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Equine therapy helps veterans deal with post traumatic stress

On a blustery April afternoon just outside of Rocky Mountain House, Brian Thompson walks blindfolded alongside a horse while his son Andrew helps both his dad and the horse navigate a small obstacle course.
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Brian Thompson

On a blustery April afternoon just outside of Rocky Mountain House, Brian Thompson walks blindfolded alongside a horse while his son Andrew helps both his dad and the horse navigate a small obstacle course.

They are engaged in equine-based therapy at CanPraxis, and are part of a unique pilot project that is looking to help military veterans deal with the effects of post traumatic stress disorder.

“Self awareness is the first step in the healing process,” said Jim Marland, half of the two-man team that has launched CanPraxis.

Marland, of Rocky Mountain House, has teamed up with military veteran Steve Critchley to help veterans recover from the stress of military engagement.

“For veterans, horses are a very valuable means for dealing with PTSD,” Critchley said

Bringing together more than three decades of equine experience and more than two decades of military experience, the two men are uniquely situated to address the challenges of working with soldiers.

“When [veterans] been under stressful circumstances, the ability to communicate and interact effectively is impaired,” Critchley said.

For Brian Thompson, a military veteran himself, equine-based workshops helped his family deal with the death of his wife.

“Traditional counseling at a desk doesn’t work for a six-year-old,” Thompson said.

“This was one of the first activities we did as a family,” he said.

Marland, who holds a Masters Degree in Counselling and a Bachelor Degree in Social Work, has been providing corporate team-building seminars using horses for the past two years. CanPraxis was an opportunity to use some of the same techniques to address a growing need.

“We looked for a fresh way to use horses to help people,” Marland said.

And it is through the non-verbal communication between horse and participant that offers veterans the chance to learn about themselves.

“Horses use body language to understand each other. They give us an opportunity to learn about ourselves,” Marland said.

However, Marland points out that CanPraxis is not about traditional therapy.

“We’re not here to provide therapy, we’re here to provide counseling and coaching,” he said.

The name CanPraxis ties together the notion of a can-do attitude with praxis, the putting of a theory or idea into practice. Marland and Critchley are now seeking the public’s support to be able to offer this program to veterans and retired soldiers.

“We’re looking for a university to do a study on veterans and horses,” Critchley said. In addition, they are seeking the publics support to be able to offer the program to veterans. They also hope that the Department of National Defense will sponsor the program and recognize it as a legitimate form of counseling for returning soldiers.

Marland and Critchley also want to offer the program to retired soldiers.

“We want to take it to the next level to the retired veterans,” Marland said.

But its not solely about the veterans Critchley says. The program addresses the needs of veterans and their families by bringing them together to work with the animals.

“This program is about bringing people in touch with their families,” Crtichley said.

For Thompson, that opportunity can make a difference.

“It was a very positive experience,” he said.

For more information on CanPraxis, contact Jim Marland at www.deepreflections.com or Steve Crtichley at www.versatilitygroup.com.