EAGALA is committed to setting the standard of professional excellence in how horses and humans work together to improve the quality of life and mental health of individuals, families and groups worldwide.  This worldwide non-profiting making organisation founded in 1999 provides education, standards, innovation and support to professionals providing services in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.  

Amanda has a number equine therapy qualifications including - TA101 from the Institute of Transactional Analysis; the Fundamentals EAGALA Certification in utilizing horses experientially for mental health treatment and human development; the Horse Boy Method.

EAGALA aims to get professionals in the clinical and human development fields to accept EAP/L as a valid and effective approach, and to actively use it with their clientele. This benefits those in the equine fields by opening up greater possibilities for doing what they love, namely working with horses. This benefits those in the clinical and human development fields by providing a powerful, effective, interesting, and fun therapeutic and educational alternative. Most of all, this benefits the clients and participants, because, as those of us working in the field see all the time, it works! The growth and learning of all involved is intense and rewarding.

For more information on the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association click here.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is experiential in nature which means that participants learn about themselves and others by participating in activities with horses and then discussing feelings, behaviours and patterns. It utilizes horses as dynamic and powerful living beings.  Activities are set up with horses which require the participants to apply certain skills.  Non-verbal communication, assertiveness, creative thinking and problem solving, leadership, work, taking responsibility, teamwork and relationships, confidence and attitude are several examples of tools utilized and developed by EAP.  Sessions usually last between 1 and 1.5 hours.  Horses are carefully selected to suit the particular requirements of the participants.

Amanda has gained a TA101 qualification from the Institute of Transactional Analysis (ITA).  This is the professional body that sets standards of competence and ethical practice for qualified transactional analysts in the UK.

Transactional Analysis (TA) was founded by pioneer psychiatrist, Eric Berne who re-examined the basic assumptions of psychiatry and developed a system of analysis which can be applied to the structure of the personality.  It identifies three ‘ego states’: Parent, Adult and Child and enables us to clarify our life experiences, thoughts and feelings by examining how we learned our beliefs and values from our parents and other parent figures, and how being in different ego states can influence our behaviour and relationships. TA counselling enables clients to develop awareness, options and skills in daily life through the enhancement of their own strengths and resources.  The aim is to increase their autonomy in relation to the social and cultural environment.

EAGALA strives to educate the public that EAP/L is more than horsemanship and riding classes.  It is a growing professional field of therapy in which horses are used as a tool for emotional growth and learning.