Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 946

Tonight's special guest is April Marie Loposky from Pennsylvania, founder of Marley's Mission, a "Horses Healing Children" non-profit organization that provides equine-based therapy free of charge to children, and their families, who have experienced trauma. Her commitment to Marley's Mission is a personal one – her then 5 year old daughter was attacked in the early morning hours of July 5, 2009, in their home in Taylor, PA. Police immediately responded to her home and captured her daughter's attacker. As the legal process went on, Ms. Loposky saw firsthand her daughter's interaction with horses and their innate ability to help children like her heal – unconditional love and trust – from horse to child and child to horse. Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) has shown evidenced-based efficacy in patients who have experience abuse and now suffer with depression, anxiety and other symptoms as a result of abuse. Research and observational findings have shown EAP yields a variety of psychotherapeutic benefits such as: confidence; self-efficacy; self-concept; communication; anxiety reduction, and most importantly… trust. Marley's Mission currently has several horses as well as the use of stables and fields in Lake Ariel, PA. Marley's Mission employs a team approach to healing children who have experienced trauma. The treatment team includes a specially trained Trauma Therapist and an Equine Specialist. See the web site at: www.marleysmission.com