One of my most frequently asked questions is: –
“What’s the difference between your online coaching and your coaching with horses?” and so I thought it would be helpful to write a blog with the answer!
I will get to the difference, but I would like to begin with the connection between the two ways in which I provide support through emotional wellbeing coaching.
The connection between my two styles of coaching
Both styles of coaching help if: –
- in general, you feel happy with your life, but in one particular area you feel as if something is missing and you want that to change
- you’ve previously had coaching/therapy/counselling before and are looking for something different
- you know your ‘story’ but still can’t seem to let go or move through it
- you are in a life transition, have a relationship challenge or you are seeking more purpose and meaning in your life
At some point in our early life many of us learned to disconnect from our true feelings, in order to survive, to please others, to fit in or to be accepted. These patterns continue until at some point they inhibit our ability to move forwards, to have fulfilling relationships or to enjoy life.
When we disconnect from our feelings and emotions or are driven by our limiting beliefs and ‘stories’ we can end up unhappy, physically ill, in unsatisfying relationships and not living a life that brings us joy.
Both styles of coaching help you to: –
- stop trying to work everything out in your head – and teach you to reconnect with the wisdom of your feelings and emotions – so that you know how you feel, know what you want and know what brings purpose and meaning to your life
- release the trauma of the past, the emotional and mental blocks, so that you can live your authentic life and experience more joy and fulfilment
“Working with Rosie allowed me to get out of my head and connect on another level, in a very purposeful way.
I have become much better at being honest with myself and therefore finding alternative solutions to get the results I want without causing more tension and stress within me.”
Both styles of coaching are based on the underlying principle that: –
- we have a lot to learn from the wisdom of horses (and, in fact, other animals!)
Through a lifetime of being around horses I have realised that they can teach us to: –
- be in tune with our feelings
- respond to our emotions
- be free of mental blocks by being present in the moment and
- align with what feels good!
These are the four elements which form the basis of my coaching – body, emotion, mind and spirit.
- Body – Horses teach us to listen to our body feelings
Horses allow their body feelings to guide them throughout the day – if they are hungry, they eat, if they are tired, they sleep, if a fly irritates them, they flick it off with their tail. As humans, we might have learnt to ignore our feelings e.g. even when we feel hungry, we might think “I haven’t got time to eat now”. If we repeat this pattern over time, we develop poor eating habits!
- Emotion – Horses teach us to use our emotions as information
Horses respond to their emotions; they do not suppress them or bottle them to be overly expressed later! If a horse experiences fear, then its heart rate rises, its head and neck tenses and if necessary, it runs from the scary object or experience. If a horse feels angry because another horse has come to eat his pile of hay, he may put his ears back, turn to kick and if necessary, chase the other horse away. As soon as horses have responded to their emotions of fear or anger their bodies will return to homeostasis, calm and relaxed and they can ‘go back to grazing’.
- Mind – Horses teach us to respond to what’s going on in the moment, rather than to the story in our head
Horses do not worry about what happened yesterday or what might be coming up tomorrow – they respond to what’s going on in the moment. I call this being ‘present’.
- Spirit – Horses teach us to do what feels good
Horses show us when we don’t have our ‘heart in it’! (i.e. when our actions are saying one thing and our feelings are showing another, they often respond to how we are feeling!)
For example, if we decide to collect a horse from its field, but we are short of time and don’t really want to bother, the horse may refuse to come! The horse feels the incongruence within us and often responds to the resistance, with resistance!
Horses are masters at teaching us about our non-verbal communication. This is more than body language. It encompasses our intention and our energy. Horses help us to reconnect to our sixth sense, when we employ all of our senses.
So, what is the difference between my two styles of coaching?
The answer is: –
- a) The Process and
- b) Equine Facilitated Learning (coaching with horses) adds the additional benefit of helping to integrate new patterns of learning and behaviour, through an interaction with the horses to support each element of the coaching.
To help you to decide which of my styles of coaching would suit you best here is a description of both.
Online Emotional Wellbeing Coaching
a) Sessions can be experienced: –
- from anywhere in the world
- in the comfort of your own home
- without having to travel
- as hourly sessions
b) Sessions can be via Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp or the old-fashioned telephone, whichever you prefer
c) Length of session: – usually hourly, but some clients have sessions for 1 ½ hours or 2 hours
d) Number of sessions: – I offer a one off 90-minute Clarity session or my Wholehearted Living Programme of 8 x one hour coaching sessions.
Any form of significant shifts in our awareness, in our emotional states or in our way of being take a certain amount of commitment, intention and time.
