Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy: DBT and Trauma Treatment

Equine-Assisted DBt and Trauma Treatment

Equine-assisted DBT combines the principles of DBT with the presence of horses in a therapeutic setting. DBT focuses on teaching individuals skills to manage complex emotions and regulate behavior, develop interpersonal effectiveness, tolerate distress, and incorporate mindfulness into their lives. Liz is currently developing a manual for DBT with the inclusion of equine interactions.

Equine-assisted trauma therapy integrates horses into evidence-based trauma treatments. In this setting, working with horses can help with: facilitating emotional processing, promoting self-awareness, providing the opportunity for metaphorical reflection, allowing oneself to build connection and learn to trust oneself in new experiences and environments, setting boundaries and promoting healthy attachment patterns, building confidence and mastery, and increasing body awareness and mindfulness skills.

Liz is currently enrolled in the University of Denver Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy post-graduate certificate program for Licensed Mental Health Psychotherapists. She is building on our current evidence-based program to provide our patients the opportunity to include equine interactions into their treatment.

Our DBT Program with equine-interactions will also include skills groups with equine interactions. We are beginning to fill our 2025 groups, so please feel free to reach out with any questions or to enroll. We are currently partnered with Mane Stream, a wonderful therapeutic facility in Oldwick, NJ.

Equine-assisted Psychotherapy will be conducted in the same way we provide individual therapy; we will engage in thorough assessment and evaluation, collaborative, individualized treatment planning, and have clear interventions and treatment targets while we work together toward your goals.