Naomi Thomas
HORSE SPECIALIST
Naomi is a highly skilled and experienced horse woman who is passionate about ensuring that the benefits of all things equine are accessible to all. She is currently developing a series of therapeutic interventions using as their base the unique relationship between man and horse, having witnessed first-hand the incredible influence horses have on our mental and physical wellbeing.
Establishing The Sirhowy Stud in 1987 with two Caspian mares, we now have the largest Caspian Stud in the UK and have exported breeding stock to countries as far apart as Australia and Sweden. Importing two of the 1994 stallions from Iran, a stallion from Belgium bred from a stallion and mare also in that shipment and a stallion that had been born in Australia, from the USA in 2000. The Sirhowy Stud has all the rare female bloodlines and are carrying on trying to increase numbers.
In 2016 Naomi qualified as an Eagala Certified Equine Specialist in order to share this incredible little horse with as many people as possible. This is a task for which, being that their talents and temperaments are so different from other equines, Caspians have found their perfect niche.
Jan Symes
UKCP REGISTERED PSYCHOTHERAPIST AND BACP SENIOR ACCREDITED COUNSELLOR. BA (HONS), CQSW, RGN, .B MINDFULNESS TEACHER
Jan has worked as a therapist and supervisor for over 30 years, in the NHS and industry, and in schools and colleges. She has experience working with adolescents, adults and couples who face a diverse range of difficulties. Jan, who grew up on a farm and has had a lifelong love of horses, is convinced of the physiological and psychological benefits of being in nature and with animals.
After initial training with Don Lavender, a pioneer of Equine Assisted Therapy, in 2010, Jan became an Eagala Certified Mental Health specialist in 2020. She delights in walking among the horses with clients as they strive to understand themselves and a world which can feel increasingly complicated, contradictory, confusing and sometimes scary.
Her experience is that Equine Assisted Psychotherapy can help clients to unravel personal difficulties, and enhance resilience and wellbeing.
Lisa Markwell
MA AUTISM, BA (HONS) COUNSELLING, RELATE COUNSELLOR
Lisa is a counsellor specialising in working with autistic adults, and couples in neurodiverse relationships. She has developed a practice dedicated to helping couples navigate the unique challenges within these relationships such as navigating different styles of communication, the impact of autistic burnout, and difficulties managing family life and parenting. She is an Associate Member of The International Society of Psychotherapy and Counselling.
She certified as an Eagala mental health practitioner in 2020, incorporating equine-assisted therapy sessions to help autistic adults and their partners move beyond the traditional therapy space to gain further insights about themselves and each other.
Meet Sandra
Sandra is a trainer, mentor & coach. Her clients include women and men working under pressure and juggling busy careers, teams, and personal lives. She specialises in supporting others balance emotional wellbeing, to communicate successfully and find fulfilment from within.
Her learning and development career spans 8 years coaching Executives and Senior Directors and Managers to be the catalyst of organisational change and facilitating accredited Institute of Leadership and Management [ILM] courses to middle and senior level management.
Her sessions are brought to life through 25 years of commercial experience in corporate consumer goods industries in client facing management and leadership roles.
After experiencing adrenal fatigue and burnout, Sandra retrained as an equine-assisted coach and wellbeing coach to encourage stressed-out individuals better navigate their midlife and achieve their ambitions; whilst putting themselves first.
She is also trained in Neuro-Linguistic Programming [NLP] and a Mental Health First Aid (England) Instructor Member.
She sees individuals before their roles and titles and offers a safe platform for others to experiment to support the learning and growth.
Website: www.sandrawright.co.uk
Accreditations
The Eagala Model is a distinct experience-based, team-approach framework. The Eagala Model is so effective because it embraces the philosophy that humans learn best by doing.
