Equine Assisted Mental Health Psychotherapy

A woman crouching down next to a white and brown horse on a farm or ranch, with blue sky and trees in the background.

What is Equine Assisted Mental Health Psychotherapy?

Equine Assisted Mental Health Psychotherapy is psychotherapy or counseling that integrates evidence-based clinical counseling with the inclusion of horses to support the client’s specific therapeutic goals. Its main aim is to help individuals navigate psychological challenges such as trauma, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and emotional difficulties. Equine assisted mental health psychotherapy is for those experiencing mental health or emotional issues, and the process is guided by a licensed mental health professional, including psychologists, counselors, and social workers. As highly sensitive flight animals, horses are acutely attuned to human emotions and offer immediate feedback, allowing individuals to better understand and process complex feelings. Their empathic, non-judgmental nature also fosters deeper self-connection and emotional growth through the formation of relationships with them.

A person standing next to a horse inside a fenced corral, with a background of trees and hills under a clear blue sky.

What does it treat?

Mental health issues treated with Equine Assisted Mental Health Psychotherapy (EAMHP):

  • Trauma (emotional/physical)

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

  • Mood disorders

  • Personality disorders

  • Grief and loss

  • Autism

  • Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

  • Cognitive disabilities

Research shows EAMHP has proven effective in improving:

  • Assertiveness

  • Empathy

  • Emotional awareness

  • Emotional regulation

  • Impulse control

  • Stress tolerance

  • Problem-solving skills

  • Interpersonal relationships

  • Self-actualization

  • Independence

  • Self-regard

  • Social responsibility

A person wearing a cap and blue jacket is feeding a white horse with black spots in a field during sunset, with barn buildings and a partly cloudy sky in the background.

What treatment approaches are used?

  • Attachment Based Theory

  • Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy

  • Experiential Therapy

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

  • Internal Family Systems

FAQs

A girl with curly dark hair wearing a red tank top and teal pants is reaching out to touch a brown horse in a wooded area with tall trees and green foliage.

  • No you do not have to have any horse experience! I will work with you where you are at from never been around a horse to a lifetime of horse experience. We will go at a pace and approach our work together in a way that works for you.

  • No, we will not be riding but rather all our activites will take place on the ground. From observing horses over the fence to walking, grooming, and leading are some of the ways we can richly engage in interactions with horses.

  • Horses are paradoxically a flight animal that weighs in excess of 800 pounds in most cases and can carry associations and represent both known and unknown fears for many of us. My approach is to attune the work to your window of tolerance and only interact in ways that feel safe to both you and the horse.

  • Yes. Equine assisted mental health psychotherapy is considered clinical counseling with the inclusion of horses in the treatment process. Many insurance providers offer mental health coverage when it is provided by a mental health professional such as an LPCA, LPC, LCSW, LMFT, or PsyD.

  • Sessions are typically 1 hour or can be scheduled for 90 minutes when agreed up on between you and your counselor.

    We will be engaging in counseling in a farm setting with horse interaction as it supports you and your unique treatment goals. We can also be in the indoor therapy office on the property that has large windows from which you can see the horses and the central Oregon Cascades mountain range.

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