Equine Assisted Mental Health (EAMH) is a type of mental health therapy where qualified mental health professionals work within their scope of practice in counseling to integrate equines (horses) into their clients’ therapy sessions.

The therapist determines how equine interactions, movement, or aspects of the equine environment may enhance the client’s individualized treatment plan with the goals of improving the client’s cognitive, behavioral, emotional or psychological function for improved health and wellness.

Equine Assisted Mental Health services are great for individuals who are interested in a farm based experience, getting outside, connecting to nature, and interacting with sentient beings to enhance their treatment experience.

Why Horses Are Uniquely Suited to This Kind of Therapy Bynature, horses are highly sensitive to their surroundings and react to stimuli from their environment. Horses are able to read an individual’s vital signs as well, such as heart rate and body temperature. These abilities can sometimes provide feedback for a client or therapists on the client’s emotional state during a mental health session.

Incorporating horses into an individual’s mental health session can also highlight a relational aspect for the client, which can often mirror or highlight how we are in relationship to ourselves or others. Thus, incorporating equine’s into an individual’s mental health session can provide a plethora of information and skill building opportunities for both the client and the mental health professional.

EAMH SUD Treatment Groups at Healing Reins: SUD treatment groups at Healing Reins are contracted with each organization or agency. Each group is designed to have up to 5 participants and runs for 6 weeks. Each group is 1 hour and 15 minutes in length and is facilitated by a Mental Health Professional and an Equine Specialist who has also received training as a Peer Support Specialist.

Group Objectives:

• Group Participants gain insights and awareness of their personal experiences, patterns, and choices
• Build skills in relationship, mindfulness, and confidence
• Learn horse body language and horse handling techniques
• Explore how to apply the learned skill sets in everyday life
• Creates a safe space Outside the 4-walls of a traditional clinical therapy setting for the group and therapist to interact with one another
• by engaging in activity with a horse during their therapy session.
• The therapist partners with the horse to help the group process their emotions, thoughts and reactions.

How We Make and Receive Referrals:

If your agency or organization is interested in our Equine Assisted SUD Treatment Groups for your clients, please contact our Clinical Manager Lisa JoBay, LPC at (541) 699-1728 or email her at lisaj@healingreins.org.

Healing Reins is part of a Behavioral Health Resource Network (BHRN). Other members of the BHRN are Deschutes County, Rimrock Trails, BestCare, Ideal Options, and Boulder Care.