Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)

I've co-facilitated equine assisted psychotherapy sessions since 2010 as an equine professional and since 2023 as a clinician. I've received training from organizations including PATH International, EAGALA, Natural Lifemanship, and OK Corral. The equine assisted sessions lend an organically somatic and experiential lens to sessions that is immediate and relational. Especially for clients who would rather move and do than sit and talk, it can be a highly effective way to get "unstuck."

Horses have been used for therapeutic purposes since the time of the ancient Greeks. The Greek physician Hippocrates, known as the "Father of Medicine," wrote about the therapeutic potential of horseback riding. Equine-assisted psychotherapy incorporates horses into the therapeutic process. People engage in activities such as grooming, feeding, and leading a horse while being supervised by a mental health professional.

With my team of rescue horses I aim to allow clients to engage with and enjoy horses in varying levels, from sitting and watching them from afar to brushing and walking them with consent. The focus is on relationship and trust building.

Horses are one of nature's most intuitive & empathetic animals. They can mirror an individual's emotions which makes them a great therapeutic assistance. Equine-Assisted-Psychotherapy (EAP) assists in emotional regulation, increasing cognitive skills, reducing stress & easing symptoms of PTSD, trauma as well as depression. EAP also assists individuals when it comes to destructive behavior, habits and relationship patterns. Come try EAP out with me today!

I provide equine assisted psychotherapy (or horse assisted therapy). This part of my practice, however, is private pay rather than insurance based. Equine-assisted psychotherapy is therapy that features interactions with horses. EAP is facilitated by a Mental Health Professional and an Equine Specialist. All EAP is done through ground work and there is no riding of horses. EAP instead focuses on caring for and working with horses to achieve goals similar to those of traditional psychotherapy.

I earned a Certificate of Completion for Level 1 Embodied Equine Psychotherapy™ in 2021. This approach encourages growth and healing through an embodied, experiential, and relational approach with the equines as co-therapists. It is a foundation for my continued learning within equine facilitated psychotherapy.

If traditional talk therapy has not been beneficial for you in the past, it doesn't mean that therapy may not be a helpful option for you. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) provides an alternative approach that can facilitate healing in the presence of horses, tapping into the innate human-animal bond. The presence of horses can create a unique and therapeutic environment where individuals can explore and process emotions, experiences, and challenges.

I am a Level 2 trained clinician in Natural Lifemanship, specializing in trauma-focused Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.

I am a certified EAGALA mental health specialist and am also trained in Natural Lifemanship.

In partnership with Serenity Oaks Equine Sanctuary, I bring client out to meet their new best fur friend. Through different exercises and skills, clients make incredible gains in finding calm and connection after a history of trauma and anxiety. All sessions are on the ground (no riding, sorry!) to support growth and connection. While I only schedule visits at the farm one day per week, clients beg to come for multiple sessions per week.

I am trained in and practice Embodied Equine Psychotherapy™, which is an experiential, somatic and relational approach to working with clients and horses. I combine this approach with my knowledge of relationships, connection and trauma to create a unique and healing experience for my clients.

I have worked with horses for over 35 years and incorporating them in therapy is my passion. I have been trained in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy in multiple modalities including the Human Equine Relational Development (HERD) institute, The Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA), and the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH). I teach this subject at the university level and have presented at many conferences over the years.

One of my main specialties is equine assisted therapy! It is my long time passion and I love partnering with our herd of amazing horses to promote healing of the mind, body, and soul. EAP is so helpful to explore both the relationships we have with others as well as the relationship we have with ourselves.