Equine Facilitated Counseling in Montgomery, Texas

Equine Facilitated Counseling uses horses experientially for emotional growth and life-skills learning in humans, as well as for organizational team building and leadership development.  It is a collaborative approach between a licensed mental health professional and an equine specialist working with clients and horses to address specific goals.

No prior experience with horses is necessary, as the focus of Equine Facilitated Counseling is not riding or horsemanship, and all of the activities take place on the ground. This is typically a short-term, brief approach and because of the in-the-moment feedback received, one session in the arena can often be equivalent to about three sessions in an office setting.

Why are horses good for therapy?

Those who are familiar with horses recognize and understand the power they have to influence people in incredible ways.  The benefits of work ethic, responsibility, assertiveness, communication, and healthy relationships have long been recognized, and horses naturally provide these benefits.

Horses have distinct personalities, attitudes, and moods.  They are large in size, which creates a natural opportunity for some to overcome fear and develop confidence by accomplishing a task in spite of that fear.  Horses are social animals with defined roles within their herds which can teach us a lot about relationships and non-verbal communication.