Articles & Testimonials
The following article appeared in Issue 14 Autumn 2011 Little Tigers Magazine for the West Cheshire & South Warrington Area.
Please click on the link above, to expand the article for you to read. Thank you.
The following are emails, texts, telephone conversations and/or letters I have received from clients of all different ages, and professions who I have worked with:-
December 2011
"I did equine reiki levels 1 and 2 with Chanti. I enjoyed my time immensely and learnt alot from her, I came away feeling honoured to have met and learned from Chanti and her 2 horses Nell and Harvey. Thank you all." Delcie
November 2011
"Thank you for helping me with my mare, I could not believe how quickly you were able to calm her down and work with her; and she never once got agitated. You have amazing energy Chanti and such patience. I love the fact that you came to me, and helped me understand my horse, and explain everything to me, leaving me with a way forward to work with my horse in a more calm and centred fashion. I love the breathing exercises and tips you gave to me, for when things feel difficult, or I am not in the right frame of mind and to always leave any time I spend with my horse on a positive note. Can I also just mention the fact that since your visit I have phoned you a couple of times, just to talk things through and you always make time for me, and then to have you "call by because you happen to be passing" - that was the icing on the cake. Thanks Chanti. :))" Audrey x
September 2011
"My close friend Caroline recommended you to me, because I am going through a messy divorce at the moment, but my daughter who is 10 is just so stressed, and her behaviour has hit rock bottom - I just did not konw what to do or where to turn. I don't want to go into too much details because for me how you worked with me and my daughter was so special but I just wanted to say Thank you so much, for everything."
Mabel Roberts
May 2011
During May 2011 I had a 10 year old child take part in a Kids Herd Dynamics Workshop to overcome her "emotional misperceptions, lack of confidence and self esteem" This is what her mother said ....
"I had got to know you, sort of through acquaintances and mutual friends but really did not know much about your work. I have 4 children but my 10 year old daughter was incredibly emotional and would become distressed, stressed, and depressed if she perceived that one of more of her friends no longer wanted to be around her. I had read your article on Kids Herd Dynamics and it struck a chord with me, so I got in touch. I think what amazed me the most was your diligence to get it right for the sake of my daughter, and you spent some time watching my daughter interact with her siblings, friends, family etc before coming up with a programme specifically for her. You were spot on too which so surprised my husband. Anyway you set up the Kids Herd Dynmics workshop specifically for my daughter and over a period of 3 weeks worked with my daughter on a one to one basis. I noticed a massive different from the first session; and its now some 6 months since her workshop finished, and she remains confident, self assured and is able to process things that happen amongst her friends, at school etc in a much more self assured way. I'm sorry its taken me 6 months to email you to say Thank you; but Thank you Chantal for making such a huge difference in such a wonderfully positive way. Caroline."
26th April 2011
I received the following email from the mother of one of a 13 year old ......
My son has always been confident in familiar situations but lacking in confidence and self belief when faced with new challenges, he was also suffering from bullying at school by a boy who had been his best friend from the age of 3.
I took him to see Chantal to boost his confidence and self belief and to help him to deal with the fallout from the bullying. He spent 2 hours with her and I have noticed a huge change in him, not only in his confidence and self belief but in his attitude to life.
He now has the ability to handle and deal with situations through methods Chantal has shown him. The positive change in him has been remarkable
13th April 2011 Kids are amazing. I was working with 1 yesterday, who spent 35 minutes telling me exactly what he thought of school work, lessons & homework & that the only good thing about school was meeting & chatting to his mates. I asked him what he would like to work on & his reply was "My bad attitude to my school work of course!" - you do chuckle to yourself.... sometimes.
07th April 2011
Chantal when you walk into my place of work, or my home, I feel so at ease and so calm, your energy is wonderful. Just talking to you on the telephone reminds me of how I prefer to be. You help rid me of my anxieties, and emotional pain, when I am bad tempered and fearful you show me the brighter side of me. As each emotional issue from my past is healed, I feel stronger, lighter and brighter. I now look forward to my future; with or without a man in my life is of no consequence, my present and my future are bright, and getting healthier each day. You show such great patience with me; and allow me to take this journey at my pace. You are more than just a Hypnotherapy Consultant you are a true family spirit a wonderful gift of a friend that I know I can always turn to for support. Thanks Hun for everything you do. Emmi
March 2011
Hannah Moores from Cheshire said:-
"thank you chantal for fitting my son in so quickly, and for all your help. as you know my son was stressed out from issues at school; exams; and general learning and revising and I was at my wits end and just adding to his stress by constantly nagging at him. you have turned him around, he is more confident, is sleeping better, and enjoys his studying so much more and is actually putting in the hours revising and working on his assignments without my nagging him, or putting him under pressure. thank you so much, you are wonderful and I truly appreciate what you do. best wishes for a successful future chantal and thank you so much, I am certainly recommending you to my friends. Hannah "
December 2010
Mrs S Richards, text me to say .........
