STAT® Inc Veteran Application

Funded by STAT through multiple sources of Veteran-focused service grants

Please correct the errors described below.

STAT® Welcomes you!

STAT® has been healing Veterans with Horsepower since 2007 through generous grants and scholarships so that Veterans can receive services at no cost.

STAT® is excited to be able to serve Veterans with Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) programs at no out of pocket cost.


Also, STAT® is honored to provide Veterans with Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) at no cost through EAGALA's Veterans Administration VA-SPORTS grants.

STAT® is a Military Designated Services Organization through the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA), which enables us to provide these services to you!

STAT® provides a broad range of equine assisted services.

We have equine specialists, mental health professionals, physical therapists, and occupational therapists who have a heart for service and are grateful to have the opportunity to serve you.

Veterans are at the HEART of STAT®. And we too are Veterans. Some of the STAT®️'s staff members are Veterans ourselves and most have immediate family members who are Veterans or are Service Members.

We are honored to help Veterans heal, learn, and grow alongside horses through Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) programs. These programs offered through the EAGALA Military Designated grant are 100% ground based.

*Please note that while we have multiple certifications, our only current grant based program is for EAGALA programming. We are always applying for and receiving funding for various programming throughout the year for Veterans and hope to expand and continue services for the long term.

STAT®️ is a Trauma Informed Care (TIC) Organization and we understand how past physical and/or emotional trauma can impact learning and connection. We want to give you options that best fit your needs and respect your privacy. Your responses are kept confidential with the STAT® Staff Team - always.

STAT®'s Safety Policy

Welcome Veterans!

Pittsburgh, White Oak, Altoona, Butler etc

About You

Please type the name of the VA Hospital, Vet Center, or CBOC where you receive care (example: White Oak Vet Center, Pittsburgh VAMC, Altoona etc)
Examples: deployments, era of service, Combat and/or MST and avoidance of military topics

STAT®'s Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) and Psychotherapy (EAP) EAGALA ~ Grant Funded Program Options:

Please note that participation in EAGALA’s grant-funded program includes an opportunity for Veterans to voluntarily complete anonymous questionnaires. These surveys are part of an international research project aimed at exploring the benefits of equine-assisted programs before and after participation. Your identity will remain confidential, as a number will be assigned, and no names will be used. The questionnaires will be provided during the first and final sessions. While participation is optional, we strongly encourage you to complete them to support EAGALA's critical research on how equine-assisted interventions benefit Veterans.

Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Programs:

What is EAL?

  • STAT's teams are trained and certified by the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA.org).
  • Every team member has earned an approved EAGALA Model Certification as well as a Military Designation through EAGALA.
  • All sessions are ground-based ...there are no riding activities in the EAGALA Model.
  • In Equine Assisted Learning (EAL), the facilitator focuses on providing a safe and educational equine-assisted experience.
  • EAL is NOT mental health treatment.
  • EAGALA certification requires a credentialed mental health professional for the certification to be valid.
  • Mental health treatment is only provided in EAP: Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.
  • In both EAL and EAP, the Equine Specialist ensures works alongside the mental health professional to ensure the physical safety of participants and horses.

Other programs offered by STAT® when funding is available:

We offer group classes or individual classes for two EAL Programs:

  • STAT®'s EQuine Affect(SM)
  • Stable Thinking for Stable Living.

You will have the opportunity to participate in both types of EAL classes offered if funding becomes available. Below are descriptions if you would like to be added to a wait list:

Let's say this again...Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) is not Psychotherapy Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) is not psychotherapy. EAL focuses on developing skills such as confidence, motivation, problem-solving, and communication through a growth mindset. Unlike therapy, EAL does NOT involve discussions of trauma or mental health conditions. While it is not a form of mental health treatment, participants often find the experience to be relaxing, educational, and enjoyable.

This information below is only for Veterans who work at or who are in the residential program(s) at St. Joseph Institute for Addiction in Port Matilda, PA:

STAT®'s Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)

What is EAP?

