A soul-centered equine assisted psychotherapy practice partnering with the horse as a means towards emotional wellness

Hinesburg, VT

  • Therapeutic Sessions

    Is traditional therapy not working for you or your loved one? Within an office setting, are you unsure how to feel comfortable, or where to start? Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is defined as an interactive process in which a licensed mental health professional working with or as an appropriately credentialed equine professional partners with suitable equine(s) to address psychotherapy goals set forth by the mental health professional and the client.

    Gabrielle Johansen, LICSW, ESMHL, holds both credentials. The horse is a critically important partner in the work of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. The equine’s prey nature and intense sensitivity to subtle changes in their environment make them perfect partners for the therapeutic process.

  • Experience the Transformation

    Begin your transformative journey with the guidance of a licensed mental health professional and an equine partner. The equine partner mirrors your emotions and experiences and facilitates change through an unconditional and ego-free relationship. As herd animals, horses have elaborate and well-defined roles within their social construction. They can understand our unspoken body language in incredible ways. This lends towards the emergence of symbolism, metaphors, and real constructive change.

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What is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy? Why horses?

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is defined as an interactive process in which a licensed mental health professional working with or as an appropriately credentialed equine professional partners with suitable equine(s) to address psychotherapy goals set forth by the mental health professional and the client.

Gabrielle Johansen, LICSW, ESMHL, holds both credentials. The horse is a critically important partner in the work of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. The equine’s prey nature and intense sensitivity to subtle changes in their environment make them perfect partners for the therapeutic process. Horses are immensely healing and contribute towards healing and repair of the central nervous system beginning with a single touch. Horses as domesticated prey animals are extremely sensitive to changes in the human being (as a predatory creature). Due to their sensitivity, horses react and respond to people based upon the person's emotional state. Since we know that emotional states in human beings also impact our physiology, it only makes sense that horses can smell or sense those specific changes.

Ultimately, the horse acts as a large biofeedback machine, providing the client and the therapist with information regarding the client's moods and changes within those moods. If a client arrives anxious, the horse will act and respond one way. The horse is able to give immediate feedback, which lends towards a trusting relationship between client and horse, and the modeling of pro-social skills and appropriate and safe boundaries. This provides a plethora of information and skill building opportunities for both the client and the therapist. Incorporating horses into the therapeutic process brings an abundance of benefits to the client. Connecting with, grooming, feeding, and leading the equine partner targets emotion regulation, self-confidence, a sense of belonging and a sense of purpose and responsibility. Please note that clients do not have to have any prior experience with equines to participate in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. All sessions take place on the ground, which means clients do not ride the animals, but rather work next to and with them.