An Equine Partnership for enhanced healing

EQUINE THERAPY

With tori dabasinskas

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist – MA, LMFT, LPCC, AF-EMDR, S-PSB, ESMHL

What is EQUINE THERAPY?

As a variation of our counseling retreat, an equine partner joins us for an experiential therapy opportunity. Horses are often very friendly and curious. Being outdoors in contact with a horse offers use of all our senses (site, sound, smell, touch, etc) while processing and learning through emotional challenges. Horses sense our emotions, mirror them back, and can help regulate the nervous system. Activities on the ground may include being present with the horse, grooming, leading, and/or feeding, for example.  Goals may include helping with mood regulation, confidence, focus, social awareness, assertiveness, and empathy. The connection between people and horses is something profound, often enhancing emotional and physical healing. 

Mirador Retreats equine therapy client with mr shot
“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”
— Winston Churchill

Who should consider equine therapy?

If you appreciate animals and nature, and desire to address anxieties, fears, relationship challenges, communication styles and increase self awareness, equine therapy may be for you! Horses have a unique ability to sense emotions and react accordingly, and therapy with an equine partner gives you a special opportunity to build confidence, trust, emotional regulation, and more.  Like people, horses are social beings that are responsive to communication, emotions, and boundaries. When spending time around horses, people often discover how their own behavior may impact others.

Service details

We offer equine therapy as a variation on our counseling retreats, with these specifics:

  • You can schedule up to 7 equine sessions

  • Please dress warmly, wear close-toed shoes, and prepare to get a little dirty 

  • The cost is the same as a retreat session: $185/50 minutes ($180 for cash/check)*

  • Prior to our initial introduction, we will cover basic horsemanship. Both human and horse are interested in being safe with each other, so we will cover the essentials, slow down, and take one retreat at a time. 

*Supporting those interested in equine therapy

Our deep desire at Mirador Retreats is that anyone with interest in equine therapy would be able to access this support. We currently offer veterans and first responders equine therapy retreats at 1/2 price. If you believe in this treatment opportunity and would like to donate to the fund to help provide for clients and horses, please do. We would like to hear your heart behind your interest, so please call us and we will make it happen. Please note that Mirador Retreats is not a nonprofit. However, we will give you a letter acknowledging your gift with extreme gratitude from the equines and future clients!

Insurance

I am an out-of-network provider on most plans. It is always helpful to call your carrier and clarify their reimbursement for an ‘out-of-network’ provider on your plan. I will give you a super-bill reflecting this therapy as an individual appointment that you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement.

My TRAINING & experience

As a professional specializing in peoples’ stories and their relationships with others, combining my professional counseling training with horses has always been on my radar. 

The therapeutic benefit of horses has been around since the dawn of time, and scientific research now supports this finding.  I began my journey with horses at age 10, and began my professional journey with clients in my early 20’s. As my professional specialties honed in on anxiety, conflict, and trauma, my desire to incorporate horses into treatment has grown over the past 30 years.  Read my complete set of credentials here.

There are so many to whom I owe thanks, influencing and teaching me, both past and present. Here is just a handful of those to whom I am grateful: 

  • Cindy Girdis and Sandpaper: my first teachers

  • Path Int’l, ESMHL certification; ongoing education and training (thank you!)

  • NCEFT, Woodside, CA,(thank you Board and Dad)

  • ONSITE WORKSHOPS, Cumberland Furnace, TN, (thank you Megan Repass)  

  • LITTLE BITS, Redmond, WA (thank you staff)    

  •  Raven Rock Ranch, Redmond, WA,  (thank you Sandy Matts) 

  • Hearts and Horses Therapeutic Riding Center (thank you PATH trainers)  

  • Rob and Debbie Fisher, Hope for Heroes Equine Therapy Consulting

  • Leigh Shambo - The Listening Heart

  • Sharon Wilsie & Gretchen Vogel - Horse Speak

Ready to get started? I look forward to hearing from you!