Thanks Chantal, even when I can only cope with texting you,or speaking to you over the phone you always help me 'cause you listen without Judgment. A Unique quality. S xx
October 2010
Angela wrote saying:-
When I came to see you I felt as though I had the weight of the world in my entire body. But being a private person, I struggled to tell anyone how I truly felt. It was only after a particularly harsh row with my husband and two daughters, in which I broke a beloved dinner service that I realised I had to do something. I already knew you and so you seemed to be the naturally easy choice for me to turn to.
I was losing my temper, could not sleep and generally felt very unwell and unhappy. Even when I phoned you I did not really want to talk, and could not believe it when you suggested that I meet you at the stables, just for a chat whilst you mucked out – I went because I needed to get out of the house.
I was in so much pain, my whole body ached and I really felt on a short fuse, that I was about to just blow my top. I had given up my little career for the sake of my girls 5 years previously, had a little part time job during the school day, husband constantly working away, and I could not settle. I had no real friends and felt totally isolated. On top of that I was really overweight.
I cant believe how patient you were with me because I just was not communicating with you at all, so you asked me to sit and relax whilst you took me through a relaxation exercise – I thought oh what the hell and did as you asked.
I had just started to relax when I saw this lovely chestnut coloured horse, mirroring me. You asked me to describe what I could see, hear, feel and smell and what was happening and I remember laughing when I told you I was talking to this horse and was telling her all my troubles and how I felt. You left me chatting in this relaxed way for in a little while.............................. I don't want to go into too much detail, but what followed was a massive release for me and a realignment inside.
Chantal I am a new woman; I have joined a slimming club and go once a fortnight; I have got another little job in town, and bought some new clothes. I am making new friends, and everyday I do the exercises you gave to me. Thank you for the telephone and text support – whenever I have needed you, you have been there, guiding me – Thank you Chantal.
August 2010
I received an answerphone message from a lady I knew briefly through one of my son’s clubs. The following is her email to me on the work that I did with her over the telephone.
Margaret is a professional lady who had contacted me leaving a message on my answerphone; stating simply that she was really struggling with everything that life was throwing at her.
I had left an organisation that I loved, and felt that people I had known for years had turned against me. I was very fearful indeed. I could not disguise my anguish when Chantal rang through and she could hear the hurt and upset and fear in my voice. I remember telling Chantal that I was a deeply religious person and therefore did not want to do anything that would upset my religious beliefs. In fact I was quite rude as I called some of her work Hocus Pocus crap. Sorry Chantal, I asked if she could just help me, in a way that would not interfere with my religious beliefs. I told her that I wanted her to use my bible as my book of reference. You were not even fazed which amazed me.
You told me to close my eyes and asked me to concentrate on opening my Bible and finding the perfect passage to help me move forward. After a few minutes of talking and breathing deeply, I felt very drawn to opening my Bible. I couldn’t believe it – its was Exodus, and it was saying “I am sending you an angel of guidance to show you your new path”.” I laughed and said – “now if that is not a message of true hope trying to get my attention, I don't know what is”.
After that I listened and made notes of your suggestions, set myself goals, only small ones, and have done the exercises to boost my confidence in myself. I am feeling so much better and I am sleeping without the need for tablets too. I have started to go for interviews and at the age of 58 feel as though I am important and have something important to give to others. I am even researching setting up my own business. Thanks Chantal. Margaret.
April 2010
Not so long ago I was I was asked to help a lady who was having real problems with her gypsy cob gelding. This lady had her own yard and had at least 15 years worth of riding anything under her belt. It was a friend of hers who persuaded her to meet me, as her friend had seen the partnership that I have with my two. Catherine her friend invited me along, I had worked with Catherine and her horse some time ago, and as a result Catherine had recommended me to Jess. I went along and this gypsy cob was in the menage all tacked up. As I approached the menage Jess took this as her cue to attempt to get on her horse. She ended up on the floor. Half an hour later this horse was running rings around her to the point where he got bored and walked away. Each time she approached he would walk away. The whole time Jess was angry, agitated, muttering under the breath. I asked Catherine is this how it always is and Catherine said yes; and told me that on one recent occasion, Jess had used a lunge whip and was quite frantic.
