The Basics
Located in Westlake Village, a community north of Malibu that straddles the Los Angeles and Ventura County lines, Stand In Balance provides equine-assisted therapy to clients of all ages including children, adolescents, young adults and adults. Situated near the Santa Monica Mountains, Stand In Balance was founded by Dr. Vallerie Coleman, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst with more than 20 years of experience in the field. Certified by both EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) and E3A (Equine Experiential Education Association), Stand In Balance offers a unique experiential approach of therapy for clients struggling with mental illnesses, trauma, substance use disorders and major life events.
Treatment and Staff
The goal of treatment at Stand In Balance is to provide an arena for clients to gain a greater understanding of themselves. Through an engagement with horses, a highly intuitive species, clients learn new methods to aid in their recovery. Treatment begins with a consultation that helps the Stand In Balance team customize a plan that meets the needs of the client. Therapy sessions are typically scheduled weekly, though individuals and groups can schedule customized retreats at the ranch. For retreats, the staff tailors a weekend of programming to meet the needs of the client be it an individual, a couple or a family.
The Stand In Balance equine-assisted programs often deliver immediate results, and can be used as a powerful complementary method along with traditional therapy. Through the engagement with horses, the ranch’s healing program provides clients an arena to release past trauma and recognize their strengths. Experiential activities reveal negative patterns for individuals with relationship issues, anger management and those struggling with substance use disorders. For clients recovering from substance abuse, the ranch offers group sessions typically last two hours and focus on themes including trust, coping skills, mindfulness and problem solving. Learning and progress are achieved through an engagement with horses where clients are given challenges that mirror those that arise in recovery.
The Stand In Balance team is comprised of facilitators, psychotherapists, counselors, life coaches, clinical psychologists, addiction specialist and certified equine therapists. Since Stand In Balance is primarily outpatient-based experiential treatment based around the principles and benefits of equine therapy, dual diagnosis support and 12-step recovery are not a part of the programming.
Extras
It is not imperative that clients know how to ride. All of the therapy involves “eye to eye” interaction with horses. The founder, Vallerie Colemen, PhD, has been featured on Dr. Phil.
In Summary
Stand In Balance is a renowned treatment facility that provides equine-assisted therapy for clients of all ages struggling with a vast array of issues including mental illnesses, substance use disorders, marital and parental problems, trauma and major life events. Like many programs, clients are evaluated and programs are designed to meet their needs. The experiential therapy offers unique challenges that reveal deep-seeded issues as well as never-seen-before strengths. For clients seeking an intense and powerful experiential therapy, Stand In Balance is an excellent choice.
Stand In Balance Cost: Sliding scale; some insurances accepted. Reach Stand In Balance by phone at (818) 714-1740 or by email at info@standinbalance.com. Find Stand In Balance on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn
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Sponsored DISCLAIMER: This is a paid advertisement for California Behavioral Health, LLC, a CA licensed substance abuse treatment provider and not a service provided by The Fix. Calls to this number are answered by CBH, free and without obligation to the consumer. No one who answers the call receives a fee based upon the consumer’s choice to enter treatment. For additional info on other treatment providers and options visit www.samhsa.gov.
