Equine Assisted Mental Health

For ages 6+ in central Oregon

Potential Client Interest Form

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2024-2025 Equine Assisted Mental Health Clinic Calendar of Services

Healing Reins provides mental health services that incorporate equine interactions and the farm environment to ages 6+ in Central Oregon.

Equine Assisted Mental Health (EAMH) is when the therapy is provided by a licensed or appropriate credentialed mental health professionals working within their scope of practice in counseling while integrating equines into their sessions with their clients. Click to read more

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. Best practice dictates the therapy professionals obtain specialized training focused on the safe inclusion of horses in treatment.

EAMH at Healing Reins

The Equine Assisted Mental Health Clinic at Healing Reins provides weekly or bi-weekly individual and group Equine Assisted Mental Health services to the Central Oregon community.

  • Our Mental Health Professionals support Individuals with a wide range of diagnosis and treatment goals for individuals 6 and up.
  • Some of these diagnosis include Anxiety, PTSD, Depression, ADHD, Adjustment, and more. Individuals that have benefited in the past come from all different backgrounds and life experiences.
  • Equine Assisted Mental Health services are great for individuals who are interested in a farm based experience, getting outside and connecting to nature, and interacting with sentient beings to enhance their treatment experience.

Why Horses are uniquely suited to this kind of therapy (expand)

By nature, 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.

Studies show that Equine Assisted Mental Health has been helpful for patients in the following areas: (expand)

Emotional awareness, empathy, stress tolerance, flexibility, impulse control, problem-solving skills, self-actualization, independence, self-regard, social responsibility, interpersonal relationships, grief/loss, cognitive disability, ADD/ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and emotional and physical trauma.

Healing Reins' Facility: (expand)

Our ADA-approved facility and Mental Health clinic is equipped with 3 confidential cabins, a herd of 7-9 Equines, and a beautiful landscape for nature based mental health sessions. Our sessions run the majority of the year, 6 days out of the week. 

If you are interested in our EAMH Services– Please Complete the Interest Form Here

For Equine Assisted Mental Health Service Inquiries email Lisa JoBay, LPC, R-DMT, Clinical Manager at Lisaj@healingreins.org.

 All clients are entitled to a Good Faith Estimate in accordance with the No Surprises Act.

Potential Client Interest Form

EAMH Clinical Team at Healing Reins

Lisa JoBay, LPC, R-DMT :: Clinical Director

Licensed Professional Counselor
Registered Dance/Movement Therapist

After completing an internship that integrated Dance/Movement Therapy (DMT) and Equine-Assisted Mental Health, Lisa earned her Master of Arts in Somatic Counseling Psychology from Naropa University in December 2011. Since then, she has developed a private somatic psychotherapy practice, supporting adolescents and adults through a body-centered approach to healing, both with and without the involvement of horses.
For more than 15 years, Lisa has worked with individuals navigating grief and loss, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, trauma, self-harming behaviors, suicidal ideation, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and other life challenges. She is committed to providing compassionate, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive care that honors each person’s unique experiences and strengths.
Lisa is passionate about lifelong learning and continues to advance her knowledge in somatic and equine-assisted therapeutic practices. She currently serves as the Clinical Director of the Equine-Assisted Mental Health Clinic at Healing Reins. Drawing from both personal experience and professional training, Lisa deeply values the transformative potential of Dance/Movement Therapy and Equine-Assisted Mental Health and is dedicated to helping others access these pathways toward healing, growth, and well-being.

Becca Klassy, LCSW :: Mental Health Professional

Licenced Clinical Social Worker

Becca received a masters in social work in 2020 and has provided clinical services to children, teens, and adults experiencing stress, trauma, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and more in a variety of settings. Becca utilizes a collaborative approach with clients and incorporates Motivational Interviewing, CBT, DBT, and EMDR to support clients in reaching their goals. Becca is a lifelong Oregon resident who was originally based in the Portland area and moved to Bend with her own horse a few years ago. She soon thereafter got a dog, and outside of work can most often be found with her dog and/or horse on one of Central Oregon’s many trails, or at home painting.

