Liz Olszewski slowed her steps as she came upon 13-year-old Brittany during a session at her Horses Healing Hearts ranch. Though she could only see the teen from the back, Liz could tell she was crying. Just two weeks earlier, when Brittany had first visited the ranch with a group of other children of addicts, Liz had explained that they must allow themselves to feel when they are with the horses.
Raising her hand, Brittany had asked, “What if you’ve forgotten how to feel?”
Now, Liz quietly looked on as Brittany brushed the horse’s mane, her face nestled in his neck, softly weeping her pent-up tears.
“Are you okay?” Liz asked. Brittany nodded. And later, as she was leaving, Brittany told Liz, “Miss Liz, I actually feel lighter all over my body since crying with Stitch.”
Liz melted into a smile. A child who couldn’t feel is now healing because of horses. It’s working. It’s really working! her happy heart rejoiced.
Four-legged therapy
By age 5, Liz already had wounds she thought would never fade. She had moved with her family multiple times, had a mother, father and stepfather who were all alcoholics. Family fights, drinking, violence and neglect were Liz’s “normal.” Her survival mechanism was to not trust, talk or feel, as it was easier to stay numb than to be in constant pain.
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