Schneider, a licensed social worker, has worked as a therapist since 1986. She founded Healing Through Horses in 2007 to inspire wellness through the power of the equine spirit. Schneider says horses can help those who have PTSD because the animals are wellgrounded and tune in quickly to what is going on with a person. Schneider gave an example of how she might work with a woman with PTSD, who was feeling overwhelmed. She might have the woman walk in the corral among the horses. As her heart rate drops and becomes calm, the horses may feel safe enough to approach, positively reinforcing the woman’s behavior. For someone showing signs of distress, Schneider might guide the person to place their hands on one of the horses. “Eventually, they will come back to themselves because they have contact,” Schneider says. For some people, the size of the horses and their power can be frightening, even terrifying. Schneider told a story of a young girl in foster care who came to see her for therapy. The girl had been hurt by the adults in her family of origin. The horses were another large, ominous presence to her. The girl was so frightened of the horses she expressed anxiety whenever she came near one. “She thought anything bigger than her was going to kill her,” says Schneider. “Eventually, she learned that big people—adults—are not all dangerous. But she only learned that through the horse. That was what we worked on for a long time. Touch the horse, and you survive. Brush the horse, and he likes you, he doesn’t move away, he’s not going to hurt you. For her, that was
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monumental.” Eventually, the girl was able to get up on the horse. “It was a surrendering,” says Schneider. “She surrendered to the fear of death. She learned that trusting something is okay.” The girl not only A woman asking for guidance at Healing Through Horses. conquered her fear but she also made friends. The visited people at their homes, came to horses would follow her around, says school, and continued to be a resource Schneider. They became her companfor those affected by the shooting. ions and confidants. There was a profound loss of hope, says Bellavia. “Most of the kids, honestly, Canines to the Rescue didn’t want to talk to anybody. I mean, it Across the country, another woman was horrific,” Bellavia emphasizes. is immersed in the healing power of Working with the counselors and psydogs. For 25 years, Marni Bellavia has chologists at the school, Bellavia and her worked with the Humane Society of teams took the dogs to therapy sessions. Broward County in Florida. Her title With the animals present, students were is the Manager of Animal Assisted able to cry and talk to the animals about Therapy, and she trains volunteers and what had happened and how they felt. their companion animals to provide The dogs worked with students individucomfort to those in need of extra supally and sometimes with groups. port. The program serves three coun“The animals were providing comties and helps people in hospitals, hosfort and that unconditional love and pice settings, senior retirement homes, nonjudgment that you don’t normally mental health care facilities, children’s get from people,” Bellavia explains. facilities, foster homes, group homes, Though Bellavia responded to the libraries, and schools. school shooting by making her dogOn Valentine’s Day 2018, Bellavia and-person teams available to others, heard the news of the shooting at she was working in new territory. It Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School made her realize there was not yet an that took place in Parkland, only 30 minanimal-based trauma-response effort utes away. She sprang into action. The that could serve her community. She very next day, she had dog-and-person knew that needed to change. teams deployed to the high school as On a sleepless night, about two well as nearby schools where they could weeks after the shooting, Bellavia offer support for students, faculty came up with the idea for the Canine and families. Throughout the year, Community Resilience program. The 20 teams attended community vigils, new program provides canine sup-
