Submission on the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024
Name: Dean Mighell Business Name: The Path of the Horse (registered Charity) Website: www.pathofthehorse.com.au Date: 11/7/2024
Dear Minister Shorten and Committee Members.
My Background
My name is Dean Mighell and I am registered Clinical Counsellor and Psychotherapist and a member of the Psychotherapists and Counsellors Federation of Australia (PACFA). In 2016 I founded a Charity in Trentham called The Path of the Horse which is registered with the ACNC.
I am the proud recipient of the prestigious National Australian Equine Therapist of the Year Award from Animal Therapies Australia along with other awards recognising the value of my work.
I hold a Post Graduate Certification as a Psychotherapist (Gestalt) and have undergone extensive training in trauma, indigenous men’s trauma practice (We-Ali), mindfulness, Neurodiversity ADHD and Autism (Kings College London), and related conditions. I am a proud member of PACFA (Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia) holding status as a Clinical Counsellor. and the International Institute for Complementary Therapies (IICT).
I pride myself on being a highly relational, empathetic, and holistic therapist, and I am deeply passionate about supporting individuals from all walks of life. My expertise lies in working extensively with individuals experiencing Post Traumatic Stress and Complex Post Traumatic Stress along with neurodiverse clients.
My dedication extends to his work with many NDIS participants along with military and emergency service workers and their families impacted by Post Traumatic Stress Injury and related conditions. I believe that my contributions in this area are highly respected within the veteran community.
Working with NDIS participants
I am aware that Minister Shorten has announced that the NDIS is considering no longer supporting NDIS participants to access animal assisted therapies. To me, this would do an
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enormous disservice to so many NDIS participants and organisations like ours, who are devoted to assist participants to achieve their goals and live better lives.
We proudly support many NDIS participants in our programs at The path of the Horse from children under seven through to mature aged participants. Many have been clients of ours for many years.
When working with NDIS-referred clients, we align our sessions with the specific goals outlined in each individual’s NDIS plan. We recognize and respect the unique ways in which individuals experience the world.
For example:
First Goal = Effective boundaries, confidence building, and self-regulation.
Second Goal = Increasing social skills and interactions to form friendships with peers.
Longer-Term Goals and Aspirations:
- Independent living skills
- Learning to notice others
- Self-regulating when anxious or overwhelmed
- Building better relationships
Key focus areas for many NDIS participants include;
- Self-regulation
- Awareness of self and others
- Communication improvement
- Confidence building
- Resilience strengthening
- Responsibility development
- Trust enhancement
- Relationship capabilities
- Boundary consciousness
- Solution resolution
It is very important to understand that our horses are assistants in my work as a mental health practitioner and NOT therapy in their own right. My work as a therapist is the key focus of every session I do whether the horses are included or not. Working with the horses in a way that is safe and comfortable for the client is paramount and it’s always an invitation rather than a requirement.
Horses possess an extraordinary ability to alleviate stress and a truly unique capacity to share their empathy with humans. They are non-judgmental, completely honest, and treasured assistants in the healing process. These gentle beings also excel at being great listeners.
Horses have the ability to elicit strong feelings and emotions in people. They provide the opportunity to explore these feelings/emotions when they arise. Emotions such as fear, anxiety, panic, sadness, grief, anger, rage, happiness and joy may be evoked when being around the horses.
Horses also model awareness and safety and survival.
They offer unique feedback to how clients behave around them and are very sensitive to people’s behaviour and respond differently to subtle changes in an individual’s mood and/or behaviour.
From my experience at working with many NDS participants over the years has shown equine therapy to be a highly effective approach to assist participants work on their goals. I believe that working outdoors in the natural environment and including horses as assistants in so very conducive to better mental health.
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I am happy to meet with or present to the Minister and the Committee to answer any questions and to be able to further demonstrate the effectiveness of the work I and so many others who provide similar services do.
Your sincerely,
Dean Mighell