Treatment

Equine-Assisted Therapy

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, or EAP, is experiential in nature. Participants learn about themselves and others by participating in activities with our horses, and then discussing the feelings, behaviors, and patterns that these activities evoke. The sessions are guided by a licensed therapist and an EAGALA certified equine professional who work together to address specific treatment goals through the equine-assisted exercises. The therapists and equine specialist running these groups hold certificates from the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA).

Horses are large and powerful, which creates a natural opportunity for some students to overcome fear and develop confidence by completing tasks that require interacting with and guiding the horse.

Horses are very much like humans in that they are social animals. This means that they have defined roles within their herds, they are most comfortable being together with their peers, and they have distinct personalities, attitudes, and moods. Most importantly, horses have the ability to sense and mirror humans' body language. When we make attitudinal changes within ourselves, the horses respond immediately.

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Important Topics

Parenting a Trauma Victim

When an adolescent experiences symptoms of post-traumatic stress, it’s not unusual for her parents to feel confused and suspicious. That’s because it’s incredibly painful for a parent to know that their child has been so deeply wounded. In fact, it can be so difficult to process a child’s trauma that the parent may unwittingly minimize and deny—it’s just too much to take in.

Everyday Family Wellness: Volunteering

While volunteering to help others may not seem like a sophisticated mental-health technique, those who engage in community service tend to weigh less, have fewer health problems, and report a higher measure of subjective happiness than those who don’t.

Everyday Family Wellness: Meals Together

Rather than suddenly corralling the family for seven nights of regimented dining, though, ease into it if it’s not already a habit. One or two nights a week is a great start. Make it fun by cooking something everyone will like (or even ordering in) and try to make dinner time fit everyone’s schedule to the extent you can. This approach is more likely to leave your family wanting more, rather than less, of this healthy family habit.