Krissy Broncho explains Equine Assisted Psychotherapy at Grief Conference
Founder Krissy Broncho during the Waapi Kani Grief Conference on March 11.
By OLIVIA YOKOYAMA
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — Krissy Broncho, Certified Mental Health Counselor and founder of Broncho Mental Health Counseling took it upon herself to help the community and begin an Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) program that helps the clients with mental disorders and work towards building self-esteem, confidence, anxiety, trauma, and dealing with grief.
She did a presentation at the Waapi Kani Grief Conference March 11.
She is certified with the EAGLA (Equine Assisted Growth Learning Association) since 2001.
The purpose of the program is to make a positive impact on both the horses and the people, and gain that leadership role and build confidence. The EAP program is built to help people have compassion, empathy, and impulsivity.
In order to begin the therapeutic program, Broncho had a few stipulations that had to be solved such as obtaining liability waivers for the participants, meetings with tribal attorneys, and a safe arena for the both clients and horses. With the help of her previous co-workers and family members who transported the horses to and from the sessions, it became successful.
Krissy has worked with both adults and children who benefit a lot from the program such as gaining self-esteem with the younger ones and connecting with the horses. “It’s not about horsemanship or getting on and riding, it’s about connecting with the horse, grooming, feeding, and haltering them and having that connection with the horse,” Broncho said.
“Actually doing the therapy technique is a different process compared to being in a therapy session in a room you’re in an open area with the horse,” she continued. “That was you can actually see the transformation with the client and horses.”
Throughout the presentation Krissy presented a PowerPoint talking about the different stages of grief. She explained intuitive grievers are more likely to feel extreme sadness and pain – they express themselves outwardly through tears or conversation. Instrumental grievers tend to mentally separate themselves from the loss and keep their feelings inside.
She had volunteers participate in an EAP activity where they used a stick horse to connect with another person.
In the future, when she has the right amount of assistance, she wishes to continue and expand in the surrounding areas.
