Equine Psychotherapy
Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy
Gestalt therapy starts with nature. Its inspiration and basic principles are taken from looking at free functioning in nature, in our body, and in our healthy spontaneous behaviour." —Latner, 1973
"Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy (GEP) integrates horses, and therefore nature, into the therapeutic process. Horses bring desire for relationship without prejudice, seeking contact and congruence as the only criteria for the creation of emotional intimacy.
Nature exemplifies awareness and presence, providing an opening for us to move into contact and connection in the way we are designed, unburdened by layers of familial, societal, and systemic introjects.
Horses and nature therefore allow the opportunity to re-create our original attachment with ourselves, environment, and others when we have experienced emotional injury, relational rupture and/or loss.
Holding ‘I-Thou’ with the utmost respect, working to support growth in relationship, deepening contact, and inspiring creative choice are core tenets of this therapy."
— Duey Freeman, MA LPC & Kimberly Rose, M.Ed NCC
Sessions for Individuals and Couples
Psychotherapy with horses is a relational, experiential, full-body (physical, mental, emotional, energetic, spiritual) therapeutic approach that is especially effective for working with relationships, attachment, development, trauma and the nervous system in its full spectrum. This therapy uses the collaborative, intuitive, and spontaneous exchange between a registered (dually qualified) therapist, horses, land and the client(s).
Horses have evolved over thousands of years alongside humans, and they occupy a particular place in the human heart and psyche. Being present with horses naturally invites us to quiet the mind, expand our awareness, connect with our senses, and wake up to the immediate moment. Horses are living demonstrations of interconnectedness; they inspire us to be more spacious and to experience ourselves fully, and they offer corrective experiences of nourishment, safety and aliveness.
Each session looks different depending on the needs of the human and the horse(s) we are working with -- any given session may involve simply being on the land with a horse(s) while working through a part of your story; other times we will directly explore relationships patterns and build skills by including a horse or herd, along with experiences of contact, support, and challenge. Most equine psychotherapy is done solely from the ground with no mounted work necessary. Occasionally, there are times when being held completely by a horse is a profoundly healing experience.
Workshops & Intensives
3 DAY HORSE & LAND IMMERSION
Whether you’re seeking to address anxiety, tend to unfinished business, work with traumatic patterns, find more emotional and energetic balance, get closer to your intuitive self, build embodied self-confidence, or simply find peace in a hectic world, our intentional time together on the land and with horses will support and enrich your growth, healing, and wellbeing. This land-based intensive weaves together the healing and enlivening presence of horses in a transformative container of natural beauty, skillful guidance, self-discovery, direct experience, and growth.
NEXT DATE: April 17-19 2026
ECUADOR: Womens+ Intensive Retreat: 7-day In-Person land-based depth-work experience
Uncover and transform the patterns that prevent you from being in your utmost integrity in the potency of the Ecuadorian mountains, jungles, and rivers.
TWO RETREATS UPCOMING:
Dates: Oct 19-Oct 25, 2026 AND Mar 15 - Mar 21, 2027
Teaching & Mentorship
I offer training in Gestalt Therapy and Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy and mentorship/supervision for therapists and coaches.