It’s important to allow enough time to shift the situation and integrate the new way of being into everyday life.
e) Regularity of sessions: – weekly or bi-weekly
f) How it works: –
In the first session I teach you the Body Scan, how to reconnect to your body and what it’s telling you and you will learn a number of different ways in which you can use the Body Scan in everyday life e.g. to make authentic decisions and choices.
In subsequent sessions I share with you: –
- a 4-step process to move through emotion fluidly and help you to understand the meaning of some of the most common emotions
- an embodied process to shift limiting survival belief patterns
- a process to help you connect with what brings your life purpose and meaning
- how to embrace positive emotions
- a way to recognise your shadow projections and integrate both the light and the dark
- the importance of gratitude and of having a practice
The coaching does not follow a set pattern! The Body Scan is always taught as the foundation element, but after that the coaching programme follows its own unique path to integrate the four elements, guided by what the client brings to the sessions.
Each element is integral to the success of the coaching relationship. Having been around and worked with horses my whole life I’m convinced that it’s the combination and integration of these four elements which enable a new way of being.
g) Once you have decided to book online coaching, I will send you a client information form to complete and return with your payment for four sessions. We will book in the dates and times of your four sessions at weekly or bi-weekly intervals.
h) Further support – Online coaching clients are provided with notes to support all the theoretical aspects of the coaching and can email me during the duration of the coaching programme.
j) After completion of your coaching programme I will send you an invitation to share your feedback or a testimonial and you are welcome to come back at any future time for further coaching.
Equine Facilitated Learning (Emotional wellbeing coaching with horses)
In addition to the benefits of online coaching Equine Facilitated Learning supports you to learn about non-verbal communication skills, setting boundaries, respecting personal space, moving through vulnerability by experiencing interactions with horses.
Sessions are two hours in length, during which time you will receive a new piece of theoretical material, integrate the learning through an interaction with a horse (which gives direct in the moment, non-judgemental feedback) and have time to reflect on your learning.
a) Sessions are experienced: –
- Away from your home, in nature and in the presence of horses, together with a small group (maximum 6 participants) of like-minded people
b) Group workshops take place at : – Trealy Farm, Monmouth NP25 4BL and at other venues around the country and abroad
c) Length of session: – 1 day, 3 day, 4 day workshops or the intensive two part NOW Programme
d) Introductory workshop – the first step is my Connect with your Authentic Self 3 day workshop
Any form of significant shifts in our awareness, in our emotional states or in our way of being take a certain amount of commitment, intention and time, however this varies according to each individual and the situation that they bring to coaching. It’s important to allow enough time to shift the situation and integrate the new way of being into everyday life.
f) How it works: –
In the Connect with your Authentic Self workshop I teach you the Body Scan, how to reconnect to your body and what it’s telling you and you will learn a number of different ways in which you can use the Body Scan in everyday life e.g. to make authentic decisions and choices.
You meet the horses and learn about respecting personal space and setting boundaries, which forms the basis of the first mutually respectful interaction between you and the horses.
I will also share with you: –
- a 4-step process to move through emotion fluidly and help you to understand the meaning of some of the most common emotions
- an embodied process to shift limiting survival belief patterns
- a process to help you connect with what brings your life purpose and meaning
- how to move through vulnerability
- how to integrate all of the above skills during reflective and interactive sessions with the horses
“This course has been quite a transformational experience for me, and hands down the most useful personal development experience I have had.
There are so many people describing themselves as coaches now, who are themselves completely inauthentic and trying desperately to cover it up. . There was none of that with Rosie — my husband and I are seasoned healthcare professionals ourselves, with pretty well developed detectors for flimflam and hokum, and we both found Rosie to be an experienced professional who engendered respect, trust and confidence, which enabled us to relax and get the most out of the experience.”
g) Once you have decided to book onto the Connect with your Authentic Self workshop, I will send you a client information form to complete and return with your payment. Accommodation is available at Trealy Farm.
h) Further support – Equine facilitated learning clients are provided with notes to support all the theoretical aspects of the coaching and can book further coaching to help integrate the material, following the workshop, if they choose.
i) After completion of your workshop I will send you an invitation to share feedback or a testimonial.
j) As a next step to the Connect workshop you may choose to attend a further workshop, either my Heart Centred Living or Trust workshop or the two-part intensive NOW Programme.
Would you like to find out more?
Do contact me so that we can talk through the coaching process, your reason for contacting me and how I may be able to help.
I will outline the benefits of both of my styles of coaching and how they might help your specific situation. You can ask any further questions and then you can make the choice on your best way forward.
I look forward to hearing from you.
