News & Events

Anam Cara’s first priority with events at this time, due to COVID-19, is your safety and the safety of our team. Because of this, most of our events have been postponed to later dates. Check back with us or follow us on Facebook for the latest news regarding our events.
Stay Healthy!

Men’s Group – Breaking Barriers

Bi-weekly on Saturday

9:30 AM to 11:00 AM

A group for men, facilitated by men, to create a place to share thoughts and feelings in a supportive non-judgmental environment.

Meetings are bi-weekly on Saturday mornings 9:30 – 11:00 Central time at Anam Cara: 4298 E 1000 North, La Porte, IN 46350

For more information contact Hans Scheller at: 219-508-3856

Grief & Loss Peer Support Group

Third Thursday of every month!

6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

This is a FREE ongoing support group for adults

This group is an opportunity to meet other people who have experienced the death of a person in their lives regardless of how long it has been, share experiences, learn new ways of coping, and increase feelings of hope/wellbeing.

Facilitated by Anam Cara Counseling, and paid for through the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte County

Please contact Anam Cara to register for the group 219-207-7222

Registration is required Location and time (evening) will be confirmed at registration

Anam Cara Herd Meditation

Sat, May 28, 2022, Sat, Jun 25, 2022, Sat, Jul 23, 2022, Sat, Aug 27, 2022, Sat, Sep 24, 2022, Sat, Oct 29, 2022, Sat, Nov 26, 2022

10:00 PM to 11:30 PM

Do you long to take time for yourself during the week to breathe deeply and unwind? Horses embody presence and peacefulness. Immerse yourself in nature and the healing energy of horses. … No experience with horses or meditation is necessary.

Pause for a moment, and take time from your busy life to be guided through deep breaths, slowing down enough to notice the gentle rhythm of the horses’ breath and gentle heart. Allow yourself to be infused with a powerful sense of well-being, releasing healing endorphins and feel good hormones which improve the nervous system, hormonal balance, and immune-system response.

Join Anam Cara on the forth Saturday of each month for a time to slow down and connect with self. Space is limited for this Donation-based event, so please be sure to RSVP by clicking the Tickets button to secure your spot!

Additionally, event is contingent on the weather, so an RSVP ensures we can contact you if the event must be cancelled or rescheduled.

Fun facts: Horses hearts are five times the size of ours, and research shows that they emit an electromagnetic field that can influence our heart, causing a more coherent heartbeat. When you are in a coherent state, your thoughts and emotions are balanced, and you experience ease and inner harmony. So as we share space with horses in our meditations, we are only beginning to understand the healing that may be taking place.

Please dress for the weather , wear close-toed shoes, and bring your own water bottle, journal and whatever you need to be comfortable.

Suggested donation: $5 – $30

Herd Meditation
• Meet & greet at Anam Cara 4298 E 1000 North, LaPorte IN 46350
• Walk out to join the herd for a partly guided meditation
• Shift into a silent walking meditation with the herd
• Come back together to share our experiences
• Brief closing meditation

A tremendous Shout Out to Ulla Frederiksen at the Sundance Center, for sharing this concept/awareness with us!

You can also join the closed Facebook group, Anam Cara’s Herd Meditation for more discussion.

S.H.E. Support, Healing, Encouragement

Sat. Feb 19 2022, Sat. Mar 19 2022 Sat. Apr 16 2022, Sat May 21 2022, Sat June 18 2022, Sat July 16 2022, Sat Aug 20 2022, Sat Sept 17 2022, Sat Oct 15 2022, Sat Nov 19 2022, Sat Dec 17 2022

10:00 PM to 12:00 PM

Join us for a safe space of support, connection, healing, and empowerment. All women welcome!

If you are looking for mental health services, there will be a licensed therapist in attendance to help connect you with resources.

This support group will be meeting every third Saturday of the month at 10:00am cst.

We look forward to seeing you! RSVP to ensure you’re up to date with location and weather changes.

Winter months we meet at the indoor arena at: 6668 North 500 East, Rolling Prairie, IN

Spring, Summer, and Fall we meet at Anam Cara: 4298 E 1000 North, LaPorte, IN 46350

Come dressed for the weather at both locations.

Fall-In Friday! – Veteran, Military, First Responders

Fri. Jan 7 2022, Fri. Feb 4 2022, Fri. Mar 4 2022

4:30 PM to 6:00 PM

This is a drop-in group for Veterans, Active Military, Reservists and First Responders.

Spend some time with fellow military and our herd of horses. Hang out and horse around…

Enjoy your time, create your space & connect with your mission. The herd is ready to Fall In!

