are, not what we say. Working with them teaches patience, emotional regulation and leadership through empathy.”
Photo by Joyce Engelbright.
Horses with Hearts works with veterans and other individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder as well as those dealing with anxiety and depression. Programs like Equine Assisted Learning help participants navigate emotional regulation, boundaries and communication skills. Participants learn by observing the horse’ s responses and adjusting their behavior to achieve goals, lessons that carry over into their relationships with people.
Not just any horse can be in the program— they are selected based on their personality.
“ We look specifically for horses that enjoy the company of people and who have a personality to want to interact, have low to no kick or bite response and have a low flight response,” Barkwill says.“ They pick up on what the participant needs and help them obtain their particular goals.”
Barkwell says allowing individuals to share their stories with the horse builds a lasting impact on those who participate in Equine Assisted Learning.
“ The emotional connection to the horses is where the power is, knowing the horse is the motivation that keeps the participants wanting to come back,” Barkwell says.
Music therapy in West Virginia has grown from post-World War II efforts to support veterans to a fully developed network of professional music therapists today. Abby Dodds, board chair
of the West Virginia Music Therapy Association, emphasizes the versatility of music in mental health care.
“ The overall goal of music therapy is for clients to generalize skills learned or practiced in session into other areas of their lives,” Dodds says.
Sessions may include passive engagement, like listening, or active participation, like songwriting, improvisation or performance. Music therapy can help with emotion regulation, social skills, cognitive development, stress reduction and nervous system regulation, among many other benefits. When clients come in, they each receive an individualized treatment plan based on their needs and goals.
“ All music therapists are trained to address challenges in each domain, and many go on to receive specialized training in areas like human development, trauma-informed psychotherapy or neurologic rehabilitation,” Dodds says.“ Depending on each client’ s goals, music therapists work to identify opportunities for integrating these skills into their clients’ lives outside of music therapy.”
Dodds looks at music therapy as a sort of holistic approach, with the goal of helping clients use the skills they learn in their everyday lives.
Photo by Hannah Maxwell.
“ I think what makes music so powerful is its versatility,” Dodds says.“ As a music therapist, I can use music to motivate someone to do something that otherwise feels daunting or undesirable, and I can also use it to help someone process the root of their anxious or depressive symptoms.”
Erica Marks, director of the Yew Mountain Center, sees a natural environment as a therapeutic tool.
“ Out on a trail, beside a waterfall or next to a pond, people are immersed in sensory experiences and observe life unfold at a different pace than in our human-built environments,” Marks says.
Photo by Marlyn McClendon.
Yew Mountain Center offers retreats, school programs and arts-based workshops that foster mental and emotional well-being outdoors. Students, teachers, veterans and community members can experience nature while engaging in reflective activities, arts and wellness practices. The center ensures accessibility and inclusivity for all participants from different backgrounds.
Aside from retreats, Yew Mountain Center also offers educational workshops for those interested in learning more about the outdoors. Different workshops include how to forage mushrooms and cultivate medical plants. Overall, Marks emphasizes that the calm of nature can help heal what different individuals might be dealing with.
“ It may take a while, but in wild places the mind quiets and focuses, movement becomes more mindful and perspectives can shift,” Marks says.
West Virginia’ s unique mental health programs show that healing can happen far beyond a counselor’ s office. Whether through art, animals, music or nature, residents of the Mountain State are discovering new ways to express emotions, build resilience and deepen their connections to themselves, others and the world around them. •
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