am forever grateful for how the horses co facilitate sessions by showing up as themselves, free to make choices, model consent, boundaries and provide new insights and deeper understandings for the client.

Life has certainly had its many twists and turns and I continue to be a student of life long learning. I feel honoured to be in a place where I can support client’s on their unique life path.

Australian Counselling Association member - 28743

Working with children check (VIC) - 2683400A-01

Participating in EAP / Counselling sessions can:

• Address the client’s therapeutic goals or various life challenges.

• Develop rapport, trust, self compassion and empathy through relational experiences with horses and facilitator.

• Create conditions for healing, develop new insights and solutions.

• Assist client to experience attunement by feeling seen, heard felt and understood by “other”.

• Build capacity for self awareness, resilience and social/emotional skills.

• Develop connection, and relationship skills through experiences with the horses and the release of Oxytocin.

• Provide opportunities for learning about safe touch, choice, voice and consent.

• Provide experiences of rhythmical movement, sensations and somatic awareness, which enhances sense of safety, whole brain integration and embodiment.

• Explore emotional regulating skills to reduce stress, anxiety and fears.

• Discover what feelings, thoughts and beliefs arise when in relationship with the horse.

• Build self-awareness of habits or patterns that are no longer supporting health and wellbeing.

• Improve verbal and non verbal communication skills.

• Improve quality of life for client.

call: 0400723476

or email: info@pegasusinnerwellbeing.com.au