Please call/text/email to RSVP, and to be notified if things change (ie weather events, illness, etc) 219-448-8109 or Stacey@anamcarastables.org

Winter months: 6668 North 500 East, Rolling Prairie, IN

Spring, Summer, Fall: 4298 E 1000 North, LaPorte, IN 46350

COVID precautions are in place.

Open to all veterans, active military, reservists, and their adult family members at NO COST!

Event sponsored by Anam Cara Stables.

Tickets- www.eventbrite.com/e/fall-in-friday-veterans-military-first-responders-tickets-229542918047

South Bend Chocolate Cafe MC Lighthouse Place Gives Back!

Sep. 11 – 17

8:00 PM

South Bend Chocolate Cafe -Michigan City Lighthouse Place is GIVING BACK to Anam Cara!

20% of all sales will support Anam Cara Counseling’s mission to help people and the community heal from emotional wounds, cultivate resiliency, and promote mental wellness.

Visit them every day multiple times a day! The coffee and chocolate are out-of-this world! And your purchase helps support programs at Anam Cara to help people heal! What a sweet deal!

Boots & Bling 2022

Friday, Oct. 14

5:30 PM to 8:30 PM

You’re invited! Help support Anam Cara’s equine assisted psychotherapy programs.

Boots & Bling 2022
Dinner & Auction at Anam Cara
4298 E 1000 North, La Porte, IN 46350

Individual Tickets: $50
Tickets Include Dinner & Dessert
Featuring: Social Que BBQ & South Bend Chocolate Café

Sponsorships Available

Become a sponsor and get your tickets today! http://weblink.donorperfect.com/acbootsbling2022

For more information contact:
Stacey Garcelon: stacey@anamcarastables.org
or Lisa Scheller: lisascheller02@gmail.com

Rhythm, Resonance and Resilience – Drumming for Healing

Sat. May 21, 2022, Sat, May 28, 2022

2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

Rhythm, Resonance and Resilience – Drumming for Healing
A Community Healing Adventure Awaits!

Discover what the drummer who lives inside of you has to teach you! (yes, you do have rhythm!)

Anam Cara and Drumananda are partnering to offer this joyful introduction to the power of the drum as a tool for self care, social connection, intercultural understanding, community building, and creative self-exploration.

Drumming also comes with a medicine kit:
Scientific studies have shown that working with certain drum patterns in a community setting provides a unique elixir of benefits:
• Balances both hemispheres of the brain, creating neuro connections
• Stimulates the vagus nerve which regulates the nervous and other body systems
• Increases t-cells and endorphins which regulate mood, build the immune system and help to relieve pain.
• It’s fun!

Thanks to a grant from the Unity Foundation of LaPorte, we are able to provide this opportunity at no cost to you!!! Each class period will give you use of authentic African drums and you will learn African Healing rhythms, while outdoors in the presence of horses.

Space is limited to 10 participants (ages 15 to 99) for this introductory series.

You must apply for this program and pledge a commitment to attend all 6 sessions. Please submit a brief essay about yourself a guide with prompts is provided. All info will be kept confidential.

Please submit to Stacey@anamcarastables.org by April 1, 2022.
You will be notified by April 10th if you are accepted in the program.

This program is underwritten by a grant from the Unity Foundation of LaPorte.
Location: Outdoors in the natural beauty of Anam Cara Stables
4298 E 1000 North, LaPorte, 46350

Here is the guide to reflection questions, these are just suggestions, pick one, (not all) – We are asking for these on order to build a diverse community and also so our instructor can get to know you and tailor the series to the needs of the group:
NameAddressPhone/textAgeAncestry : state any countries your ancestors came from
State 3 reasons why you would like to be in this program, what you would like to learn from it and how you think it could benefit you. OR
Name one big obstacle in yourself you would like to work at changing. OR
Tell us something interesting about yourself. Use your humor and imagination! ( i.e., I taught my cat to sort of sing “Home on the Range on the range”, I love to wear my leather jacket and draw baboons, I rebuilt the engine on an old car once and drove all the way to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, I never had a cavity and make a great cheesecake and will bring some to class…. seriously, no bribe intended.)..you get the idea…
Your application will remain confidential.Send it by April1 to: Stacey@anamcarastables.org

Anam Cara & Creative Arts for Vets Present Creativity, Horses, and Healing

Sun. Dec 19 2021

1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Veterans, In honor of your service to our nation, we invite you to a wellness experience with art and horses.