EAP stands for Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. EAP focuses on enhancing coping skills, creating adaptive thinking, and connecting with horses to decrease distress while changing disruptive patterns.

EAP is mental health treatment (e.g., PTSD, Anxiety, Depression) for Veterans who are already receiving mental health care. Let your current mental health treatment provider know about your interest in participating the EAP program to see if it might be a good fit to add EAP sessions to your current treatment plan. In some cases, a direct referral from your mental health provider is required for EAP in addition to your established psychotherapy treatment.

STAT's teams are certified in Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) with our organization approved with the EAGALA Military Services Designation.

EAP Team Approach includes a Licensed Mental Health Facilitator and an Equine Specialist.

Teams are certified in three EAP Protocols: Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) with a Military Services Designation, EquiLateral-Equine Assisted EMDR, and the O.K. Corral Crisis Series.

PLEASE SELECT YOUR PROGRAM(S) OF INTEREST:

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)

STAT® EQuine Affect℠ : EAL

Veteran Program: Stable Thinking for Stable Living: EAL

Veteran & Spouse Together Small Group EAL Programs

Please Choose a Location(s)

Class Schedule Start Dates: Group Classes: EQuine Affect ℠ & Stable Thinking for Stable Living are scheduled monthly.

Group class days and times vary throughout the year. We do not typically have classes on weekends but occasionally offer classes or sessions once a month on a Saturday.

Individual programs are scheduled on an individual basis with 10 am morning start to 6 pm evening start times. Classes/Sessions are all 1 hour in length unless there is a special consideration or circumstance, or a planned retreat.

Schedule your EAGALA Program:

Individual programs are scheduled between the weekday hours of 10am to 6pm. Your appointment will be scheduled on the same day and time for the duration of your program.

Type your days and times

Medical & Behavioral Health History

Please note there is a 200lbs max weight limit

Help us understand your needs:

A Trauma Informed Approach to Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)

The Five Guiding Principles of Trauma Informed Care (TIC)

STAT® Inc uses Fallot & Harris, PhDs (2015) Five Guiding Principles of TIC: safety, choice, collaboration, trustworthiness and empowerment.

  • Safety: Ensuring physical and emotional safety of clients. Every client is briefly screening for trauma, as it influences responses to horses, self, staff and services.
  • Trustworthiness: Staff are consistent, predictable, and set healthy physical and emotional boundaries.
  • Choice: Participants have choices about horse selection, physical spaces, and permission to touch if there is a safety (e.g., a foot is out of a stirrup and can’t find footing) and discuss emergency protocols that involve necessary physical support for safety
  • Collaboration: Staff and participants discuss goals that focus on resilience, pace, personal growth, and what clients want to accomplish.
  • Empowerment: Staff encourage and empower participants to build on strengths (i.e., growth mindset) while developing coping skills, which fosters a growth mindset.

Our EAL programs have a Mental Health Facilitator working alongside a Certified Equine Specialist who will support you though trauma informed programming outlined above. We get it. We see you. We understand. The horses also provide immediate reassurance with their presence.

What do you want to get from Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) or Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)?

Experience with Horses

Optional Mounted Activity

There may be a few optional mounted activities in some programming but EAL and EAP programs are mostly all ground based. EAGALA and EAGALA funded programs are ALWAYS ground based.

Applicant Information

We will call you if we can't reach you by email

Emergency Contact Information

This confidential application is received by the STAT®️'s CEO and a designated staff member only. A staff member will be in touch within a week to schedule a brief phone call to discuss programming and answer questions. All Veterans accepted into EAP are required to have a telehealth (virtual) intake session prior to starting programming. Submitting this form does not indicate immediate acceptance into any programming or client relationship. Please feel free to contact STAT® at 833-328-STAT (7828), or via email at stat_veteran_program_inquiry@nym.hush.com

By submitting this form you give STAT®'s staff permission to call or email you to briefly discuss the information on the form and programming.

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