Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is a powerful and effective therapeutic approach that has an incredible impact on individuals, youth, families, and groups. EAP addresses a variety of mental health and human development needs including behavioral issues, attention deficit disorder, Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome, PTSD, trauma, grief and loss, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, life transitions, relationship issues and communication needs through a partnership with horses. The treatment team works together to see where the client is at in their treatment plan and creates activities that best address their treatment goals. EAP is an alternative to traditional therapy and great for those who have been “stuck” or who may feel disconnected. Because it is so effective it is considered a brief approach to therapy.
Why does this work?
Why does this work?
- Horses are sensitive animals being acutely aware of human emotions and intent. Emotions can surface much quicker in a session with horses than in an office setting.
- Working with horses is interactive and engaging. By experiencing the activities with the horses and working towards solutions, the process becomes meaningful and personalized.
- A powerful experience with horses can break down barriers and overcome stigmas associated with therapy.
- More action, less talk! The focus is not on hearing our clients say that they’ve improved or changed. Our focus is on seeing a change in our clients as they are able to practice new behaviors and manage their emotions when interacting with the horses.
The EAGALA model (adapted from www.EAGALA.org)
The Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association provides a standard and structure for providing Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Equine Assisted Learning sessions. An EAGALA certified Equine Specialist, a Mental Health Specialist, and horse(s) work together with clients in every session to address treatment goals and facilitate emotional growth and change.
All sessions are on the ground with the horses, no riding is involved, and no horse experience is necessary. The focus of our sessions involves setting up ground-based activities with the horses that require the individual or group to apply certain skills. Non-verbal communication, assertiveness, creative thinking, leadership, responsibility, teamwork, building relationships, confidence, and attitude are some examples of the tools utilized and developed.
Heart Horses follows EAGALA’s Code of Ethics and adheres to their level of professionalism. We share the belief that our clients have the best solutions for themselves. Rather than instructing, we give our clients the opportunities to experiment, problem-solve, employ creativity, and find their own answers
The Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association provides a standard and structure for providing Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Equine Assisted Learning sessions. An EAGALA certified Equine Specialist, a Mental Health Specialist, and horse(s) work together with clients in every session to address treatment goals and facilitate emotional growth and change.
All sessions are on the ground with the horses, no riding is involved, and no horse experience is necessary. The focus of our sessions involves setting up ground-based activities with the horses that require the individual or group to apply certain skills. Non-verbal communication, assertiveness, creative thinking, leadership, responsibility, teamwork, building relationships, confidence, and attitude are some examples of the tools utilized and developed.
Heart Horses follows EAGALA’s Code of Ethics and adheres to their level of professionalism. We share the belief that our clients have the best solutions for themselves. Rather than instructing, we give our clients the opportunities to experiment, problem-solve, employ creativity, and find their own answers
Equine Assisted- EMDR therapy
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a method of psychotherapy that is proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders. EMDR has been extensively researched and is considered a "best practice" for mental health work.
Our brains have a natural way to recover from traumatic memories and events. This process involves communication between the amygdala (the alarm signal for stressful events), the hippocampus (which assists with learning, including memories about safety and danger), and the prefrontal cortex (which analyzes and controls behavior and emotion). Most of the time, traumatic experiences can be managed and resolved spontaneously, sometimes they can get "stuck" and need some help to process.
Stress responses are part of our natural fight, flight, or freeze instincts. When distress from a disturbing event remains, the upsetting images, thoughts, and emotions may create an overwhelming feeling of being back in that moment, or of being “frozen in time.” EMDR therapy helps the brain process these memories, and allows normal healing to resume. The experience is still remembered, but the fight, flight, or freeze response from the original event is resolved. (adapted from www.emdria.org)
Why combine EMDR with Equine Assisted Psychotherapy?
When working with clients with complex or long standing trauma, I realized I needed to be able to deepen the equine therapy work with clients. I completed my EMDR training and then went on to get certified in EquiLateral ™ ,the protocol for Equine Assisted EMDR. Equine Assisted EMDR is still EMDR therapy, but we are in partnership with horses and incorporating the equine assisted experiences to support all of the eight phases of EMDR Therapy. This work is the brain child of Sarah Jenkins, MC, LPC.
The EMDR therapy phase that gets the most attention is Phase 4, the processing phase, where Dual Attention Stimuli (DAS) or Bilateral Stimulation (BLS) often in the form of eye movements, are used alongside of working on the distressing memory. Each phase builds upon the next EMDR therapy is more than just eye movements.
With Equine Assisted EMDR, the partnership with the horse(s) supports and helps to even deepen the EMDR, experientially, but also enables clients to "be more here" in the work. (adapted from www.dragonflyinternationaltherapy.com/sjenkins.html)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a method of psychotherapy that is proven to help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and panic disorders. EMDR has been extensively researched and is considered a "best practice" for mental health work.
Our brains have a natural way to recover from traumatic memories and events. This process involves communication between the amygdala (the alarm signal for stressful events), the hippocampus (which assists with learning, including memories about safety and danger), and the prefrontal cortex (which analyzes and controls behavior and emotion). Most of the time, traumatic experiences can be managed and resolved spontaneously, sometimes they can get "stuck" and need some help to process.
Stress responses are part of our natural fight, flight, or freeze instincts. When distress from a disturbing event remains, the upsetting images, thoughts, and emotions may create an overwhelming feeling of being back in that moment, or of being “frozen in time.” EMDR therapy helps the brain process these memories, and allows normal healing to resume. The experience is still remembered, but the fight, flight, or freeze response from the original event is resolved. (adapted from www.emdria.org)
Why combine EMDR with Equine Assisted Psychotherapy?
When working with clients with complex or long standing trauma, I realized I needed to be able to deepen the equine therapy work with clients. I completed my EMDR training and then went on to get certified in EquiLateral ™ ,the protocol for Equine Assisted EMDR. Equine Assisted EMDR is still EMDR therapy, but we are in partnership with horses and incorporating the equine assisted experiences to support all of the eight phases of EMDR Therapy. This work is the brain child of Sarah Jenkins, MC, LPC.
The EMDR therapy phase that gets the most attention is Phase 4, the processing phase, where Dual Attention Stimuli (DAS) or Bilateral Stimulation (BLS) often in the form of eye movements, are used alongside of working on the distressing memory. Each phase builds upon the next EMDR therapy is more than just eye movements.
With Equine Assisted EMDR, the partnership with the horse(s) supports and helps to even deepen the EMDR, experientially, but also enables clients to "be more here" in the work. (adapted from www.dragonflyinternationaltherapy.com/sjenkins.html)
Insurance/Cost
We currently accept HMSA, HMAA insurance and direct pay. The cost for direct pay is $120 for an hour therapy session, group therapy is $250
Learn more about EAP/EAL that we do in our program by watching the video below:
