Equine-Assisted Services

What is Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy?

EAP is a professional, innovative and experiential approach to counselling, psychotherapy and mental health that supports clients of all ages in addressing therapeutic goals (emotional, cognitive, behavioural, relationship and mental health conditions), with horses as assistants, support and co-facilitators in this process.

At Firefly Counselling Services, EAP is offered by a registered Counsellor.

Unlike traditional talk therapy, EAP relies on non-verbal communication, embodied awareness, and the therapeutic relationship with both the horse and the therapist.

What happens in an EAP session?

In EAP, clients are offered ‘safe’ (physically and emotionally) experiences  with horses for the purpose of exploring self-experience in relationship, building self-awareness, building awareness of patterns or habits that are no-longer serving them well, developing psychological and social skills and addressing therapeutic goals clients have identified.

What does this look like?

  • Observation of horses

  • Meeting with horses at liberty

  • Lead-line experiences including touching,

  • grooming and leading

  • Liberty leading (leading horses without a lead rope)

  • Creative activities with horses

Who attends EAP?

Clients experiencing:

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Trauma

  • Addiction

  • Eating disorders

  • ADHD

  • Clients looking for alternatives to room-based therapy

  • And more

Why Horses?

Horses are beautiful, intelligent, sensitive and strong beings who can evoke strong feelings in clients or engage clients in the learning process.

Calm and healthy horses can assist in co-regulating a client's nervous system, can model healthy living and expression of feelings, as well as offering non judgemental safety and trust.

Horses can offer unique bio feedback and hold clients in a way traditional therapy environments cannot.

The natural environment can also contribute positively to therapeutic outcomes for clients.

What are some benefits of EAP?

Emotional awareness and affect regulation

  • Improved social skills

  • Empathy and relationship skills

  • Distress tolerance

  • Confidence and self esteem

  • Reducing stress

  • Boundary setting

  • Promoting movement and activity

  • Meaningful connection

  • Proven scientific benefits of mindfulness

  • Increased attention

  • Problem solving

  • Connection with nature