Equine assisted therapy
Many people believe this therapy can be even more moving than talk therapy, or an invaluable supplemental therapy to individual therapeutic work. Horses are in the moment, authentic, and social animal partners who provide immediate and honest feedback. Equine assisted psychotherapy is a modality that is experiential, creating new learning inside the horse arena that can be applied to outside daily life.
The therapeutic work is both metaphoric and symbolic in nature, creating change and healing to improve mental health. The deep connections made with the horse herd can shift dynamics in our most important human relationships, improving things like communication and trust. The health of our close relationships directly links to our individual happiness and quality of life.
Currently equine assisted psychotherapy individual sessions are open to adults (18+) and adolescents (6th – 12th grade). We are inclusive of all genders, identities, and sexual orientation. Mental health treatment plans are customized to each individual client in therapy. Adolescents must be currently seeing a primary therapist for individual therapy at least every other week to be eligible for equine assisted psychotherapy individual sessions. Adults (18+) may enter equine assisted psychotherapy as stand-alone therapy or supplemental therapy.
Our plan is to expand individual sessions to children ages 8+ in 2026. We also plan to offer couple therapy and family therapy sessions in 2026. Please reach out to be placed on our wait lists.
Individual sessions take place in one of the Chastain Horse Park outdoor horse paddocks. If inclement weather prevents being outside, the session will take place inside the therapeutic barn.
Yes, through their gentle spirit and social nature, these 1,200-pound social animals are non-judgmental, curious, intelligent and uniquely attuned to human emotion and behavior. They are sensitive to the energy we bring into the horse arena, experience a wide range of feelings, and offer immediate and honest feedback in response to our interaction with them. They behave authentically in this setting because they are at liberty – meaning they are not tied to anything, wearing saddles, bridles or even halters. They are free to move around the horse paddock as they choose, which provides us with valuable information in the therapy process. Often the horse(s) will even mirror the inner emotion of the client and can provide a great sense of empathy through their eye contact and movement.
No, all sessions are on the ground meaning there is no horseback riding in the sessions.
About the sessions
Individual equine assisted psychotherapy sessions for adolescents are offered weekday evenings at 4pm, 5pm and 6pm depending upon availability. Adult individual sessions are scheduled based on client and horse paddock availability.
All individual sessions are 50-minutes.
Each session is led by both a k-equine mental health professional who is a licensed therapist and a Chastain Horse Park equine specialist who is the horse expert. Our therapeutic horse, sometimes a rescue, a retired thoroughbred, a warmblood or quarter horse, is the third important member of the team who serves the client in each session.
Each equine assisted psychotherapy individual session is customized to the client. This modality of therapy is experiential and is based on the “doing” in each unique session. The interaction with the horse produces meaning making, symbolism and metaphoric learning by the client. Sessions can also focus on behavioral changes, overcoming specific challenges and symptom reduction. Each session is based on the mental health treatment goals for the specific client.
No! You do not need a background with horses or any level of experience with horses. Some clients who have attended feel a sense of nostalgia from the horse scent, the sound of their hooves and tails swishing back and forth from childhood horse memories. Other clients have rarely or never been around horses and experience these amazing creatures up close and personal for the first time. We make the physical and emotional safety a top priority for both client participants and the horses at all times.
polices and information
We recommend that you wear something that feels comfortable to you and that you don’t mind getting dirty or wet. It can be windy and muddy in the horse paddock, so we recommend dressing in casual layers and airing on the side of dressing warmer. Closed toe shoes or boots are required for safety reasons. Sneakers, hiking boots, cowboy boots, rain boots and work boots are all great choices. We also encourage you to wear sunscreen and a hat if you would like as paddocks are not covered.
Yes! We encourage you to check the weather forecast and dress accordingly as we do run the therapy sessions in rainy, windy and cold conditions. If the session is canceled by the therapy team or facility due to unforeseen circumstances, you will not be charged for the session.
Individual equine assisted psychotherapy sessions are $350/ 50-minute session.
Chastain Horse Park currently subsidizes the cost per session at 50% through annual fundraising contributions, therefore the session rate cannot be further reduced. However, Chastain Horse Park does offer scholarships for those in need of financial assistance to receive therapeutic services. Please email therapeutic.lessons@chastainhorsepark.org for more information on the scholarship application process.
Session payment is considered self-pay for out of network mental health services and is due upon completion of each therapy session. Online payment is setup during the in-take paperwork process. While we do not work directly with insurance companies, we can provide an insurance receipt/ superbill for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement after assessment and diagnosis is completed. We encourage you to consult with your insurance company regarding your specific plan to determine reimbursement options.
We do not require a minimum number of individual sessions; however we strongly recommend committing to at least 8 sessions when beginning individual equine assisted psychotherapy. Research suggests that a minimum of 8-12 sessions are needed for this modality of individual therapy to be most effective.
We require scheduling either weekly or every other week for individual sessions. For adolescents we highly recommend that primary therapist sessions occur in between equine assisted psychotherapy sessions.
Our cancelation policy states that if you email your therapist 48+ hours prior to your session start time (time stamped), you may cancel or reschedule your session with no additional fee. If your written cancelation is 48 hours or less, you will be charged the full session fee. Because horses and other resources are required for this type of animal-assisted therapy, we are firm on this policy.
Please visit the FAQ section on Chastain Horse Park’s website for more information.
Upcoming Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Groups
Grief and Loss Series
March 4, 11, 18
March 4 • 10:00 am - 11:15 am
This series is for women who experienced loss such as death of a spouse, partner, friend, family member, pet or loss of pregnancy, identity, career, home, marriage or relationship. [learn more]
Reducing Anxiety SeriesMay 6, 13, 20
May 6 • 10:00 am - 11:15 am
This series is for women who wish to reduce worry, fear, rumination, intrusive thought and other symptoms of anxiety. [learn more]
Grief and Loss Series
July 1, 8, 15
July 1 • 10:00 am - 11:15 am
This series is for women who experienced loss such as death of a spouse, partner, friend, family member, pet or loss of pregnancy, identity, career, home, marriage or relationship. [learn more]
