Camp for Broken Hearts and Leigh Ann’s Horses for Attachment
From time to time, I will be featuring a program, center, camp, book, or individual therapist specializing in reactive attachment disorder or attachment therapy. Sometimes, this will be something that I am personally familiar with; while at other times, my review will be based upon information received or otherwise available, perhaps from a web site.
Today, I will be featuring two programs since they are administered by the same people. I am not personally familiar with either Camp for Broken Hearts or Leigh Ann’s Horses for Attachment, although I am somewhat familiar with the use of equine therapy in the treatment of reactive attachment disorder.
Camp for Broken Hearts
Operated by Frances Taylor (Director) and Christie Fisk (Co-Director), the last camp session was held at Camp Overton in Rock Island, Tennessee from October 12th through October 17, 2008. However, their web site indicates that they have purchased land in Woodbury, where they plan to construct a new, and presumably permanent, camp site.
Camp for Broken Hearts is designed specifically for families who are raising children suffering from reactive attachment disorder, not so much as a treatment facility but as a place where parents won’t be solely responsible for their child’s behavior. When a child acts out, he or she will be removed by the camp’s trained staff, permitting the parents to continue on with whatever activity was in progress. The child’s consequences, then, will be the child’s consequences rather than the parent’s. Families will be able to relax and have fun, with support available for both parents and children.
Unlike other camps, children will remain with the parents rather than socializing with other children, since the more the children play together, the less they are trusting and bonding with the parent.
Camp for Broken Hearts hopes to provide an environment that encourages families to make memories together while enjoying the support of trained staff and other parents who share many of the same struggles.
The 2008 session cost $1,000 for a family of two, with an additional $250 for each additional person. Their web site can be reached at www.campbrokenhearts.org.
Leigh Ann’s Horses for Attachment
Equine therapy has been shown to be helpful as a component of attachment therapy. Leigh Ann’s Horses for Attachment is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, located in Tennessee, and offering a therapeutic riding program useful in the treatment of reactive attachment disorder and other attachment issues, as well as a variety of other problems including:
- Autism
- Depression
- ADD /ADHD
- Bipolar Disorder
- Tourette Syndrome
- Sexual Misconduct
- Asperger Syndrome
- Self Esteem Problems
- Conduct Disorders (OCD)
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Each course is tailored to the special needs of the child, intended to provide increased self esteem, enhanced body awareness, better balance, longer attention span, improved listening skills, improvement in self control, enhanced sensory integration, joyful memories, and fun.
LAHA owns several therapeutic horses, with others in training, and accepts donations of horses so long as they meet the criteria for the program. The criteria are available on the LAHA web site, as well as a downloadable contribution form. Donations to the organizations of money or horses are tax deductible.
Leigh Ann’s Horses for Attachment is located in Woodbury, Tennessee. Their web site can be found at www.leighannshorses.org/.
– ken
Tags: attachment camp, equine therapy