Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)

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.

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."

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.

I am an EAGALA-Certified Practitioner.

PATH International Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning (ESMHL)

Equines are extremely intuitive, crave connection, and can hold a conversation without words. Allow me to introduce you to these beautiful, healing creatures!

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.

I combine my expertise as a therapist and social justice educator to offer equine-assisted psychotherapy rooted in the ethical inclusion of horses in human treatment. I can help you learn how to shift your perspective from a human-dominant framework to one of connection, dialogue and choice.

Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) / Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) -Accepting new clients for EAP beginning March 1, 2023

Equine Assisted Life Coaching holds a variety of opportunities in connecting with your inner child, your inner playfulness and innocence, increasing your own self awareness, and learning to enhance your communication in relationships. Equine is a great therapeutic activity for those who have low self esteem, have relationship issues, have difficulty communicating how they are feeling, have been engaging in substance use, or are interested in connecting to animals and nature as a coping skill.

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.

A horse is a beautiful majestic creature, and when one interacts with you there is a sense of awe. But horses can also be opinionated, stubborn, quirky, reluctant, many of the same things that might challenge you. Horses don't sit there worrying about these things, they just are who they are. And they can help us see ourselves for the rich beings we are too, strengths and flaws alike.