What is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy?
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is an Experiential Intervention model which uses horses as therapeutic guides for growth and learning. EAP can be used with children, families, individuals and couples. EAP uses ground activities with the horses and encourages the participants to engage with the horses in their natural environment. Some of these activities may include: moving a small heard through an obstacle course or over poles, tacking, catching, observing, and leading. EAP differs from Therapeutic Riding in that it does not include horseback riding.

Why horses?  
Horses mirror a group’s attitudes, feelings and responses.  They are powerful beings that provide a nonverbal and non-judgmental means of communicating.  EAP encourages mutual non-verbal communication between horse and individual, which results in the development of assertiveness, creative thinking, and problem-solving techniques.  Each ground activity seeks to engage the participants in solving a problem. The obstacle courses presented are metaphors for real life situations, and the intuitive nature of the animal exposes the underlying beliefs behind the behavior of the participants. Through the use of therapeutic observational non-judgmental query, participants seek creative solutions to the obstacles that are presented and gain insight into their strengths as well as their self restricting behavior.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Services Offered:

 The Epona Project for Adolescent Girls
The Epona project is a 15 week Experiential Equine Assisted Therapy program aimed at empowering young women to actualize their potential and develop leadership skills.  The group meets once a week for two hours and utilizes peer interaction and ground activities with horses.   

When and Where:
Two 15 week sessions one in March and one in September are offered during the year. The program will be held at the Somerset Hills Handicapped Riding Center located in Oldwick, NJ.   Due to a generous grant from the Elizabeth and Barets O. Benjamin Charitable Foundation, enrollment in the program is free for adolescent girls who are at risk in their community. For more information and an application, please contact me. You may also visit the Somerset Hills Handicapped Riding Center website @www.SHHRC.org.

Private Equine Sessions:
The Somerset Handicapped Riding Center offers additional Therapeutic Riding and Hippotherapy services. Please visit their website @www.SHHRC.org
Private Individual, Family and Couple Equine assisted Psychotherapy can be arranged.