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Aspects of AIT can be used directly with the animal, but as a therapy the benefits have proven significantly greater when used distantly.
Working Distantly
The loss of direct feedback when working distantly is compensated by being able to work as flexibly and persistently as possible to reach the underlying source of a problem, and help the animal at a much deeper level than otherwise would be possible.
Almost all AIT sessions will take place distantly, at least initially, and the main benefits of this include:-
- It avoids distractions for animal and therapist
- It bypasses conscious fears or expectations by human or animal
- Sessions can take place at any time or day, without you having to be present
- It saves travel time and reduces overall cost per session
- It enables stress-free, non-interference treatment for animals that are wild, sick, anxious or traumatized
- It allows for much deeper analytical work
- It makes deeper therapeutic work possible
I have had such moments of almost overwhelming awe at how animals - horses especially - are able to willingly participate in their own healing process, communicating what are often deep and painful issues, and trusting me to guide and support them as we re-experience together the memories they would almost certainly rather not see.
Nothing comes close to the feeling when a client phones to say their horse or other animal seems to have changed for the better overnight. And those joyous occasions that I do get to meet the animals in person, when the greatest miracle of them all happens, and they walk up to me and welcome me like an old friend.
Working in person
Working directly with an animal occasionally has it's own benefits, the most useful in being able to get direct feedback. However as much more can be achieved distantly, and sessions in person are only necessary if:
- It would be useful to have a follow-up session in person to see a specific problem or behaviour face-to-face
- Both rider and horse need a combined session, to work on related issues together
- For any reason the animal has not responded to a distant session
Photo horse rolling (c) Eline Spek, dreamstime.com
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