About Equine Therapy...
The therapy model utilized in trauma-focused equine-facilitated psychotherapy (TF-EAP) is based on the neuroscience of brain development, how trauma affects the brain and the ability to form healthy relationships. Clients learn how to gain awareness about what is occurring internally and access their ability to move themselves from a place of fear to a place of peace and calmness. Services include individual, couples, family, and group sessions that facilitate healing, emotion regulation, building distress tolerance skills, impulse control, and strengthening relationship skills such as building trust, establishing boundaries, reciprocity, and self-responsibility. We also offer therapeutic riding sessions that include our expertise along with a compassionate horse trainer.
Why Horses?
Horses are similar to humans in that they are social animals. They have set roles in their herds and experience comfort and safety by remaining close to members of their herd. Horses respond or react to a person's behavior very similarly to how another person will, except more honestly and authentically. Horses respond in the moment the way people respond eventually. This gives clients immediate feedback about their patterns and behavior.
It can be difficult for clients who have been traumatized in some way to learn how to trust themselves. Horses provide a foundation for healing to transpire because clients can relate to and interact with horses in ways that are often challenging for them when it comes to interactions with people. Through building a relationship with horses, clients gain insight into their own verbal and nonverbal behaviors and relationship patterns. The horse will not exhibit trust, respect, and acceptance in a relationship until the client learns to build a relationship based on mutual trust, respect and acceptance. This provides clients with the opportunity to take responsibility for the kind of relationships they build with horses and, ultimately, with others in their lives.
The foundation of TF-EAP resides in Relationship Logic. Relationship Logic consists mainly of groundwork during which each client builds a relationship with a horse that is based on a true partnership instead of on appeasement, coercion, or submission. In Relationship Logic, clients choose a horse with whom to build a relationship. Each principle that applies to building a relationship with a horse transfers to healthy human relationships. The horse is not a metaphor for other relationships; instead, it is a real relationship in which problematic patterns surface. These problematic patterns are then identified, worked through, and resolved. This transformative process empowers clients, increases self-awareness, and builds confidence and self-esteem. Equine therapy services are offered at Sky View Farm-1705 Outter Marker Rd. Castle Rock, CO 80108.
It can be difficult for clients who have been traumatized in some way to learn how to trust themselves. Horses provide a foundation for healing to transpire because clients can relate to and interact with horses in ways that are often challenging for them when it comes to interactions with people. Through building a relationship with horses, clients gain insight into their own verbal and nonverbal behaviors and relationship patterns. The horse will not exhibit trust, respect, and acceptance in a relationship until the client learns to build a relationship based on mutual trust, respect and acceptance. This provides clients with the opportunity to take responsibility for the kind of relationships they build with horses and, ultimately, with others in their lives.
The foundation of TF-EAP resides in Relationship Logic. Relationship Logic consists mainly of groundwork during which each client builds a relationship with a horse that is based on a true partnership instead of on appeasement, coercion, or submission. In Relationship Logic, clients choose a horse with whom to build a relationship. Each principle that applies to building a relationship with a horse transfers to healthy human relationships. The horse is not a metaphor for other relationships; instead, it is a real relationship in which problematic patterns surface. These problematic patterns are then identified, worked through, and resolved. This transformative process empowers clients, increases self-awareness, and builds confidence and self-esteem. Equine therapy services are offered at Sky View Farm-1705 Outter Marker Rd. Castle Rock, CO 80108.
My Beloved "Gotcha"
Equine Therapy Partner, 1994-2022. Thank you, Gotcha, for partnering with me to help heal over 100 clients' hearts. You will be forever remembered, cherished, and honored. With Love, Stephanie