Equine Assisted Psychotherapy

Equine assisted psychotherapy sessions are offered by several independent therapists at ClearWind Farm — each with a unique approach and specialties.

Equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP) offers an innovative experiential approach that engages our whole selves—thoughts, feelings and body sensations—in ways that talk therapy can’t. With the guidance and support of an experienced EAP team, sessions with horses offer a safe way to catalyze the therapeutic process and provide opportunities to discover and try out new ways of being with ourselves and with others. 

Many people find that working in an arena with a herd of horses – large, curious, honest, and nonjudgmental living beings – stirs up not only their deepest fears (such as rejection and failure) but also their deepest hopes (such as connection and confidence). Put another way, it’s hard to fool a horse.

Equine assisted psychotherapy sessions are offered by several independent therapists at ClearWind Farm — each with a unique approach and specialties. Click here to see who they are.

Click above to watch a 30-minute talk Matt Case gave on equine assisted psychotherapy to a support group in September, 2021.

By experimenting with new possibilities, people gain practical insights to change their lives.

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Program Focus

The focus of EAP is not on riding horses or learning horsemanship skills. EAP consists of horse-based activities that call on the client or group to be self-aware, experiment, learn, and apply certain skills – such as assertiveness, self-awareness, patience, creativity, and teamwork. The therapist and equine specialist make observations, ask questions and help the participants get the most out of their experience. By observing old habits in the arena, and experimenting with new possibilities, people gain practical insight that they can use to change their lives.

When challenges involve the family or interpersonal relationships (like parent-child conflicts), sessions with the horses can be a great way to explore those patterns in a safe environment, with honest feedback from the horses, and experiment together with new, more satisfying, ways of relating.

When challenges involve the family or interpersonal relationships, sessions with the horses can be a great way to explore those patterns in a safe environment.

Sessions are provided independently by experienced, licensed psychotherapists who have additional training in how to incorporate horses into mental health treatment.

Whether you are looking for a leg up on your personal growth, or want professional help addressing psychological challenges such as anxiety, depression or trauma, equine assisted psychotherapy might be a good fit for you.

Questions? Go to our FAQ page. You might also want to watch this short video to learn more about this unique approach.