After witnessing more of this behaviour I went into the menage, and walked over to her horse, without using any words, props of any kind, I lifted each foot, walked round him, stroking him and breathing with him. I then stood at his side and placed a hand on his chest and one on his side, and breathed with him until he relaxed. Her friend called the owner back and said "look at how he is relaxing." Whilst calming her horse down, I asked Jess a series of questions including her workplace, and the answers that came back was that Jess felt very inferior and almost frightened of working with or being around men; and this had had an enormous affect on her relationship with her horse.
Over a period of 6 sessions, I worked with Jess and her horse releasing, resolving and reprogramming how she saw herself, how she saw herself with men and working with men and her horse. Catherine has recently told me that after not having a successful relationship for over 5 years, Jess got engaged on Christmas day, with a man that she works with; and her relationship with her horse – calm, happy and a partnership.
November 2009
Melanie W recently text me "Thank you for letting me share this experience with you. I love learning from you, you really do have a special gift and anyone who chooses to take the time to get to know you, and work with you will agree that you are a kind, caring and compassionate person and you give of yourself and your energy so lovingly it feels in the depths of our darkness a miracle of light appears ..... given by you"
June-July 2008
I love working with Children and Teenagers, they are so interesting, intuitive and honest. Their thirst to solve their own problems, and to understand how to problem solve is addictive. Resolving bullying issues, teenage blues, understanding the concepts of better communication between themselves and their peers are just a few of the examples of work that I do. Learning to naturally respect and love themselves for who they are right now, a natural progression. All this can be achieved and is achievable through the work that I do.
Working with Children of different ages, I asked them to tell me what it is that happens, what is it that we do. They all replied "You take aware the Fear". Clients tell us that we simply "Listen without Judgment, we release the stress and fears inside, and heal completely making the mind and body feel whole." Another said "You help us face our fears, face reality, work through our stress and fears, and finally release, and our recovery from illness begins."
This is what I do, from a child's point of view
I have helped children affected by family rifts and separations, again often just allowing themselves to gain confidence in talking openly about how they feel and what they think, and to understand that such rifts and break ups are not as a result of their behaviour or as one child thought, because he had been born.
More often however the work I do is to help children understand how to deal with being on the receiving end of bullying behaviour, and teaching children that they are responsible 100% for their own lives, how they chose to react, to live etc. To explain this I will often use a simple equation of E + R = O and we will discuss how an event plus the child's reaction will result in an outcome and what that outcome can be.
Through this medium, I will show the child, or group of children how they can act differently, but positively, and they are given the tools to take positive action for the rest of their lives.
May 2007 - November 2008
Faulty is the nickname one of the students I worked with over the summer and winter months gave himself. He was from one of the local high schools. It is a nickname he chose for this piece because at the time he felt that he was simply Faulty - wired up all wrong. This is Faulty's story in his own words.
“I was one of around 10 boys that was told that we were going to meet with a woman who had horses. I thought that it would involve riding so I wasnt very keen at all, but cos of my reputation at school and the fact that I would not do proper lessons, I was automatically signed up.
I met Chantal one afternoon, and my first impression was I wasnt impressed. She smiled a lot and didnt seem daunted when I swore at her and made fun of her name. In fact I turned it into two swear words and egged the others to do the same. She didnt flinch not once. I nicked the keys to the mini bus and wouldn't give them to the teacher nor to Chantal, I didnt even see her move, but before I knew it she had my hat - I wear my hat all the time it never leaves me head so I was pretty angry and started to swear at her. She was dead calm and just said "tell you what I will give you back your achilles heel, and you can give me the keys - fair exchange?" and she just held out her hand. I handed them back and she gave me my hat. I was pretty quiet after that on the mini bus - she wasnt like any of the other visitors we had in school. I thought something has to wind her up - never did find out what it was.
The others fell in love with Nell the chestnut mare but I was more interested in Harvey the big one. He was huge and scary and I thought yeah hes the one for me - I will win this easy. Well I got that wrong too. Every time I got close, he would look at me and walk away. This went on and on and on until it was time to go home. We got on the minibus and I said to Chantal "Why wont he let me near him?" "hes mirroring you, and your attitude and how you see yourself. When you are true to you, you will get close to him" - yeah right.