This events will be a combination of art making inspired by the sand mandalas of Tibet and time spent in the healing presence of horses. Veterans will use natural materials found around the stables to create their own mandalas focusing on the ideas of impermanence and letting go. Veterans will also interact with horses to support a felt-sense of safety, connection, and resiliency.
This event is limited to 20 Veterans
This event will be outside. Dress appropriately for the weather. You will get muddy.
Cost: $10 which goes to support the care of horses at Anam cara, a not-for-profit who’s mission is to help people heal from trauma and other wounds.
This is a non-riding experience
For any questions please contact Stacey at stacey@anamcarastables.org
All genders are welcome at this session

Self-Care Saturday for Helping Professionals

Sat. Sep 11, Sat. Oct 9, Sat. Nov 13, Sat. Dec 11

9:00 AM to 10:30 AM

Covid has impacted everyone. Helping professionals are not exempt from this stress and heaviness. Our caseloads are through the roof, we journey with people during their darkest moments. We love what we do, AND it can be a lot. We know that self-care is an ethical mandate, yet many of us will admit to ourselves that we struggle with taking the time for care for ourselves. Here is a time and a place, where we can be there for ourselves and for each other. Once a month, one hour-ish a month… building and strengthening connections to our internal sense of self first and then outward…

Pause for a moment, and take time to be guided through deep breaths, slowing down enough to notice the gentle rhythm of the horses’ breath and gentle heart. Immerse yourself in nature and the healing energy of horses. … No experience with horses or meditation is necessary.

Join Anam Cara on the Second Saturday of each month at 9:00 am CST for a Self-Care Saturday for Helping professionals . We will gather and support each other and practice mindfulness with horses.
Space is limited so please be sure to RSVP by clicking the Tickets button to secure your spot! Additionally, an RSVP ensures we can contact you in the event the event must be cancelled or rescheduled.

Please come dressed for the weather , wear close-toed shoes, and bring your own water bottle, journal and whatever you need to be comfortable.

Suggested donation: $5 – $30

Tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e/self-care-saturday-for-helping-professionals-tickets-165558488897

Sunset Herd Meditation

Sun. October 18, 2020
4:30 PM to 6:00 PM

Space is limited for this Donation-based event, so please be sure to RSVP:
https://anamcarastables.as.me/HerdMeditation

Meditation with Horses

Do you long to take time for yourself during the week to breathe deeply and unwind? Horses embody presence and peacefulness. Immerse yourself in nature and the healing energy of horses. … No experience with horses or meditation is necessary.

Suggested donation: $5 – $30

Join Anam Cara on Sunday October 18th at 4:30 PM CST for a Herd Meditation at sunset, one of the most beautiful and peaceful times of day.

Pause for a moment, and take time from your busy life to be guided through deep breaths, slowing down enough to notice the gentle rhythm of the horses’ breath and gentle heart.

Allow yourself to be infused with a powerful sense of well-being, releasing healing endorphins and feel good hormones which improve the nervous system, hormonal balance, and immune-system response.

Horses hearts are five times the size of ours, and research shows that they emit an electromagnetic field that can influence our heart, causing a more coherent heartbeat.

When you are in a coherent state, your thoughts and emotions are balanced, and you experience ease and inner harmony. So as we share space with horses in our meditations, we are only beginning to understand the healing that may be taking place.

Please dress for the weather , wear close-toed shoes, and bring your own portable/camping chair, water bottle, journal and whatever you need to be comfortable.

CoVID precautions are in place. Space is limited and reservations are necessary. Thank you!!!

Herd Meditation

• Meet & greet at Anam Cara 4298 E 1000 North, LaPorte IN 46350
• Walk out to join the herd for a partly guided meditation
• Shift into a silent walking meditation with the herd
• Come back together to share our experiences
• Brief closing meditation

A tremendous Shout Out to Ulla Frederiksen at the Sundance Center, for sharing this concept/awareness with us!!

For more information about the great woman who inspired us all:
Ren Hurst: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdhRRs1Xi8c
Stormy May: http://ourhorses.org/
Healing with Horse Collective: http://www.healingwithhorse.org/tele-summit

You can also join the closed Facebook group, Anam Cara’s Herd Meditation for more discussion.

Veterans Equine Therapy

Thurs. September 24, 2020 – Thurs. December 17, 2020
17:00 to 19:00 CST

12 Week group for Veterans

Anam Cara has contracted with the VA to provide Eagala model equine-assisted psychotherapy to help Veterans manage intense emotions.

Why horses?

Horses offer safe reflection and compelling feedback. Horses’ unique sensitivity can help Veterans understand their own internal processes more readily than hours of talk therapy.

Observing the dynamics of a herd of horses can help Veterans better understand the dynamics of their own family, military unit and community and provide another positive model for fostering collaboration, support and trust.

Veterans find their own solutions to the struggles in their lives. Under the direction of Anam Cara’s treatment team, Veterans build on their resilience and learn through self-discovery the changes they need to make in order to be more successful in both military and civilian life.

To register: contact the South Bend Vet Center 574-231-8480

For information on the Eagala model, contact Stacey at 219-207-7222

Photo Credit: Richard Meade

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