Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)

Equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP) is an experiential treatment method that involves clients interacting with horses. EAP has been used to treat issues including ADD, abuse, depression, anxiety, drug abuse, eating disorders, and more. In an EAP session, a client will typically groom, feed or walk the horse while the therapist observes the clients' reactions to the horse's behavior. Therapists that utilize EAP often believe that horses provide instant and accurate feedback of a client's thoughts and feelings, which can help both the therapist and client become more aware of these emotions. Horses are nonjudgmental, which can help clients connect with another living being that accepts them – making it easier to learn to trust, and easing the path into having trusting relationships with other people. Think this approach might be right for you? Reach out to one of TherapyDen’s EAP specialists today.

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Meet the specialists

 

I am a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. I offer in-person equine-assisted psychotherapy in Pasadena, CA. I have over 40 years of experience with horses and believe they can teach us a great deal about ourselves. Equines are partners in my treatment and you will be outside and in nature which also adds to your healing.

— Cornelia Seiffert, Clinical Social Worker in Pasadena, CA
 

I am a certified EAP Mental Health Professional with EAGALA

— Margot Charkow-Ross, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Elk Grove, CA

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.

— Ginger Houghton, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Farmington Hills, MI
 

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.

— Katie Dolinsky, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Westbrook, ME

EAP is an experiential approach to therapy where we include horses to help us learn boundaries, healthier relationship and attachment behaviors, regulation of our emotions and survival responses, and mindfulness practices. I have attended multiple Natural Lifemanship trainings focusing on EAP as an intervention for difficulties with feeling safe and connected in relationship, past trauma processing, and present moment regulation and mindfulness.

— Kelly Jerome, Psychotherapist in Pittsboro, NC
 

EAP incorporates the mighty, empathic, and spiritual presence of horses into psychotherapy. Horses outwardly mirror what we feel inside in a way that is nonjudgmental, sensitive, and pure. They bond with us nonverbally in a special relationship that leaves many feeling profoundly seen and understood. I worked with youth survivors at a horse ranch and rescue for over 6 years before completing 3 years of clinical internship at an Equine Assisted Therapy program for youth in crisis.

— Rory Valentine Diller, M.A., LMFT, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Santa Cruz, CA

EAP is an experiential approach to therapy. Rather than talking about what has happened, we use expressive tools and activities to recreate or reenact emotional experiences. As you build a relationship with a horse, your patterns of interactions with others surface so we can see where you need to heal your relationship with yourself and with others. People learn to have healthy boundaries, connect to their bodies and emotions, and have connected relationships!

— Katelynn Kozbial, Licensed Professional Counselor in Austin, TX
 

EAGALA OkCorral Natural Lifemanship Level 1 trained HERD Institute

— Sara Rietsch, Licensed Professional Counselor in , MI