Moving into 2025 with Equine Assisted Counseling
3 Trends in Equine-Assisted Counseling You Should Know About
Equine-assisted counseling has been gaining momentum over the past few years as a unique and effective way to help people work through mental health challenges. Combining therapy with interactions with horses, this approach taps into the natural bond between humans and animals, creating a space for healing, self-discovery, and personal growth. As the field evolves, there are a few interesting trends emerging that are changing the way people experience this type of therapy. Let’s take a closer look at three of them.
1. Therapy Beyond Traditional Talk Therapy
In traditional counseling, much of the work happens through conversation, with therapists guiding clients to reflect and reframe their thoughts. But with equine-assisted therapy, the focus is often on body language, non-verbal communication, and emotional awareness. Horses are incredibly sensitive to human energy and can mirror the emotional states of people, which helps clients gain deeper insights into their own feelings and behavior. This means that therapy isn't just talking—it's about experiencing. Whether it's a horse nudging someone to feel more grounded or simply walking alongside them, the physical presence of the animal adds a whole new layer to the therapeutic process. Clients are not just "talking about" their issues—they’re feeling them in real-time.
2. Integrating Mindfulness and Grounding Techniques
As mental health awareness grows, more people are turning to mindfulness as a tool for managing stress, anxiety, and emotional well-being. In equine-assisted counseling, this has translated into more sessions focusing on grounding exercises and mindfulness techniques. Horses are naturally present in the moment, which can encourage clients to also tune into their senses and engage with the world around them. Therapists are incorporating mindfulness practices like deep breathing or noticing body sensations into sessions, often using the horse as a guide. The idea is to help people stay present with their emotions, rather than getting caught up in past traumas or future worries. This trend not only promotes emotional regulation but also encourages a deeper connection between the person and the horse.
3. Focus on Trauma-Informed Care
Equine-assisted therapy has proven to be especially beneficial for individuals with trauma, for example for survivors of workplace trauma, medical trauma and religious trauma. The calm, non-judgmental nature of horses can provide a safe space for people to process deep-seated trauma as well as more recent trauma. Our program includes therapists who have EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) training in the Recent Traumatic Episode Protocol (R-TEP) and the Single Traumatic Event Protocol (STEP), which can both be utilized in an equine therapy setting.
In 2024, there’s been a stronger emphasis on trauma-informed care within the equine therapy community. This approach ensures that the sessions are conducted with an understanding of how trauma affects both the body and the mind, and it tailors interventions to respect the client’s pace and comfort level. Therapists are being more mindful of how they introduce horses into the session, paying attention to the emotional state of the client and ensuring that each interaction is nurturing and supportive. This trend is helping to create an environment where healing feels safe and empowering, without forcing anyone to confront things before they’re ready.
Equine-assisted counseling, also known as equine assisted therapy or equine facilitated psychotherapy, is becoming a more popular, accessible, and specialized form of therapy. Whether it’s using horses as a tool for mindfulness, providing non-verbal emotional feedback, or tailoring sessions to be trauma-informed, these trends are helping people find healing in ways that traditional therapy might not always reach. With its emphasis on connection—both with the horse and within oneself—equine therapy is giving people a new way to move through life's challenges.