What is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy?

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Equine Assisted Psychotherapy uses the care and presence of horses to facilitate the therapeutic process. Horses have a history of being empathetic in the presence of human beings. They can pick up on human emotions and respond to them. This response develops self-awareness for people engaged in EAP and can help people heal from various behavioral and mental health concerns, as well as, gain confidence, self-trust, creative expression, and empathy.

Many people are familiar with the comfort that pets can bring humans, but EAP goes beyond this comfort and uses the care, grooming, and riding of horses to engage people in counseling. Simply being with horses and in nature can be beneficial for some people. EAP takes this idea and extends the care and keeping of horses to engage people seeking counseling in tasks and exercises that benefit their mental health. Unlike humans, horses do not judge people for the struggles or experiences they’ve had. While counselors try their best to make their spaces non-judgemental, the peace offered by horses may facilitate the ability for some people to be more vulnerable with their counselor. As horses are perceptive to behavior in humans, someone might experience this non-judgemental feedback to be highly beneficial as they interact with a horse.

Caring for horses involves responsibility, physical and emotional strength, and consistency. For these reasons, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy can be helpful for children or adolescents dealing with behavioral or substance use issues. Individuals experiencing substance use issues, anxiety, depression, self-harm behaviors, or trauma disorders, can also benefit from EAP.

Therapists Who Specialize in Using Equine Assisted Psychotherapy

For me, the ideal client is anyone who needs a safe place to share their story, discover their strengths and build on them to better themselves, their relationships, and their lives. I provide a safe and accepting place for clients to share their stories. Together we work on becoming stronger, acquiring tools, and building skills to manage the many things life throws your way. If you are feelin...
Here at Overcross Counseling and Equine Services LLC we work with clients with varying reasons for wanting to participate in counseling. We use our horse as co-facilitators to help engage our clients during the sessions. We provide learning appropriates for each learning style our clients may have as they work through and develop skills to help them reach their therapeutic goals. We want our...
I work with children, adults, families, and veterans who want to work on healing their trauma and Moral Injury. I do not sit and ask you how you feel and spend the session talking about your week. I believe in relinquishing the control your trauma has on you.. I believe in eliminating the guilt, shame, and blame you have decided is your "Normal". I believe in collaboration and if that takes the...
Hi, I'm Robin Gwin. I started Majestic Gifts as a way to offer people a unique experience of healing and growth. The authentic, non-judgmental nature of horses combined with their intuition and non-verbal communication skills can help people understand themselves more deeply and grow as a person in a variety of ways. My sessions are designed to help you work through any personal issues, pain, o...
I am a Licensed Social Worker located in Rifle, Colorado that specializes in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. I have experience in providing social and emotional counseling services to children who experience anxiety, depression, behavioral disorders, as well as other social and emotional concerns. I use an eclectic approach while incorporating trauma focused interventions. I have a passion for...
I specialize in trauma & PTSD, survivors of sexual trauma & domestic violence as well as anxiety. I believe that clients are capable of overcoming their struggles when given the opportunity in a safe, supportive space. I facilitate this process using DBT therapy as well as solution focused, person centered and strength based approaches. I partner with horses who serve as catalysts for change an...
You know that your life is not all that it could be. You may feel stuck or confused about what to do. It is hard to recognize that you want change in your life and to ask for help. But you realize that the discomfort and anxiety you are experiencing outweighs the fear of change. There can be many conflicting aspects of your life that may cause stress and unhappiness (career/work, bosses, family...
For the past 33 years, I have helped people of every age group deal with a variety of issues. Although Equine Assisted Therapy is not clinical counseling, the use of animals facilitates problem solving skills, self awareness, and life skills like no other . Most clients have tried therapy on multiple occasions and nothing has worked. They found that this type of experience of self exploration w...
I am a Certified Equine Assisted Therapist and work with children and adults, individuals, couples and families. I work with clients that have struggles with life transitions or just would like to learn healthier ways of thinking and being. Horses are the bridge to making changes quickly and actually assist in rewiring the brain for healthy interactions! I would love to chat with you about how ...
Tired of talking? Bit of Hope Ranch offers a unique approach to counseling using traditional office therapy as well as Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Outdoor Nature Therapy. Our therapy teams use a variety of approaches to address: depression/anxiety, eating disorders, substance abuse, trauma, sexual abuse, ADHA/ADD, autism, behavioral modification, anger management, etc. The therapy teams a...
Stress, Anxiety, Depression, Grief, Fear of the unknown: Are these feelings overwhelming you? The pandemic has taken its toll in so many ways, and trying to feel like you have some control over something may seem difficult at present. Do you want to feel like you have hope for the future? Do you want to have reduced stress and anxiety? Acres of Hope may be the place for you. Therapy takes on a...
Adirondack Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, LCSW provides mental health therapy with the assistance of horses. Horses are sensitive, intuitive, and expressive, and give real-life, real-time feedback to clients to help them make progress toward their therapy goals. When paired with a licensed therapist, horses provide healing in ways that cannot be replicated in traditional, office-based therapy....
My approach to therapy emphasizes insight, healing, and empowerment to help individuals reach their highest potential and lead more gratifying lives. Through an alliance of trust and collaboration, we will work together to disentangle confusing thoughts, feelings and behaviors in order to rediscover your capacity to make meaningful choices that are right for you and your relationships. My work...
The Equine Healing Collaborative was created to provide a path to recovery, self-discovery, personal growth, a re-connection with the natural world, and/or emotional insight and health. The Equine Healing Collaborative offers more than just traditional talk therapy and utilizes interventions such as equine assisted therapy, mindfulness, and mindful equine massage to promote health and quality o...
Do you crave an interactive therapeutic experience that is facilitated in a serene setting? Sully's Run provides Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) at a beautiful, sprawling horse farm. EAP is an interactive process with the combined use of horses, a licensed therapist, and a equine specialist to address mental health goals. There is no riding involved and all activities are conducted from the...