The AHA Intensive Program simply means we do more of what we love during the school holidays...

If you want an approach that is “outside the box”, this program is for you.

We offer a mobile service these holidays whereby we bring the supports and therapies to your young person or young adult. And because experience has shown us that no young person likes or wants to sit in a room and talk for an hour or more, we do things differently in that we take them out and engage in activities they may enjoy as we implement the following approaches:

  • Behaviour supports:

A combination of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Life Coaching and Counselling is used to work with the young people in our care as we perform a full assessment of each individual, identify the areas of concern and structure an approach to supports, teaching them coping skills and strategies in addressing behaviours of concern.

 • Therapeutic supports:

Collectively, therapeutic supports are those that help improve functional skills and independence. They're supports that assist with all the activities of regular, daily life like personal care, moving around, communicating with others, building good relationships, and participating in the community. As such, we implement exposure therapy to engage in innovative community participation such as spending time with horses, social skills development and teaching them positive behavioural principles and engagement. 

 • Early Childhood supports:

We believe in empowering children from a young age through best practices. Young children learn best through play, however interaction with horses and other animals is also highly effective to help them overcome fears, build confidence and develop social and other important skills from a young age. We teach children 7 years and older self-regulation of emotions, respect, mindfulness practices, healthy self-esteem, and coping strategies.

 • Assist Travel/Transport 

 This Intensive Program is a mobile service; therefore, we travel to the participant’s home and provide transport to where we participate in the community or to stables and back home, however travel/transport costs, tolls, entry fees (where applicable) and other expenses such as meals and refreshments are additional to our hourly rate for supports provided. 

This program is presented by Mel Mardon, a registered provider with the NDIS in behaviour support, therapeutic supports, early childhood supports, counsellor, cognitive behavioural therapist, PTSD counsellor and life coach, who offers 23 years of working with children, adolescents, teens and adults.

The program includes:

• Social skills development and participation.
• Community engagement.
• Confidence building (often by incorporating equine assisted psychotherapy).
• Behaviour management skills, strategies and development.
• Self-acceptance and self-awareness
• Emotional development
• Effective communication skills
• Mindfulness development and training