Healing Ourselves, Healing Our Whānau
At Standfast, whānau means more than just family. It means connection — to people, to whenua, to wairua. It means showing up for each other, even on the hard days. It means holding space for growth, healing, and unconditional love.
But strong whānau don’t just happen. They’re nurtured. And often, that work begins with ourselves. We believe the strength of a whānau starts within the heart of each person.
Healing isn’t just about fixing what’s broken — it’s about reconnecting, rebalancing, and rediscovering the strength that already lives inside us.
“Horses are honest. They don’t lie or judge. They respond to what we bring into their space.”
We see this every day through our work with horses. Horses are honest. They don’t lie or judge. They respond to what we bring into their space. When we are anxious or tense, they notice. When we are grounded, they soften. That reflection is powerful. It reminds us that if we want our whānau to thrive, we have to start by looking within.
Equine-assisted therapy, especially when grounded in narrative therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), offers a unique way to begin that self-healing journey. These approaches give us tools to reshape the stories we carry and the patterns we repeat — and with a horse beside us, those tools become lived, felt experiences.
Narrative therapy helps us explore and rewrite the stories we hold about ourselves — stories of not being enough, of carrying trauma, or of always needing to be strong. CBT helps us identify the unhelpful thought patterns that loop in our minds and gently replace them with healthier ways of thinking.
With a horse at your side — steady, responsive, present — the work becomes deeper. It’s not just words. It’s felt in the body. It’s mirrored in the movement of another being.
And when even one person in a whānau begins to shift, it ripples outward. Calm becomes contagious. So does presence. Our tamariki are always watching. When they see us tending to our own wellbeing and regulating our emotions, they begin to do the same.
Strong whānau aren’t built on perfection — they’re built on connection, compassion, and the courage to keep showing up.
To us, Standfast means standing firm — in who you are, in what you value, and in the relationships that matter. Our kaupapa is to standfast to the whenua, to whānau, and to the horses that guide us.
Come as you are. Let the horses meet you where you are. Let your healing begin — within you, and around you.
Nā mātou o Standfast
Standfast to the whenua, to whānau, to horses.
