Benefits Of Equine & Animal-Assisted Therapy

The counselor appears to be “safe” because the animals trust him/her so it is easier to build rapport which is a must in the therapeutic relationship.
Many problems can be addressed using the animals as examples instead of pointing them out through the client’s behaviors.
Animals have a calming effect and promote spontaneous change.
Animals can divert attention away from a client’s anxiety which gives the therapist the chance to work with the non-anxious client promoting faster healing.
Interacting with horses promotes awareness which is needed to change an undesirable behavior.
Horses teach in a way that is non-threatening.
Connecting with a horse can be easily transferred to developing a healthy relationship with a human.
Horses facilitate change and improve problem solving skills in children and adults.
The client can safely try out new behaviors in the presence of a non-judgmental horse.
Horses model healthy social connection for the client.
Since horses are large prey animals, they are very attuned to their environment which helps the client to be more attuned and grounded (parasympathetic nervous system).
Learning and healing occur in the parasympathetic nervous system which is why this modality is so powerful.
Interacting with horses in therapy promotes bilateral stimulation which improves brain integration & problem-solving skills.
At Skye Therapy we train you to be your own therapist so you don’t need a decade of therapy!
Free your body from trauma on a cellular level! Sometimes we don’t know we have experienced trauma but the body knows and stores it in our cells. The horses reopen this in a gentle way, allowing the body to relearn how to release the stored trauma through simple movements by moving with the horses in session.
Play techniques with the animals promote faster connections in the brain (Dr. Rise VanFleet).
Trauma blocks who we are while love and connection heals this -Frank Anderson!! That is why animal assisted therapy is so powerful because animals seek and form attachments with clients much faster than the clinician!

Specialized Training for Clinical excellence

Trained in Equid Nexus® Internal Family Systems™ (IFS informed) parts work with horses. A globally respected and highly sought-after training for therapists. This is an upper level training which requires a tremendous amount of time and effort to learn as it is more of an art form. We have found this modality speeds up the healing process.
Trained in play therapy techniques. We are professionally trained licensed therapists who are teaching your child how to use their brain properly. You may not see immediate differences because they happen gradually. For older children, we are helping them to learn how to facilitate some messages and inhibit others (mental filtering). We are also teaching them to direct certain messages to certain parts of the body/brain so they can be put to use.
Trained in Somatic Experiencing® (SE). This form of therapy is based on the idea that trauma is not only a psychological experience but also a physiological one that gets “stuck” in the nervous system when the body is unable to fully process a stressful or life-threatening event. Instead of focusing solely on the story of what happened, SE helps clients tune into the felt sense—the internal bodily sensations connected to their experience. This is a revolutionary treatment that works well for adults and children. When paired with animals the benefits increase.
Trained in Equine Somatic Pathways™ by Cara Gereau. This model incorporates a therapeutic and relational way of working with horses and humans to deepen the healing and connection with an emphasis on attachment and IFS parts work.
Trained in The Icarus Model® of equine assisted therapy by Jacqui Lauko. This is a sensory based model of non-mounted activities built on connection. This model was built for neurodivergent clients who struggle with anxiety, social connection and impulsivity.
Trained in Somatic Healing Yoga. We utilize this ancient form of healing infused with parts work to help people heal from chronic pain, psychological car accident trauma, chronic pain or horseback riding traumas.
Trained in eco art therapy techniques. This balances nature with art therapy. The clinician will guide you through art work inspired by nature to help develop insight into problematic thought patterns or behaviors.
Sensorimotor Therapy. This Improves gross and fine motor skills which have blocked the body from releasing preverbal or cellular trauma. This modality has shown improvement in some “blocks” that can interfere with learning and behavioral functioning. Skye Therapy has utilized this approach for over a decade, observing consistent therapeutic gains across diverse client populations.