My Approach to Helping

If you or a loved one is stuck in the same old patterns, has maybe tried therapy or refuses to engage, let a horse help you out. One or more horses, an equine professional, and a licensed clinical social worker will work with you to create new neural pathways in your brain. A connected, authentic relationship is the focus of our work in equine assisted psychotherapy. Horses live in the present. They don't care about yesterday or tomorrow only what is going on right now. Horses provide us immediate feedback and demonstrate how to address incoming stressors through the ability to regulate their emotions. Humans get stuck in a loop sometimes thinking over and over about what happened or what could happen. We use trauma-informed practices and involve participants with drumming, mindfulness meditation, and collaborative problem-solving.

More Info About My Practice

Our primary focus is on ages 12-30, families and co-parents. The age range we work with reflects our approach grounded in the developing brain. Teens and young adults have particular struggles with decision making. Healing and growing with skills in connection facilitates preparation to meet your goals for living. We also provide thorough individual and group sessions for healing professionals addressing compassion fatigue and secondary trauma. Workshops for the general public are provided monthly as well.

My Role as a Therapist

For me, therapy is about two folks sitting together, sharing space or common experience and talking if it seems like the thing to do. Many approaches consider that the therapist should remain aloof, apart and witness rather than engage in the experience. Working with the herd demands that I be present as much as you. Same goes for the equine professional. Graduate degrees and licensure are important but the number one, evidenced-based practice for success in therapy is the relationship between you and the therapist. Doesn't matter the model. It's all about us being present for each other.

The Duration and Frequency of Therapy

I don't believe you need a set number of sessions. The process is in your hands to determine. Meeting more often, as in weekly, is usually a good idea in the early stages of our work together. I have a cash pay/out of network billing only practice. You can visit my website to see my thoughts on the benefits of this approach.