With the long-term effects of isolation brought on from the pandemic running rampant, a special 14-week pilot program is galloping to the rescue thanks to Pembroke Regional Hospital’s Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACT) and their plans for Equine Assisted Learning.
ACT is bringing together individuals from across Renfrew County to get hands-on experimental learning through horse to human interaction and non-verbal communication.
Kristy Melcher is a Concurrent Disorders Specialist and lead for this pilot project. She has a simple goal; to build a program to address issues around isolation and people who experience persistent mental illness.
Dialectal Behavioral Therapy (D-B-T) may be a big step towards a solution. She stated that by facing new challenges and building up skills, participants will build friendships and strengthen their self-esteem. DBT is a type of talk therapy that’s been adapted to those who experience emotions intensely and introduce practical skills to help overcome feeling distressed.
ACT has partnered with Greener Pastures Equine Program to help bring this special therapeutic initiative to life to combat unhealthy negative behaviors.
Participant feedback on the weekly 90-minute sessions was positive. Each week introduced a new experience that bred camaraderie, peer support, and lots of laughter.
For more information, please contact:
Carolyn Levesque, Public Affairs and Communications Coordinator
Pembroke Regional Hospital
(613) 732-3675, extension 6165 / carolyn.levesque@prh.email
(Written by Luke Notman)
