Equine assisted psychotherapy
EQUINE ASSISTED PSYCHOTHERAPY VIA THE EAGALA MODEL
We’re excited to now offer Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) at our Harwood location using the Eagala Model, an experiential approach to mental health care that takes therapy beyond the traditional office setting and into relationship, movement, observation, and connection with horses.
So… what makes Eagala different? In an Eagala session, you’re supported by a team that includes a licensed mental health professional, an equine specialist, and the horses themselves.
And no, you don’t ride the horses. In fact, all Eagala work is done on the ground, and you don’t need any horse experience at all. Instead of sitting across from a therapist and relying primarily on conversation, Eagala gives you the opportunity to experience things in real time.
You might notice how you approach a horse.
What happens when the horse walks away—or chooses to come closer.
How you respond when something doesn’t go as planned.
Whether you push harder, shut down, change your approach, ask for help, or try something completely different.
Those moments can create powerful opportunities to explore patterns around things like:
- Anxiety and stress
- Relationships and boundaries
- Communication
- Self-confidence and self-worth
- Emotional regulation
- Trauma and difficult life experiences
- Trust and connection
- Problem solving and coping skills
The horses aren’t there to “fix” you or to perform a scripted response. They’re allowed to simply be horses—responding authentically in the moment. And sometimes that gives us something incredibly valuable to notice, explore, and work with. For people who feel stuck in traditional talk therapy—or who simply process and learn better by doing rather than only talking—this can offer a very different way into the work.
Because sometimes we can understand something intellectually for years. And then we experience it differently… and something finally shifts.
Eagala EAP sessions:
- 100% Client directed and focused
- Ground-based — no riding
- No horse experience required
- Individual and group opportunities
If you’re curious about Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and wondering whether it might be right for you or someone you love, reach out to learn more.