Cat Tadlock, PC Associate:: Mental Health Professional

Professional Counselor Associate 

Cat is a Professional Counselor Associate with a passion for supporting others
through compassionate, effective mental health care. She holds a Master of Science in Special
Education (2020) with a focus on working with youth navigating behavioral challenges. Before
entering the mental health field, Cat ran an equine-assisted coaching and learning facility,
blending her love for horses with personal development work.
Certified in both Horse Guided Empowerment® and Horse Powered Reading®, Cat integrates
equine-assisted approaches into her practice, alongside modalities such as Internal Family
Systems (IFS), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, and mindfulness.
A lifelong equestrian, Cat began riding at the age of three and now shares her life with two
horses, a dog, and a deep appreciation for the outdoors. In her free time, she enjoys hiking,
exploring nature, and spending quality time with her animals. She’s also passionate about the
creative arts—especially dance, writing, and visual expression.

Emma Edmonds, PC Associate:: Mental Health Professional

Professional Counselor Associate

Emma received her masters in clinical mental health counseling from george fox university in 2026. Her work centers on identity exploration, attachment work, and radical self-honesty–the belief that the more clearly we understand ourselves and how we show up in relationships, the more grounded we become. Emma has a deep heart for those who have felt “othered” or struggled with a sense of belonging, and is especially passionate about supporting individuals navigating religious trauma, relational abuse, and invisible illness. As a Type 1 diabetic herself, she understands what it means to feel at war with your body, and the burnout that comes with navigating flawed health care systems. Emma has fond memories of horseback riding lessons as a girl and has been thrilled to bring that joy full circle by integrating horses and other animals into her work with clients.

Gianina Barrionuevo CSWA:: Mental Health Professional

Clinical Social Worker Associate

Gianina is a bilingual (Spanish-speaking) Clinical Social Worker with a Master’s Degree from Columbia University. She brings a culturally responsive, client-centered approach to her work, honoring each person’s unique story and background. She believes healing can be especially powerful when it happens outdoors or in the presence of animals, experiences that can feel grounding, sacred, and deeply restorative. With a warm and grounded presence, Gianina works with teens, neurodivergent clients, individuals in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, and those navigating grief. Her practice is shaped by her strong belief in each person’s ability to grow and heal, cultural roots and a deep passion for creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered in their healing process.

Scott Anderson, Intern:: Mental Health Professional

Pepperdine University

Scott is currently completing his Master’s in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University. His work at Healing Reins represents a shift from the work he has done for over a decade as a high school and elementary teacher towards his passion of fostering transformative human connections. Scott’s internship began with Healing Reins in the late summer of 2025. His work is based in modern contextual humanistic modalities. Scott believes that transformation can occur when we increase the understanding of ourselves, and recognize our potential to act. He relishes the opportunity to integrate the horses and environment of Healing Reins in his sessions.

Sarah Bryant, Intern:: Mental Health Professional

Capella University

Sarah began her career as an elementary teacher working at an environmental science school in Oregon City. She adored being able to engage students in nature-based learning. From there, she expanded her skills and became a Social Emotional Specialist for the Redmond School District, where she spent five years serving children and families. This experience inspired her to further her education and increase her ability to serve her community.

Sarah is currently attending Capella University, where she has completed coursework in Clinical Psychology. She is now at the internship stage of her program and is excited to have the opportunity to support the Equine Assisted Mental Health Program at Healing Reins. Through her internship with Healing Reins, Sarah is excited to combine her love of horses with her passion for supporting others.

Meet our Healing
Herd of Horses

The equine members of our team are hugely important to us and are chosen very carefully. The ideal therapy horse is sound and unflappable, with a been-there-done-that attitude. Our herd members have had careers in dressage, high school equestrian teams, trail riding, ranch work, and more. Miles and experience add up to the quiet, assured horses our participants need.

Meet Them