What happens when you take therapy out of the clinic and into the paddock?
In this episode of Growing Up with A Growing Understanding Speech Pathology, Practice Director Lauren Haskins is joined by Nadine Delaney from Hunter Valley Children’s Therapy to explore how stepping outside the therapy room- and working together – can open up powerful new opportunities for children and families.
Together, they introduce Trail Talk: An Equine Experience, a nature-based group program developed in collaboration between AGU and HVCT. Set outdoors and centred around equine-assisted therapy, this program is designed to support communication, self-expression, self-advocacy, and social connection in an affirming, strength-based way.
During this episode, you’ll hear about:
- Nadine’s story and her introduction to Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
- How connecting with animals in nature creates a calm, safe space for learning and growth
- The benefits of combining the skills of two professional teams to support young people
- How the communication styles of horses can help children understand their own
- Why outdoor, interest-based programs create organic opportunities for connection
- What a neurodiversity-affirming approach looks like in a group program
- How partnerships like this allow children to transfer therapy skills beyond the clinic
- The value in professionals learning from each other in shared spaces
If your child loves animals and thrives in hands-on, interest-driven environments, or you’re curious about how therapy can look and feel different outside traditional settings, this episode is full of insight, warmth, and collaboration.
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