It’s true that sometimes with time we are able to integrate, heal and move forward. But some experiences may continue to impact you no matter how much time has passed if left untreated. This is often the case when our experiences impact our core beliefs about ourselves and the world. You’ll know if this is the case if you notice patterns in your life, such as not feeling good enough, repeatedly choosing partners who are not a good fit for you, or when overwhelming or upsetting emotions persist over time. The good news is therapy can help!

The cost of Counselling/Psychotherapy is comparable with what other similar regulated health care professionals are charging for services. It's just as important to take care of your mental health as it is to take care of your physical health. There are things you can do to help mitigate the cost of counselling, such as spreading out sessions and budgeting carefully. You can also discuss alternative counselling options with your counsellor.

Prolonging treatment when you’re not feeling well can lead to burnout and things getting worse; thus requiring more intensive treatment approaches (and more money) in the long run). Early intervention and ongoing maintenance can help keep you feeling good and prevent bigger challenges down the road.

There is no more important investment than in yourself. When you feel good, you’re better able to manage stressors at home, at work, and in your personal life.

We’ve grown up in a society where asking for help is sometimes perceived as a sign of weakness, as though we should be able to do everything ourselves all of the time. But this expectation isn’t realistic – All of us need a hand sometimes.

Let’s consider these examples:

Example 1: You’re an employer and you changed the password in the system, but forgot to tell your employees. So when they logged in they were denied access to your system. Would you prefer an employee come to ask you for help, or would you prefer the employee continue to enter random passwords until they lock the whole system and it needs to be reset again, or worse a safety feature deletes all of your data? Often when we don’t ask for help when we need it, it ends up making things harder in the long run.

Example 2: I don’t fix my car myself. It’s not that I can’t do it, but it would take a lot of time and effort for me to learn how to do fix my car when there are experts in this field who can do it much faster and much more efficiently. I also feel more confident driving knowing that someone experienced is the one doing the work on my car.

Reality is that it takes a bit of self-confidence and courage to ask for help when we need it, but asking for help can often save us a lot of time, hassle and effort in the long run. Being self-aware enough to know when you need some support is a strength. It’s smart to ask for help when you need it. It’s a more effective and efficient way of getting things done.

There is a myth out there that therapy is “just talking,” and that people go to therapy to vent about what’s happening in their lives and then they leave. The truth is, therapy is much more than just talking about what’s happening in your life.

Sometimes when we’re struggling we tell the same story over and over again. We do this because it’s upsetting us and we’re not sure how to get passed it. But this kind of talking isn't always helpful. 

If you have developed a good relationship with your therapist, then your counselling/psychotherapy session may feel like you’re “just talking“ to a friend. But your therapist is trained to help you explore your thoughts, feelings, and actions, examine situations from different perspectives, draw connections between events that you may not have previously seen and teach strategies and skills to help you integrate your experiences, feel better, and reach your goals.

Good friends are so important, but sometimes, despite their best efforts, they don’t know how to support you. And sometimes they have other things happening in their lives that make it difficult for them to focus on what you’re going through.

Your therapist is skilled in supporting people through challenging life events and situations. Your therapy session is protected time in a safe space where the conversation is 100% about you and your needs.

It may be true that in the past men have been encouraged to avoid their emotions and act as though nothing is bothering them. We’re learning now that this approached has caused a lot of problems for a lot of people. Men’s mental health is finally taking the spot light and more and more men are recognizing the benefits of seeking support during challenging times. It’s okay if you’re not sure how to process or manage your emotions, we’ll help you. It’s okay if you’re scared, we will move at your pace. It’s okay if you’re not ready to tell anyone you’re going to therapy just yet, we respect your privacy and your decision.

When working with the horses the therapy is so experiential that it’s easy to get caught up in the activities. We’ve found that a regular 50 minute session is just not enough time, but the 75 minutes allows the session to be meaningful without feeling rushed. Even at 75 minutes, most clients are left wishing they had more time with horses.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is $265 for a standard 1.5 hour appointment (1.5 hours includes a 75 minute session and 15 minutes for notes & clean up).

There is also a 1 hour (50 minute) session option for $210 for children who may not be able to focus for the full 75 minutes. 

Yes, horses can pick up on the emotions of others, so if you’re feeling anxious, they may become anxious as well. Your counsellor will support you in learning how to manage your anxious feelings and teach you strategies for calming down, as well as what to do if the horse that you’re working with becomes anxious during the session. It is because horses are able to pick up on our emotions that working with them is so helpful. They will often show us exactly how we’re feeling, even if we’re not sure ourselves, and this can help us to recognize our emotions, take care of ourselves, and ultimately heal over time.

There are a number of different activities that we can do with the horses to help facilitate learning, healing, and growth. All of the activities are ground activities, meaning that we will be standing on the ground – You will not be riding the horses. We will engage in activities such as grooming the horses, spending time with them, leading them, and doing different obstacles courses. These activities become therapeutic as we incorporate opportunities for you to express your feelings, reflect on challenges, practice emotion regulation techniques, implement different psychotherapy models, learn strategies for connecting with others, and learn how to live more authentically yourself.

There is no riding involved in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. All of the time that we spend with horses is on the ground – Leading, grooming, etc. If you are interested in riding, we can refer you to the barn manager at the stable to set up riding lessons.

Please ask each time before feeding any of the horses and make sure that your therapist is present. This is for your safety as well as the safety and wellbeing of the horses.

Great question! The most important thing is that you make sure you wear appropriate footwear. Wear boots or hard-toed shoes to protect your feet in case a horse steps on your toes. No sandals, moccasins, tennis shoes, or going barefoot. You will not be permitted to work directly with the horses if you don’t have proper footwear.

If you have long hair, make sure it is braided or tied up, and avoid wearing jewelry.

Dress for the weather. If it’s hot outside, remember to bring sun tan lotion, water, bug spray, and a hat. If it’s cold outside, dress in layers and dress warmly because it can be cold in the barn.

Do not wear dresses or lose fitted clothing that may get caught or tangled.

Remember that you’re going to a barn, so dress comfortably in clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty.

No. If it is necessary for a family member to wait on site for you while you are in your session, they will be required to wait in the in their car until the session is over.

Family members are not able to roam the property or interact with the horses without a facilitator present for safety reasons.

As is to be expected, there are inherent dangers in working around horses. These horses have been trained and there are safety precautions in place, however it is not possible to make Equine Assisted Psychotherapy 100% safe. Horses are prey animals that sometimes become startled. They may step on toes, flee, kick, bite, or push you aside if they become fearful. Prior to beginning Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, your counsellor will review how to read horse behaviour and other safety guidelines with you. Wearing proper footwear and following the safety guidelines will help to keep you safe when working with the horses.

No previous horse experience is required to participate in Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy. Your counsellor will review a number of safety guidelines with you prior to beginning to working with the horses. She will also teach you how to interact with the horses and will tailor your sessions to your needs and comfort level.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is provided by a mental health professional who has a minimum of a master’s degree and is regulated by a professional college. Since psychotherapy is a regulated act, those trained to provide psychotherapy are required to have ongoing training and supervision in addition to abiding by their respective college’s code of ethics and best practices. Social workers, psychotherapists, psychologists, and other regulated mental health professionals may be qualified to provide psychotherapy if they have met the training and experience requirements. This means that they are qualified and permitted to support people who are struggling with mental health challenges, in addition to other day to day struggles that arise.

Equine Assisted Learning is not a regulated and thus there are no prerequisites to become an Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator. They often focus on other areas of personal development, such as team building and learning specific skills.