"Tell me and I will forget." "Show me And I may remember." "Involve me And I will understand." Chinese proverb

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is an emerging field in which horses are used as a tool for emotional growth and learning. EAP is a collaborative effort between a mental health therapist and a horse professional working with the clients and horses to address treatment goals. EAP is experiential in nature. This means that participants learn about themselves and others by participating in activities with the horses, and then processing (or discussing) feelings, behaviors, and patterns. What kind of problems does EAP help? Anxiety Attention Deficit Disorder Behavioral Issues Bullies Child Abuse/Neglect Communication Problems Depression Divorce/Absent Parents Grief Issues Related to Truancy Lack of Direction Learning Difficulties Poor Social Skills Reactive Attachment Disorder Relationship Issues Substance Abuse Trauma Reactive Attachment Disorder has been italicized as it requires a longer term therapy. Traditional EAP is considered a 'brief' therapy running on average 12-16 sessions. Other Benefits Education and practical application of critical skill sets, including: Conflict resolution Communication Anger Management Problem Solving Non-traditional environment creates possibility for new interaction: "It doesn't feel like counseling" Goals Decrease of Intrapersonal Distress Decrease of Somatic Distress Cooperative Interpersonal Demeanor Absence of Critical Items Decrease in Social Problematic Behaviors Decrease in Behavior Dysfunction Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Facts Clients find EAP more interesting than talk therapy EAP keeps clients on task and engaged Clients are more willing to attend sessions and interact in the process The horses provide immediate feedback on which behaviors work and which don't The sessions create metaphors that illuminate situations encountered in life and help make changes in attitude as well as behavior The horses provide emotional support and bonds that are helpful in the therapy process The sessions help both clients and therapists get to the root of the problems much more quickly The sessions provide clients the ability to express and communicate in ways that traditional therapies do not Services Available Individual Counseling Family Counseling Couples Counseling Cost EquiTeam Individual and Family 50-minute sessions cost $120. All fees include the therapist and the equine professional who conduct each session, the horses and materials used, facility overhead, and paperwork. Scholarship funds are also available, please contact EquiTeam Support Services for further information.

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