Today we’d like to introduce you to Gwendolyn McLeod.
Hi Gwendolyn, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The PEACH Pit is a public charity founded by a woman Veteran in 2014. The PEACH Pit offers equine-assisted psychotherapy, which is mental health care or counseling (but is not therapeutic riding). We have evening and weekend hours.
We’re a nonprofit because no one should have to struggle to afford mental health care. It’s as basic as food, water, and shelter. Without quality mental health care that’s affordable, there may be no food, water or shelter.
This is The PEACH Pit’s mission statement: We tap into the naturally reflective nature of horses to help you overcome obstacles to being happy and healthy. The agency’s vision is to ensure you feel emotionally and physically safe enough to allow our horses to serve as part of your therapy team so you can walk away from the experience feeling more empowered to make changes.
We have three primary goals:
To provide low-cost, affordable mental health care to our clients; this is the most important goal.
To educate the public on the use and benefits of equine-assisted psychotherapy and equine-assisted learning
To promote the use and benefits of EAP and EAL
The PEACH Pit accepts volunteers, but volunteers are never part of our counseling sessions.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Because we provide “brief” therapy, our clients tend to see us for three or four months before having the tools needed to overcome their obstacles. That means we’re constantly recruiting clients. We love that our clients don’t need us long-term, but financially, it’s problematic.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Let me tell you a bit about EAP, which in this case does not mean employee assistance program.
EAP incorporates horses experientially for emotional growth and learning. This means participants learn about themselves and others by participating in activities with horses and then processing/discussing feelings, behaviors, and patterns. The focus of EAP is not riding or horsemanship. It involves setting up ground activities involving the horse, which will require the application of certain skills.
Each therapy team providing EAP has a mental health clinician licensed by the state and a horse professional. At least one member of each team must be certified in the Eagala model (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association)
Equine-assisted psychotherapy benefits:
• It removes the stigma some have with going to therapy and replaces it with spending time outdoors with horses.
• People can relate to animals.
• People are not forced to talk; equine therapy is mostly nonverbal.
• Equine therapy can neurologically rewire the brain, creating long-lasting changes.
• It promotes limbic healing and nonverbal support; the limbic system is where new memories can be created to help heal past traumas.
Our teams have worked with families, children, couples, Veterans, adolescents, people with trauma, and people who just need clarity.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Horses have been in my heart since I was 2. When I was in my 40s, I bought my first horse. My relationship with them has changed over the years, and I prefer to partner with them on the ground than to dominate them while mounted. I know I can partner with them while mounted, but we’re not equals in that case. So, I choose not to ride.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thepeachpitgeorgia.org
- Facebook: /thepeachcenter
Image Credits
Photos courtesy of The PEACH Pit.
