Say equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP) to people and they instantly think assisted riding. However, EAP is in fact much more than that. EAP is an experiential form of therapy using rescue horses to help veterans use metaphors to recover from PTSD through participating in activities with the horses. It has been proven to help Veterans recover and develop the ability to make future plans, belief in their capabilities, strengths/assess and generally in themselves, develop the ability to communicate feelings and thoughts openly, develop new skills in problem solving and an ability to cope effectively with intense emotions and behaviors.

Why horses? Horses have a unique ability to read and immediately respond to human verbal and non-verbal communications. With this the horse acts as a mirror for the human participant and they possess an effective ability to confront the fears, releasing grief, managing addictions, communicating more clearly, increasing the ability to trust again and other issues. Through a series of activities (using rescued horses) constructed by the equine specialist and the psychologist present, the horses and humans interact on the ground in a powerful, emotion-eliciting experience. It is the participant's interpretation of the interaction that is the catalyst for change.

EAP has been in use for at least thirty years and numerous studies have proven it is more powerfully and efficiently change-making than traditional talk therapy. This allows the veterans an opportunity to not just sit and talk about how to manage their fear and other emotions but they actually get to do something to manage them. Numbed emotions are often elicited and coping styles are developed through these experiences. Change occurs more quickly and more profoundly. EAP offers an experiential alternative that achieves a deep personal awareness and allows the veteran to devise new ways of interacting during the experience.
No previous knowledge of horses is necessary. They are a mirror to yourselves, they are there to teach you.