Well this went on for another two weeks and by the 4th week I was ready to quit.. Chantal met us at the stables on the 4th week and I noticed that she looked a little tired and I heard her say to Miss that shed had a headache all week, and suffers occasionally from bad headaches. Anyway she had the others do some exercises with Nell, and mucking out cos some of the lads wanted to do jobs. Me. I just went up the field, to meet Harvey.
For half an hour I followed that horse and never got more than 6 feet of him. Chantal was walking quietly behind me, not saying anything, when I turned round and told her that her horse was driving me mad. She said "Maybe its time you did something different?" what the!!!! Ok buddy I just want to be friends, nope still did not get close to Harvey. Next thing I knew I was on my knees, and I was crying - I never cry - ever - Im not allowed to cry Im meant to be hard and mean but I couldnt stop the tears. "Keep going" she said. I found myself saying Sorry over and over again and Chantal just put an arm around me and told me to open up and free myself from the burden I was carrying - I didnt really understand what she said at that point but I could not stop it anyway. I am sorry for bullying all those year 7s. I am sorry for throwing stuff in lessons at the teachers. I am sorry for disrupting the lessons, I am sorry for not being a better person, I am sorry for being alive!!!! There it all came out. When I looked up Harvey was stood right next to me, his nose was resting on my head. I must have cried for about 20 minutes or more. The Whole time Chantal shielded me from the others so they couldnt see me cry. "Wow" Said Chantal that was something "how do you feel?" I didnt know - no one asks me how I feel. I dont want to tell you the rest, its between me, Chantal and Harvey. But put it this way, I went from being a bully, hated at school, teachers not wanting me there to getting myself on a plumbing course at the local college, I am now a plumbers apprentice earning a living, and I have taken 5 GCSEs.
Chantal worked with me from May last year until November and its all thanks to her that I decided and chose to be 100% responsible for who I am, and stuff what anyone else thinks. I know whats truly in my heart and I will always try to work with a good heart - its difficult but funny thing is when its difficult Ive noticed I bump into Chantal in Northwich, and she always stops to chat and will always say just one thing that sorts everything else out in my head. This was my experience, and my teacher who introduced me to Chantal has helped me write this so I can share my story so Chantal can help you too.”
October 2008 Ben's story:-
Ben’s mum introduced her son to me and I had the pleasure of working with him a 14 year old boy, using Nell. It never ceases to amaze me how the horses work, and I often find myself fighting back tears as my horse communicates what the child, teenager, adult is really, truly feeling inside. As I communicate this to the person I am working with, the feelings of release that they can actually admit the fear inside, and then to release that fear is amazing. The young man who hated himself and hated life, is now looking at himself differently, trying little exercises that I have given him, and has started to socialise with his peers, and instead of feeling like an 8 year, and attempting to behave like a 22 year – he now thinks of himself as the good, loving hearted 14 year old that he is. I truly love the work that I do and I am so grateful that this ability has been shown to me. Thank you for reading and taking an interest,
August 2007 I met and worked with Sasha – and this is her essay that she sent to me ...........
My name is Sasha, and I am 11 years told. I first met Chantal through a friend of my mother's. My Parents had decided to split up and my father had chosen to live abroad, as he worked in Europe so he decided to base himself there. This means that I do not see very much of him. He is not much of a talker so telephone conversations are few and far between, and I receive an email from him only at weekend. I felt really alone.
For me what made the situation worse was that my mother has to work full time, so I am often left with a child minder. Mum is a very private person and I felt that I could not talk to her about what I was feeling over this break up. Matthew's mum suggested I spend a day with Chantal and her horses which was good because I had reached the stage where I just did not want to talk to anyone and I was getting really angry at school with my friends who only wanted to help. No matter what I did I always felt really alone.
We did lots of things that Saturday and had to work inside cos it was raining in the morning. The first thing that Chantal did was to make me feel comfortable and she chatted away like she had known me all her life. She told me a bit about her life and her childhood, and also told me how her dad had left when she was a bit older than me and had gone to live abroad. When I asked her if she saw him again, she said she had to be honest with me and tell me no she didn't, but she then told me how she coped with it at that time. I had not realised that other people went through something that was nearly the same.
