Equine Assisted Therapy
Equine Assisted Therapy is both a client-centered & experiential form of psychotherapy where horses are involved in hands-on ground-based experiences with the horses designed to reflect things going on in your life. It is often used to treat things such as; anxiety, ADHD, eating disorders, PTSD, grief, addiction, depression, & more. In addition to targeting symptoms of those disorders, is also used to help patients build confidence, self- awareness, & empathy. We choose to use horses because by nature they are both a social and prey animal. They have an extraordinary ability to read our nonverbal communication – picking up on messages we are sending which we are not always conscious we are doing. With this, they start responding to us in familiar ways reminding up of other people and things in our lives. It is through this that they become metaphors (symbols) providing us the opportunity to work on ourselves in relation to those aspects of our lives.
The horses tend to play out our life stories & then show us or provide opportunities to change what those stories look like. This requires an active effort on your part. The process is not always about interacting with the treatment team, although that will happen at times. Horses do not know our past, education, gender, race, or other labels we may apply to ourselves & each other. They are in the moment animals & can be a part of a relationship without the biases humans put on each other, which provides even more value in the insight they can provide us about ourselves. This work is about providing you the opportunity to experience, explore, problem-solve, discover, be creative, gain insight, & experience practical applications of what you are learning in the moment.
EAGALA
EAGALA is a unique, ground-based approach to therapy; there is no horseback riding involved. By remaining on the ground, horses are free to interact naturally and make their own choices, which makes each session dynamic and impactful. Rather than teaching riding or horsemanship skills, EAGALA sessions create a space where clients’ life stories can unfold metaphorically, with horses reflecting relationship patterns and other symbolic aspects of life.
Because the horses are free to move and respond authentically, they can help shift clients’ perspectives and foster meaningful awareness and change. Their natural behaviors often mirror clients’ emotions and interactions, providing powerful insights during the therapeutic process. Every session is facilitated by a certified EAGALA team, consisting of a Mental Health Professional (MH) and an Equine Specialist (ES).
Our approach is client-centered and solution-focused: we believe you hold the best answers for yourself. Our role is to provide a safe, supportive environment and guide you as you explore and discover solutions that are uniquely right for you.
Horses teach you a lot. Very little of it actually has to do with horses --Anthony Lothian
Natural Lifemanship
Using Natural Lifemanship, our work centers on the meaningful inclusion of equine partners in both personal and professional development. What sets us apart is not just the presence of horses, but the way we engage with them - as sentient partners capable of authentic, reciprocal relationships. We believe that horses are not to be controlled, but to be respected, trusted, and valued as individuals. Our approach honors their autonomy and well-being, prioritizing connection over compliance or hierarchy.
Unlike traditional models that view the horse-human relationship as one of dominance, we foster true partnership - where both human and horse choose to act in each other’s best interests, motivated by care and mutual respect rather than fear or submission. This philosophy of partnership is at the heart of what makes this model unique. When we talk about the power of connected relationships, we include our relationships with horses as a vital part of that experience.
Our aim is to inspire a paradigm shift in how you view relationships - with yourself, others, and the world around you. Above all, we believe that the relationship between the client and the treatment team is the true vehicle for change—grounded in safety, trust, and authentic connection.
Horses help us to learn about ourselves, and to overcome our fears and limitations -- Linda Kohanov
This website uses cookies.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.