TRAUMA TO TRANSFORMATION
How Horses Guide Us to Post-Traumatic Growth
A three-day equine-guided retreat with international guest Rob Pliskin, co-facilitated and hosted by Dean Mighell of The Path of the Horse
WHEN: February 22-24, 2019, 9:30 am - 5 pm each day
WHERE: The Path of the Horse, 351 Domino Rd, Trentham, Victoria, Australia
RETREAT COST: AUD$750, limited to 12
EARLY BIRD: AUD$600 with 50% deposit by Dec. 1
Explore post-traumatic growth with the 12 gentle horses of The Path of the Horse. Let these horses and experienced facilitators guide you forward to what supports you in your life.
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Learn the 5 components of post-traumatic growth (PTG) for yourself and others
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Participate in at least 4 growth experiences with horses
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Receive 3 facilitator promises
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Grow at least 2 ways: in self, and in connection with others personally or professionally
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Understand the power of being 1 healing warrior amidst others
Let the horses guide you!
Who's This Retreat For?
Whether you are just curious about what the horses have to offer to help you on your journey from trauma to transformation, or you are an equine-assisted learning and psychotherapy practitioner helping others, join us for an unforgettable three-day adventure on the Path of the Horse where you will find the resources and supports you need to thrive.
Facilitators
Rob Pliskin is a Master Facilitator and an EAGALA Advanced Dual Certified Equine Specialist and Mental Health Professional. Rob has partnered with horses to help children, youth, and adults find personal strength and healing in places as far apart as northern Israel, South Head, New Zealand, and the Appalachian counties of Ohio. He has been guided by the horses to help facilitate retreats for combat veterans with Warrior PATHH (Progressive and Alternative Training for Healing Heroes) at Boulder Crest Retreat in Virginia, U.S.A.
Rob has supported American Indian friends and teachers for over 20 years in their Sun Dances, Vision Quests, and Purification Lodges. He has also undertaken his own Vision Quest journey, and continues to help bring ceremony to his community. Rob has also served as Program Director of the Equine Pathfinders Foundation in New Zealand and was one of the creators of the International Spirit Horse Festival.
Dean Mighell will be hosting and co-facilitating this very special retreat. Dean is the Founder, Director, and a Practitioner at The Path of the Horse. Dean is certified by the Equine Psychotherapy Institute as an Equine Assisted Learning practitioner, has done trauma training, and is currently studying at the Gestalt Institute of Australia. Dean was a member of the 1st Commando Regiment of the Australian Army Reserve special forces unit.
The Path of the Horse is a Registered Charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. All proceeds to the Charity support our clients, horses and operations. Clients are invited to take part in safe activities with the horses to help develop life skills and learn about emotional regulation in a supported environment. We also assist various organisations to build stronger relationships through improved understanding, communication, and leadership.
A Hero's Journey
Healing is a story of millennia. It is as old as human community, spread across continents and throughout cultures. The story takes us from the profanity of war and the senseless pain of personal trials to the sacredness of warriorhood and personal recovery. It is alive in ancient human experience and in today’s science of post-traumatic growth.
For those who have experienced trauma and suffer lingering symptoms such as post-traumatic stress, depression, and other afflictions, avoidant coping mechanisms are often the only way to get through the day and, indeed, life. Reaching out for help can be a struggle all it’s own, one that involves overcoming shame, embarrassment, and the fear of being viewed as weak.
Whether trauma comes from experiences of combat, emotional or physical abuse, injury, or another source, the wounded warrior often feels that he or she needs to “just get on with it,” burying the pain and the hurt deep down. It is possible to heal the wounds through honoring your path into the light, growing in the relationships in your life, and moving forward from victim to victor.
Embark on a hero’s journey, discover your sacred gifts, and return to share them with the world.