Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Healing Through Connection, Nature, and Somatic Wisdom
At Artemis Behavioral Health, we believe that healing often requires more than what can be contained within four walls. While traditional talk therapy is a vital tool, some trauma and emotional experiences are held deep within the body, beyond the reach of language alone. Our Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) program offers a transformative, somatic-based approach to mental health, inviting you to step out of the office and into a living, breathing partnership with our horsey partners.
Led by Katie Oberg, MSW, LCSW, a therapist specializing in PTSD and chronic illness management, our equine services are designed to be LGBTQIA+ inclusive, disability-affirming, and deeply rooted in the neurobiology of trauma. We invite you to discover how the gentle, honest presence of a horse can help you navigate the complexities of depression, anxiety, and life’s most difficult transitions.
What is Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy?
Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy is a clinical modality that incorporates horses into the therapeutic process. Unlike therapeutic riding or basic horsemanship, EAP is focused on emotional and psychological growth rather than riding skills. At Artemis Behavioral Health, these sessions are facilitated by a licensed mental health professional who guides the interaction between client and horse to address specific clinical goals.
The horse serves as a co-facilitator, offering immediate, non-judgmental feedback on your internal state. Because horses are prey animals, they are biologically wired to be hyper-aware of their environment and the physiological changes in those around them. If you are feeling anxious, even if you are trying to hide it, a horse will sense the tension in your body and respond accordingly. This "mirroring" allows for a unique, real-time exploration of your emotional patterns and somatic responses.
Our Clinical Philosophy: Trauma-Informed and Neurobiology-Rooted
The core mission of Artemis Behavioral Health is to deliver evidence-based, trauma-informed care using interventions that respect the nervous system. Our EAP services are an extension of this mission, focusing on several key pillars:
Somatic Interventions
Trauma often leaves the nervous system in a state of hyper-arousal (fight/flight) or hypo-arousal (freeze/faint). Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy is inherently somatic—it involves the body. By engaging in ground-based activities with a horse, you are forced to be present in your body. This helps bridge the gap between cognitive understanding and physical regulation, allowing you to practice staying grounded and "within your window of tolerance" in a safe, supportive environment.
Disability-Affirming Care
We are committed to maintaining a disability-affirming environment. We recognize that traditional clinical settings can sometimes feel inaccessible or restrictive. The farm location provides a different sensory experience that can be adapted to meet various needs. Our goal is to reduce barriers to accessing high-quality mental health services, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to experience the benefits of equine therapy. Our beautiful barn facility offers highly accessible parking and amenities that are accommodating to a variety of needs.
LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Environment
Artemis Behavioral Health is a woman-owned business dedicated to providing a culturally competent and inclusive space for the LGBTQIA+ community. We understand the unique stressors and traumas that can arise from marginalized identities. Our equine program is a "come as you are" space where authenticity is celebrated and the therapeutic relationship is built on mutual respect and safety.
Who We Serve: Specialized Support for Children, Teens and Adults
Our practice focuses on teenagers and adults seeking specialized support for complex mental health challenges. Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy can be particularly effective for:
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PTSD and Complex Trauma: Working with horses helps survivors of trauma re-establish a sense of safety and agency. The non-verbal nature of horses allows for processing trauma without the immediate pressure to recount every detail.
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Chronic Illness Management: Living with chronic illness often involves a sense of betrayal by one's own body. EAP helps clients rebuild a compassionate connection with their physical selves and find strength through the rhythmic, grounding presence of the horse.
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Anxiety and Depression: Horses provide a powerful external focus that can help break the cycle of rumination. The requirement to be "present" for the horse helps alleviate symptoms of anxiety and provides a sense of accomplishment that can combat depressive states.
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Neurodivergent Clients: For those who find traditional eye-to-eye talk therapy overwhelming, the side-by-side nature of working with horses can feel much more comfortable and regulated.
Meet Our Horsey Partners
Our "horsey partners" are more than just animals; they are sentient beings with their own unique personalities and histories. Each horse at our farm location has been carefully selected for their temperament and their ability to engage in clinical work. During your sessions, you will have the opportunity to build a relationship with these animals based on trust, boundaries, and communication.
This is Janet, our Queen Bee therapy horse that has been offering her compassion and wisdom to trauma survivors in western NY since 2023.
Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy sessions at Artemis Behavioral Health typically take place at our designated farm location in Western New York.
Our sessions are designed to be flexible and accommodate your therapeutic needs. While individual sessions are the most common format, we also offer both group and family sessions. All activities are ground-based—meaning there is no riding involved—and may include grooming, leading, or simply observing our horses in the pasture. Each session lasts for 60 minutes, mirroring our standard clinical hour, and takes place at our serene farm location, providing a welcome, natural escape from the traditional clinical office.
A typical session begins with a check-in with your therapist. From there, you will transition to working with one of the horses. You might spend the session simply observing the horse’s behavior and reflecting on how it relates to your own feelings, or you might engage in a specific task designed to highlight themes of communication or boundary-setting. Every session is tailored to your specific therapeutic goals and your comfort level on that day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need horse experience?
Absolutely not. No previous experience with horses is required. In fact, many clients have never been near a horse before their first session. We will teach you everything you need to know about safety and basic horse behavior.
Will I be riding the horse?
Most of our therapeutic work is done from the ground. Ground-based work allows for the most honest and effective communication between human and horse, which is the core of the therapeutic process.
If you end up loving the experience so much you want to spend even more time with horses, we are able to connect you to additional services including therapy-assisted riding lessons. If you’re interested in this option, talk to your therapist.
What should I wear?
Safety is our priority. You should wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes (boots or sneakers) and clothes that you don't mind getting a little dirty. Because sessions are outdoors at the farm, please dress for the current Western New York weather.
How do I get started?
The first step is a consultation to ensure that Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy is the right fit for your needs. We offer sessions Monday through Friday, with some weekend days by special request, and do our best to accommodate various schedules.
Start Your Journey Today
If you are looking for a way to deepen your healing process and find a more regulated, authentic version of yourself, we invite you to explore Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy at Artemis Behavioral Health. Whether you are managing chronic illness, navigating PTSD, or simply seeking a more somatic approach to therapy, our horsey partners and trauma-informed team are here to support you.
Contact Katie or Alexis at Artemis Behavioral Health to schedule an initial consultation, and reference the Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy program. Reach out today to learn more about our upcoming equine offerings in WNY.