Program Basics

Individual and Family Therapy - Horses as Healers

You want to change your life, but don’t like sitting in a therapist’s office? You teenager has problems, but won’t talk to a counselor? Here is an alternative: Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. A licensed professional counselor (LPC), an equine specialist and a variety of horses allow people to learn, change, and heal through their own experiences. EAP has proven to have a profound impact on children, teenagers, adults, and families. It addresses a variety of mental health needs including chemical dependency, depression, grief and loss, eating disorders, anxiety, communication problems, attention deficit disorders, anger issues, and relationship challenges.

This therapeutic approach will assist you or your loved ones in identifying and working through difficult feelings. It provides the opportunity to practice healthy life skills, improve relationships skills, and realize how our behaviors impact the world around us. All activities are completed on the ground. No horseback riding or knowledge of horses is required. If, in the past, therapy hasn’t provided the desired results, give our horses a try.
We specialize in working with pre-teens, teenagers, and families. We regularly offer therapy groups addressing different topics such as substance abuse, anger management, communication skills, grief and loss, or self-discovery. Call for dates and fees.
Most insurance accepted. Sliding scale fees for private pay.

Horses as Teachers – for Schools, Professionals, Teams, Groups, Churches

Lack of cohesiveness, bullying, prejudice, bickering – or simply a desire for better team work, more empathy, increased creativity, or improved problem solving skills? Need ideas for a professional retreat or staff development? Want to utilize a field trip to improve team work? Give equine assisted learning a try. We will collaborate with you to develop a workshop or a training specifically focused on the topics you want to address.
Individually and as a group, participants engage in structured activities with horses. These interactions allow them to identify and refine goals, develop self-confidence and positive self-esteem, change ineffective behaviors, improve communication skills, build better relationships, strengthen teamwork, get in touch with their inner wisdom, or rediscover their imagination. All activities are completed on the ground. Knowledge of horses or riding experience is not required.
Call for more information on workshops, staff development, corporate trainings, and retreats.

Relationships

Relationships are at the center of our program. We believe that our deepest hurts and our most powerful healing both happen in relationships. For people who have been hurt in important relationships, it takes a lot of courage to open up and engage again. Sometimes it is easier for them to connect with animals first. Animals are often safer and more reliable in their way of relating than people are. Through their interactions with animals, people learn and practice healthy communication and conflict resolution skills. These skills assist them in successfully navigating difficult relationships and working together with others.

Horses

Why Horses? Why not other animals? Horses are large and powerful. The size and power of the horse are naturally intimidating to many people. Accomplishing a task involving the horse, in spite of those fears, creates confidence and provides for wonderful metaphors when dealing with other intimidating and challenging situations in life.
Horses are social animals. They have unique relationships with each other and defined roles within their herds. They have distinct personalities, attitudes, and moods. An approach that seems to work with one horse, does not necessarily work with another. At times, they seem stubborn and defiant. At times, they enjoy closeness and companionship. They like to have fun. In other words, horses provide vast opportunities for metaphorical learning. Horses require work, whether in caring for them or working with them. They don’t provide immediate gratification or an "easy way out." Horses will not respond to manipulation, threatening, or begging. Only open, honest, and clear communication in addition to mutual trust will allow teens to accomplish tasks involving the horse. Most importantly, horses have the ability to mirror exactly what human body language is telling them. Many teens will complain, "The horse is stubborn. The horse doesn’t like me. The horse is angry. The horse is stupid." But they realize quickly that when they change themselves, the horses respond differently. Horses are honest and will not be deceived.

“The horse – the noblest, bravest, proudest, most courageous, and certainly the most perverse and infuriating animal that humans ever domesticated.” (Anne McCaffrey)

Experiential learning

There are times when words just aren’t enough and when talking about a problem simply doesn’t produce the desired change. While it is essential that people learn to express their emotions and thoughts clearly and honestly, it’s often easier said than done. Sometimes it helps to by-pass the logical left side of the brain and access the artistic intuitive right side of the brain to get to know oneself and reconnect with desires, passions, and goals before using words to describe these internal experiences.
Our program provides constant opportunities to learn through experience and then put words to that experience. Small successes are celebrated and built upon.

Systems

No human being is an island. Everybody is part of multiple systems or groups. Systems consist of several members who constantly interact with each other. Systems strive to find a sense of balance and tend to resist change once they achieved that balance. Families are systems. When one member of the system has a problem, the system has a problem. When one member of the system changes, the entire system has to change to accommodate the new and different member and find a new sense of balance.

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