What is Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy?

EAP is a professional, innovative and experiential approach to counselling, psychotherapy and mental health that supports clients of all ages in
addressing therapeutic goals (emotional, cognitive, behavioural, relationship and mental health conditions), with horses as assistants, support and co-facilitators in this process.

Rebekah is a professional and experienced psychotherapist and certified equine-assisted practitioner. As a registered NDIS provider, she is also trained extensively in disability with a focus on trauma and trauma-informed practice.

What happens in an EAP session?

Observation of horses

• Meeting with horses at liberty
• Lead-line experiences including touching,
• Liberty leading (leading horses without a lead rope)
• Led-mounted/ riding
• Creative activities with horses
• Connection with Country and horses grooming and leading
• Art-making/art therapy may or may not be included in the session

Why horses?

Horses are beautiful, intelligent, sensitive and powerful beings who can evoke strong feelings in clients or engage clients in the learning process.

Calm and healthy horses can assist in co-regulating a client’s nervous system, can model healthy living and expression of feelings, as well as offering non judgemental safety and trust. Horses can offer unique bio feedback and hold clients in a way traditional therapy environments cannot.

The natural environment can also contribute positively to therapeutic outcomes for clients.

Who attends EAP?

Clients experiencing:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Trauma
• Addiction
• Eating disorders
• ADHD
• Clients looking for alternatives to room-based therapy
  And more…

Benefits of EAP

• Emotional awareness and affect regulation
• Improved social skills
• Empathy and relationship skills
• Distress tolerance
• Confidence and self esteem
• Reducing stress
• Boundary setting
• Promoting movement and activity
• Meaningful connection
• Proven scientific benefits of mindfulness
• Increased attention
• Problem solving
• Connection with nature