Equine Assisted Therapy

Equine Assisted therapy is provided by a facilitating team (treatment team) of a Licensed Mental Health Professional (MH) and a qualified Equine Specialist (ES) in all your sessions. While both members of the team are involved in your therapy process, the role of the ES is to oversee physical safety needs and provide observations on the behaviors of the horses. The MH is there to oversee the psychotherapy process and help you make progress towards your therapy goals and life. This is psychotherapy and even though you may learn a thing or two about horses, it is not the intent or focus to learn about horses or how to ride them. We are here to address your therapy goals and we commit to utilizing the methods we have found to best support that focus.

I am Certified in the Eagala Model and Level One traned in the Natural Lifemanship approach.

The Eagala model is an experiential based and solution-focused approach. "Experiential" means that you will be involved in hands-on experiences with the horses designed to reflect things going on in your life. The process is not always about interacting with the treatment team, although that will happen at times. It is about providing you the opportunity to experience, explore, problem-solve, discover, be creative, gain insight and experience practical applications of what you are learning in the moment. The process is about "doing" along with the "talking."

Natural Lifesmanship is a trauma informed approach that helps people find regulation and connection within self and offers a relationship with an equine partner to explore ways of developing and maintaining a healthy connection within self and within the relationship with the horse. Clients learn relationship principles with their equine partners that can transfer to other relationships in their life.

I believe you have the best solutions for yourself when provided the opportunity to discover them. I am here to provide the space and guidance while exploring what is happening in your process of healing to meet your therapeutic goals. You are an individual, and every life situation you are involved in will have its own unique solutions which fit best for you. I are here along with the horses, and the ES, to help you find them.