Chantal introduced me to relaxation and we did a relaxation to music which was ok and she explained why she just wanted me to relax, it was to basically feel safe. I asked her what meditation was because I had heard Matthew's mum talk about the wonderful meditations that she had done with Chantal, and she explained that it was like relaxation but with pictures where you pictured your problem being solved, or you being liked or whatever it need to be, but that all meditations are always positive ones. I told Chantal that I wanted to try one, so she made one up for me on the spot which I thought was pretty cool. Next she asked me how I was feeling but I did not want to say. As the sun came out, we decided to go and see the horses. I liked Nell cos shes really friendly and loving, Chantal gave me a grooming kit and showed me how to groom Nell in all her favourite places. She then told me to close my eyes and place my hands on Nell's side where I can feel her breathing, and to make my breathe the same which I did. I then found myself crying. I could not stop talking and I told Chantal and Nell how I really felt and how I felt I was to blame, and that I could not keep all this a secret I needed to talk to someone.
Chantal just listened, it was awesome cos I did some swearing because I was angry cos my parents are making me feel like this. When I had finished we went back and Chantal wrote down some of the things I had said about how I was feeling, and then she made me do a sort of meditation again, where I looked at all those things that had happened, but instead of blaming and feeling bad, Chantal showed me how I had good feelings inside too and she made me realise what those were. We then talked about positive steps that I can do to move forward, Chantal said it was moving my positive muscles and being strong and we talked about what I could say when I needed help from my mum and dad.
It was a great day, and mum lets me phone Chantal for a top up whenever I need to so not only do I feel better but I do feel I have a booster buddy to keep me going. I can't explain what Chantal did exactly, it was lots of different things but I felt better, and I still feel better, and I know that much of what Chantal has taught me I will use when I am older. Mum says I can tell you this, just in case it might help you in the future.
October 2007 Another Teenager’s story .........
“My Name is Frank and I am 15. For me life has always been really negative, mum and dad are no longer together, in fact I have not seem my dad since I was 7. I dont get on with my step dad cos hes just not interested in me at all. School is hell, as I am bullied all the time and have no friends, I just dont know how to make friends and its hard cos I cant join any of the clubs or anything. Mum is either at work or in bed.
I tried to get on with my step dad, hes a good cook, so I asked if he would teach me to cook but he just laughed at me and called me a poof and other names. I asked him to take me to a basketball match at school but he said no cos it didnt interest him. I just want to scream what about me.
A teacher introduced me to Chantal through school and I went for 2 hours to meet up with her and her horses. Im not particularly interested in horses at all, just thought it was a way of getting out of school.
The first session flew by, but I signed up via school to come back again the next time. I found myself counting down the days, it was just so peaceful there. The next time we went I was the first on the minibus and Chantal was with us. Shes really calm, nothing seems to upset her - not like the teachers who get ratty at anything.
I was allowed to take Nell for a walk in the field whilst the others did some different type of work. Chantal said she could sense that I needed some down time. I must have walked round that field twice, never noticed, I just talked and talked to Nell, I told her everything and she stayed with me, she didnt run away or look at me like I was an idiot. In fact chantal never treated me like that either. I couldnt hold it any longer, I just started to cry. Chantal was next to me before I knew it the others were in the menage working. She said let it come out, let your tears fall, they are healing you you need to release. I told her everything. I told Chantal how most mornings, I am sad that i have woken up - that I keep asking God to take me. Then it was time to go but I asked Miss if I could see Chantal at the weekend, and she sorted it out for me.
Chantal picked me up and we went straight to the horses, and again Nell was waiting for me. Chantal said she knew I was coming. I asked Chantal to stay and I told her how I had been bullied, how I did not fit in, not even at home. It felt ok telling Chantal all this. She then showed me how my feelings about myself were affecting me, but if I thought of something I could do that was positive, I was strong. she then showed me how to relax and how to switch off the nagging CD that played in my head and to switch on the positive CD in my head. We did loads of different things and she showed me that I was and am 100% responsible for my life, my reactions and my actions and how I can make different choices. She taught me about the Law of Attraction too to bring positive experiences and people into my life.
I leave school in a few weeks but I asked Miss to give this note to Chantal to tell her that she made a big difference I have got onto a builders' apprentice course and will go to college 2 days a week too. I still dont get on with my step dad but I dont need to I have started to make new friends and two of us are thinking of maybe in the future sharing a flat or something together. I stay at my friend's homes a lot more now and yesterday I went out with my first pay packet and bought a pair of jeans!!!!
Miss has given me Chantal's card and I have put her number on my phone, so I know that I can phone Chantal when I need her help. If you have no confidence, or are bullied, or you just hate life, dont give up, go and see Chantal and her horses, please dont do anything silly, you will want to live. “ Frank
© 2010 Chanti Cleland @ the epona partnership. All Rights Reserved.
