Equine therapy session at Denim n Dirt Ranch

What Happens in an Animal Assisted Therapy (EAP or EAPEG) Session?

Generally, a session lasts 45–50 minutes unless the client requests more time. Clients can schedule a regular therapy session, an hour session, a double session, etc. — much like “in office” therapy. In the case of businesses, spiritual retreats, or self-care groups, clients may want to schedule a half-day or full-day experience.

After the client checks in with our team during Porch Time (talk therapy time) to review current thoughts, feelings, and last week’s session, we generally begin to engage with our animals — horses, donkeys, goats, pigs, and dogs — in the arena.

In the Arena

In the arena or donkey area, clients may spend time with our animals — horses, donkeys, goats, pigs, and dogs — observing the herd dynamics which often “mirror” the client’s current situation, or clients may participate in a more structured activity with the animals.

An example of a structured activity might include “building a course” that metaphorically represents an aspect of the client’s life. The client will be asked to associate to the metaphors as well as noting the animals’ behaviors in the arena. The client may walk an animal through the course, or might choose to observe how the animals interact with their life course or current therapeutic issue.

Another example of a session may include grooming a horse while participating in talk therapy. The session options for this animal-assisted psychotherapy are limitless and primarily depend on the creativity of the clinicians and clients!

Whatever activity we choose, the client will end up experiencing some interactive feedback from our animals that is pertinent to the client’s current feeling state, life challenges, or situation. The equine clinician always joins the mental health clinician in the arena (or barn) with the client. The mental health clinician may interact with the client throughout the session or ask processing questions at a later point. Regardless of how the session is structured, the mental health team uses this time to facilitate emotional growth and healing.

For Businesses & Groups

For businesses looking to improve their team dynamics, animal-assisted activities provide a great deal of fun and information regarding the company’s staff dynamics, strengths, and challenges. The EAP team makes observations in the arena which they later process with the group, usually after the activity is completed. A clinician’s group therapy skills will make a direct impact on the quality of these group sessions.

Animal-assisted company retreats are life-giving, engaging, relaxing, fun, and fascinating. What a great way for a company to play and illuminate their dynamics all at the same time! We believe these types of experiences enhance staff cohesiveness and productivity.

Read a first-hand account by Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. of what happened during a workshop on mindfulness for EAP practitioners: If You Can Name It, You Can Tame It

New Client Forms

Please download and print the following forms and bring them to your first session:

“The experience of equine therapy is like no other. It is enlightening, humbling, moving, surprising, and just a bit mysterious. The accuracy, clarity, and depth the horses bring to the therapeutic experience has a powerful, life-changing impact that resonates to the very core of oneself. We have been privileged as a family to work on communication barriers, personal differences, boundaries, life transitions and loss. The gift of this healing relationship and bond with horses reaches emotional places and understanding that no other therapy has been able to reach.”

Can't make it to the ranch?In-office and Zoom sessions are also available for individual therapy. Please contact us to discuss which format works best for you.

Ready to get started? Contact us to schedule your first session.