What is Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy?
Equine facilitated psychotherapy is a collaborative, experiential approach to mental health treatment in which horses serve as active participants in the therapeutic process. Sessions take place in a barn or pasture setting and are led by a licensed mental health therapist, often working alongside an equine specialist.
Unlike equine-assisted activities focused on riding or horsemanship skills, EFP is a clinically grounded modality. Clients engage in purposeful, on-the-ground activities with horses — such as grooming, leading, or simply being present with them — while the therapist helps process the emotions, insights, and patterns that naturally emerge.
"Horses respond to what is happening in the present moment — not to what we say about ourselves, but to who we actually are. That immediacy is medicine."
Horses are highly attuned social animals. They are prey animals wired to read the emotional states of those around them, and they respond authentically — without judgment or pretense. This creates a uniquely honest relational environment that can bypass common psychological defenses and access deeper layers of healing.
Experiential, not just verbal
Traditional talk therapy relies on language to access and process experience. EFP engages the body, nervous system, and emotions directly — making it especially effective when words fall short.
"Healing is not a linear process, but a journey of connection and discovery."
Grounded in the present
Horses require and invite full presence. Clients learn to regulate their own nervous system in real time, developing the capacity for mindfulness, safety, and groundedness that trauma often disrupts.
Non-judgmental relationship
Horses offer unconditional presence. For clients who carry shame or fear from relational trauma, the experience of being truly accepted — even by an animal — can be profoundly transformative.
Therapist-guided processing
Everything that unfolds with the horse becomes therapeutic material. Your therapist helps you connect the experience in the arena to your inner world, relationships, and patterns of coping.
Types of Sessions Offered
Individual Sessions
One-on-one therapy sessions conducted alongside horses, offering a unique, experiential approach to healing. The horse's intuitive responses provide powerful, real-time feedback that supports emotional growth, self-awareness, and therapeutic breakthroughs.
$135 for 55-minutes, or billable through your insurance.
Adolescent Group Therapy Sessions (ages 13-17)
A supportive group experience for teens that uses interactions with horses to build confidence, emotional regulation, and healthy communication skills. Horses create a safe, non-judgmental space where adolescents can explore feelings and connect with peers.
Mondays from 3:30pm to 5:00pm and 5:00pm to 6:30pm.
$90/session, not billable through insurance.
Young Adult Group Therapy (ages 18 to 21)
Designed for those navigating the transitions of early adulthood, these group sessions foster community, self-discovery, and resilience. Participants support one another while developing the tools needed to thrive in relationships, identity, and independence.
Time TBD.
$90/session, not billable through insurance.
Adult Group Therapy
(ages 21+)
A welcoming space for adults to explore personal challenges, build connection, and grow alongside others on a similar journey. Guided by a licensed therapist, these sessions blend evidence-based practices with the power of shared experience.
2 Saturdays per month, 10:30 am to 12:00 pm, $90/session.
Tailored for homeschooled children and teens, these sessions combine social-emotional learning with hands-on equine activities. A perfect complement to homeschool curricula, helping young people develop interpersonal skills, empathy, and emotional awareness.
$90/session, Wednesday mornings from 9:30 am to 11:00 am.
Step away from the demands of daily life and into a restorative retreat experience. Combining mindfulness, equine interaction, and therapeutic practices, our wellness retreats are designed to replenish the mind, body, and spirit. Please check the events tab for our next scheduled retreat!
Business Trainings
Bring your team out of the boardroom and into a transformative learning environment. Equine-assisted business trainings illuminate leadership dynamics, communication patterns, and team cohesion in ways that traditional workshops simply can't replicate. Please contact directly for pricing.
Couples Therapy
Strengthen your relationship through a one-of-a-kind therapeutic experience with horses. Couples gain fresh insight into their communication styles, relational patterns, and emotional connection in a calming, outdoor setting guided by a skilled therapist, who can work together with your regular couple's therapist, to better treat underlying issues.
$200/90 minute session, private pay only.