Equine therapy inspires change
‘I was drinking excessively just to get through...’
AIt was so nice to feel like finally someone was proud of me. I haven’t had that feeling in a long time. It made me feel more in control of my life Karen Turner
nyone currently employed, or on a benefit while having a health condition or disability, can get help from Here Toitu¯.
They will support you to find and maintain meaningful work, study or volunteering experiences.
Recognising your potential and working towards achieving goals can help improve your wellbeing and wha¯ naungatanga.
The Here Toitu¯ has a dedicated support team who can help manage and improve your health and wellbeing, identify your strengths and how to use them, achieve your employment, volunteering or learning goals, and access and connect with other local support services.
If your health condition or disability impacts on your ability to work, including stress, depression and anxiety, the team can help you to keep your job or find a more suitable alternative employment if that is your goal.
The service is completely free to access and is available in Palmerston North, Manawatu¯ , Horowhenua, O¯ taki and Tararua.
They can work with you for up to 12 months, so you can feel fully supported to make and sustain the goals you’re working towards.
One success story comes out of the “Nua”: Meet Karen Turner — a solo mum from Horowhenua who has Type 2 diabetes.
Last year, Karen found herself struggling at work — it was a toxic environment that had started to affect her mental health so much that she dreaded getting up in the mornings. Having anxiety also made it harder to deal with work so she would suffer from frequent panic attacks.
“If you’re a diabetic you will know that when you are down and depressed you eat more in order to survive and exercise is the last thing you want to do.
“It got to the point where everything just got too much — I was drinking excessively just to get through and forget life. I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what the problem was but I knew things were getting out of control,” said Karen.
Karen visited her GP and broke down. Her GP advised her that unless she changed her external environment things weren’t going to get any better.
She made the decision to leave her job, for the benefit. She put her health and wellbeing first, not only for herself but also for her 10-yearold daughter.
“She needs me and needs me to be well,” she realised.
Karen was referred to Maggie Mario, a Ma¯tanga whai ora / Health Improvement Practitioner at her GP practice, then referred on to Juliette Wilson, a Kaimanaaki from the Here Toitu¯ team at THINK Hauora.
Karen was trying to cope with low mood, was unemployed, drinking alcohol daily, and had depression, anxiety, diabetes, no exercise plan, poor eating and no social circle.
“Before I met Jules from the Here Toitu¯ team at THINK Hauora, I was in the mind set of ‘I’ll just jump through their hoops, tick the box, this isn’t for me, I don’t need this help but within 10 minutes of meeting Jules, I knew she was in my life for a reason and a purpose. We connected on a level that I haven’t connected with someone before.”
Although initially Karen didn’t think she had a problem,
Juliette invited Karen to consider the impact of her drinking habits on herself and her daughter.
Something shifted within a matter of weeks and Karen had taken the first huge step and stopped drinking.
“Jules was beside herself with excitement when I told her. It was so nice to feel like finally someone was proud of me. I haven’t had that feeling in a long time. It made me feel more in control of my life.”
Karen feels so much clearer in herself to now look back and think about how she was using alcohol to understand her life, thinking it was making her feel better. “In hindsight being able to face the negatives with an alcohol-free mind makes me feel more powerful and in control.”
Karen is extremely grateful for the opportunity to have experienced equine therapy with Renee Keenan from Changing Horses Ltd — Equine Assisted Human Development that provides an enriched, real-world therapeutic environment.
Renee was able to help her break down barriers and help Karen understand her selfworth.
Karen is now 31 weeks alcohol-free, has embraced studying and was working voluntarily as a teacher aide that has now turned into part-time paid work.
She is walking 10,000 steps per day and is going to the gym regularly and not looking back.
Her life has had a complete turnabout thanks to a number of interventions, and she is keen to share her story to help others.
“Karen’s confidence in herself has completely changed. She’s a totally different person than the Karen I met six months ago,” said Juliette Wilson, Kaimanaaki from Here Toitu¯ .
Here Toitu¯ is delivered in partnership between THINK Hauora and the Ministry of Social Development.