Young Hearts Adolescents Treatment Centre

09/04/2025

28/03/2025

Horses have a profound ability to create emotional safety and engagement in the treatment process. Their size and presence evoke awe, naturally encouraging clients to be more present, open, and connected.

In a safe and dynamic environment, horses help foster healing, trust, and self-discovery—not through words, but through the powerful relationship they offer, guided by skilled professionals.

27/10/2024

https://youtu.be/3ulkLHqHZ3g?si=wOWtwEmPUOLbyxQ8

22/10/2024

We assists in fostering open dialogue and better choices through our Weekly peer pressure workshops in Chartwell North Estate, at the Indigo Horse Center. Help us to help your teenager build a culture where resisting harmful behaviors is celebrated. Call or WhatsApp Sharon at 079 505 8532 today to make a booking.

14/10/2024

Saturday EAP sessions with the boys were (as usual) exceptional. Both horses were on point. Trusting the horses and their interactions with our clients was paramount for optimal benefit. Fantastic sessions with your clients Bianca Keeley. The herd at Indigo Horse Centre and I appreciate doing what we do.

10/10/2024

Adolescents go through so much on a day to day basis. From changes that puberty brings to peer pressure and more. Let's help our Adolescents with their emotional struggles.

30/09/2024

We are excited to be presenting and training our youth about drug awareness. The harm that comes from Va**ng and Cannabis to developing brains 🧠

28/09/2024

Homeschoolers and Horses : 19th September 2024

Many thanks to Amanda Gifford for arranging a group of homeschooled teens and their teachers to come and have a horse experience with myself and the herd that works with the Teen groups in conjunction with Young Hearts.

We began with an introductory circle and a brief explanation as to the why's of horse experientials as well as a safety talk, which centres around awareness of self and others.

Most of the teens had previously interacted with horses and ponies. A couple of them were rather intimidated at first but soon warmed to the process and the impact on these teens was really profound in some cases. One of the teens younger special needs sister joined us and had a very special connection to our Fynn and also received lots of connection with Shiloh and Grey – I would like to mention that the interaction between Juno and Fynn began as she walked into the paddock and continued in the arena. The teachers and Amanda joined us very willingly and were able to experience what the teens did.

At the end of the experience we sat in our closing circle and the teachers asked the teens to give only ONE word for their experience. Peaceful, connection, harmony, seen, happiness, calming, relaxing, trust are just some of the words that hit home with me. Yet again, our herd worked their magic in their field of expertise.

A few pictures (with permission, always) and comments from the teachers and the mother of Juno.

Feedback from Mom Nikki : Juno normally doesn’t speak much about her experiences unless they are meaningful to her and she has been talking a lot about meeting the horses, especially her interaction with the horse named Fynn (her oldest brother’s name who has just left for a year in Poland) who seemed to have a connection with her.

Feedback from Laurel, home school teacher : We like to take our homeschooled teens (a group of about 10kids) on meaningful outings once a month if we can – we go to art exhibitions and theatre productions for example. Taking them to interact with Sharon’s gorgeous horses was one of the best things we have done in a while. The teens were curious and relaxed around the horses. Each of them seemed to connect with a horse, which was lovely to witness. There was a complete sense of peace and calm during our time with them and each teen came away from the experience having felt something deep within them Sharon was patient and engaging as she guided our teens through the process of connecting with the horses. We all felt incredibly safe and nurtured in the horses’ space. It was incredibly meaningful and we will definitely be visiting Sharon and her horses again (and again ).

Feedback from Amanda Gifford, Drama therapist : It’s really important to have times when the teenagers are away from their phones and engaging with nature and animals, with their intuition and in their bodies. I saw the teens relax ! the one teen said it’s the happiest he has been in a long time. He said leading horses is strangely relaxing.

Feedback from Bronwyn, home school co-ordinator : my word was connection. I have always been a little afraid of horses but these horses are so gentle and kind, I was smiling with my soul the whole time.

26/09/2024

Teens face a variety of pressures both at school and socially, which can significantly impact their mental and emotional well-being. Some common pressures include:

📘 Academic Pressure: The need to achieve high grades and perform well on tests, leading to stress and anxiety.
🪅 Social/Peer Pressure: Adolescents often feel the need to fit in with peers, which can lead to conforming to group norms, facing bullying, or dealing with issues related to friendships and social dynamics.
🏀 Extracurricular Commitments: Balancing academics with sports, clubs, and other activities can lead to overwhelming schedules and fatigue.
👨‍👩‍👦 Parental Expectations: Teens may feel pressure from parents to excel academically, choose certain career paths, or engage in specific activities, which can create tension in family relationships.
🤯 Mental Health Issues: Anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges are common among teens and can be exacerbated by school-related stressors.
👙 Body Image and Self-esteem: Concerns about appearance and self-worth are common, influenced by societal standards, media, and peer comparisons.
📱 Technology and Social Media: The constant connectivity can lead to additional stress, including cyberbullying, the need for social validation, and the pressure to maintain an online persona.
⏳️ Time Management: Balancing homework, studying, social life, and personal interests can be challenging, leading to stress and burnout.
🔮 Uncertainty about the Future: Teens often face anxiety about their future, including career choices, financial concerns, and higher education options.

💫How Young Hearts Treatment & Training Centre Can Help 💫

Horse-assisted therapy can be beneficial for teens dealing with these pressures in several ways:
👷‍♀️Building Trust and Relationships: Working with horses helps teens develop trust and improve interpersonal skills, which can enhance social interactions and reduce feelings of isolation.
🥰 Improving Self-Esteem: Engaging in the care of horses can boost confidence as teens face challenges, learn new skills, and experience accomplishments in a non-judgmental environment.
😃 Emotional Regulation: Being around horses can help teens learn to identify and manage their emotions. Horses are sensitive creatures that often reflect the feelings of those around them, assisting teens to become more aware of their emotional states.
🧘‍♀️ Stress Reduction: Interacting with horses can be calming and provide a break from academic pressures. This therapeutic bond can help lessen anxiety and promote relaxation.
👫 Teamwork and Responsibility: Working in groups with horses encourages responsibility and teamwork, which can translate into improved social skills and a sense of belonging.
🤸‍♂️ Physical Activity: Being out in nature is a physically engaging activity that can help reduce stress and improve overall well-being.
🧑‍🎓 Mindfulness and Focus: Engaging with horses encourages present-moment awareness, helping teens develop mindfulness skills that can reduce anxiety and improve concentration and performance at school.

Overall, horse-assisted therapy can provide a unique outlet for self-expression, coping strategies, and personal growth, helping teens better manage the pressures they face at school and socially. 🦋🌟

21/09/2024

WHAT IS HORSE FACILITATED LEARNING? Horse Facilitated Learning (HFL) is an experiential therapeutic learning process with the horse as co-therapist alongside the therapists and horse specialist.

Horses are sentient, they are aware of their surroundings, this includes the client and their emotional state, allowing the horse to mirror back what the client is internalising. It is a powerful message for the client to experience feedback from a horse that has no opinion or “hidden agenda”.
They are authentic in their communication.

20/09/2024

Being herd animals, horses exhibit exceptional social intelligence with complex social structures and thus show a natural inclination to empathy and bond forming with others, including people. Their awareness allows them to recognise emotional states and to mirror and respond in ways that encourage trust and connection. Recent studies have shown that horses’ mirror neurons by far exceed humans.