What is Equine-assisted Psychotherapy?
Equine-assisted psychotherapy is a unique and powerful way to work on emotional and mental health by partnering with horses in a safe, supportive environment. You don’t need any experience with horses — the focus isn’t on riding, but on interacting with them through activities on the ground, like grooming, leading, or observing their behavior. Horses are incredibly intuitive and respond to our emotions and body language, which can help you better understand your own feelings and patterns in a natural, hands-on way.
This type of therapy can be especially helpful for people dealing with trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, addiction, and other challenges. Working with horses can build confidence, improve communication, and teach you to set healthy boundaries. The connection you build with these gentle animals can also help you feel calmer and more grounded, making it easier to work through difficult emotions and experiences. Equine-assisted psychotherapy offers a refreshing alternative to traditional therapy and can be a meaningful step on your path to healing.
What is EAGALA?
EAGALA stands for Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association, an internationally recognized model for equine-assisted psychotherapy and personal development. The EAGALA model uses a team approach — a licensed mental health professional, an equine specialist, and the horses — to create a safe, structured environment where clients can work on emotional, behavioral, and relational challenges. All activities are done on the ground (not riding) and focus on interacting with the horses in ways that reflect and bring insight into your own thoughts, feelings, and patterns.
EAGALA is beneficial because it allows you to actively engage in the therapy process, using the horses’ natural instincts and responses to help you see yourself more clearly. The experience can uncover issues that may be hard to express in words and give you immediate, honest feedback in a way that feels supportive and non-judgmental. This approach has been shown to help with trauma, PTSD, addiction, anxiety, depression, and relationship difficulties by fostering self-awareness, confidence, and healthier ways of coping — all while working in partnership with these remarkable animals.
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