Equine Assisted Mental Health
“Out beyond the ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there.” -Rumi
Offerings beginning in spring 2025
Equine-assisted mental health sessions offer a unique opportunity to step outside the traditional therapy setting and connect more deeply with your emotions through hands-on, experiential work. These sessions are ideal for anyone who feels drawn to nature, has an affinity for horses (even without prior experience), and is seeking a fresh, engaging approach to their mental health journey. Whether you’re looking to heal from past trauma, navigate ongoing anxiety or depression, or work through relational challenges, equine-assisted mental health offers a powerful and transformative way to explore and address your mental health in a supportive and non-judgmental environment.
All sessions are held at a private horse ranch in northwest Redmond, OR.
Why Horses?
Horses can play a unique and meaningful role in mental health treatment. From the combination of their size and gentleness, their ability to form relationships across species lines, to their sensitivity and attunement to the present moment, we have much to learn from our time with these beings. For some people, spending time with horses can increase motivation and engagement in treatment, help build trust with a therapist, and enhance the overall therapeutic experience. Below are three key aspects of how horses contribute to therapy:
Experiential
Including horses in mental health treatment introduces a hands-on, experiential approach that goes beyond traditional talk therapy. By actively engaging with horses, individuals create opportunities to access unconscious memories, emotions, and conflicts. These real-time experiences often mirror other areas of life, fostering greater self-awareness and providing a foundation for integrating new insights and skills.
Relational
As herd animals, horses are highly relational by nature. During therapy, the horse provides an opportunity for the client to develop a relationship with an animal which, for some, may feel safer than connecting to another human. This may offer a client opportunities to explore their own relational experiences and consider how to create and maintain relationships with other beings (human and animal) beyond the therapeutic setting.
Somatic
Engaging with horses while incorporating both touch and movement helps deepen the connection between mind and body. Unlike humans, horses are naturally attuned to the present moment and highly aware of their bodies. Their strengths create opportunities to explore our own relationship with presence and bodily awareness, which are often essential aspects of the healing process.
Potential Benefits
Increased self-esteem, self-confidence, and assertiveness
Increased self-awareness including emotional awareness and regulation
Increased focus, attention, and present moment awareness
Increased social and relationship skills
Increased problem-solving skills and other life skills
Increased ability for empathy
FAQs
-
No horse experience is required in order to participate in equine assisted mental health. All horses included in sessions are carefully selected due to their temperament and training, and a thorough safety chat and orientation will be provided prior to engaging with horses.
-
An equine assisted mental health session, depending on one’s treatment goals, abilities, and preferences, is highly unique. There may be times where we are observing herd behaviors, interacting in a one-on-one manner with a horse of your choosing through leading, grooming, or obstacle courses, or connecting with other animals we might encounter in the farm setting. All interactions with horses take place on the ground and without sitting on the horse’s back.
When beginning equine assisted mental health, your first session will take place primarily in the ranch office as we complete a thorough intake assessment. The second session will begin in the office as we collaborate on your treatment plan, establishing clear and actionable goals to support the direction of treatment. This may take some or all of the second session. If there is remaining time in the second session, we will begin your facility orientation, including a thorough safety chat regarding how to interact with equines and introduction to members of the herd. Your third session will complete the facility orientation and meeting the herd members. Moving forward, we will plan on all sessions taking place outdoors and with the herd!
-
Equine assisted mental health sessions are offered for the majority of the year. There may be times where weather conditions negate our ability to incorporate horses into our session. In this event, an office or telehealth session may be offered in its place.
-
The only requirement for an equine assisted mental health session is close-toed shoes. I recommend wearing clothes that you are comfortable getting dirty and/or hairy. Please also consider weather conditions as we will intend to be outside for the duration of our session.
-
All sessions take place on the ground, and do not include a mounted or riding component. While we may learn basic horsemanship skills in order to support you and the horses’ safety, these sessions are first and foremost intended as a mental health service. I am happy to provide recommendations should you wish to learn additional horsemanship skills and/or horseback riding.