Join the Adventure!
Connected Growth & Wellness offers Workshops, Classes and
Group and Individual Equine Assisted Counseling Opportunities
You can help us help horses and people.
This Fall we will be partnering with a nonprofit to help continue to make it possible for Arabian and Half-Arabian sport horses with injuries and medical issues to semi-retire to “the dream life.” Here at our program, they still have a job, as many of them thrive on having purpose and direction, but also get to live the life of luxury while they help people heal. Thanks to our incredible supporters, they have key amenities like tack professionally fitted to them, a Bemer blanket and cuff set for daily use, soaked food curated and customized by an equine nutritionist, and all the hugs and snuggles from humans and other horses that they could want in a day.
There is no greater privilege than watching a horse help a human heal, or vice versa. As program supporters, we get a firsthand seat to the progress new program horses are making as they settle into a new lifestyle, complete their therapeutic riding training and tests, and receive top of the line veterinary care and customized nutrition. For example, here is adorable NSH National Champion Hunter “Fitz" beginning his new life on his first day of therapy horse school!
Or did you come to this page because you are seeking equine assisted counseling for yourself?
You’re in the right place if you want deeply rooted change through therapy.
You want something different from talk therapy, and you want a seasoned expert guiding you. You want something that works. This model is a good fit for you if:
Nature and animals seem to ground you and bring you peace
You prefer in-person, interactive therapy
You learn by practicing and experiencing, rather than hearing
Our equine facilitated therapy program was created with you in mind! We can’t wait to help you reach your goals and enjoy the journey.
We specialize in hope and connection.
Our horses are trained to provide humans with helpful feedback, experiential learning and gentle care.
With three locations available this Fall, we hope you will join us in Mason, Lansing or East Lansing to learn and grow.
How Our Counseling
& Sport Psychology Approach Works
With Licensed and Certified Providers Only
Our program brings decades of experience with horses, PATH Intl training, experiential learning, Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing, Solution Focused Brief Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Our potential clients report that there are a lot of options out there, but that we are one of the only options in the area that uses PATH’s best practice of a licensed mental health professional and certified equine specialist (or a therapist that has both credentials) in our sessions. PATH is the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International, the organization that has set the standard since its inception in 1969. PATH International currently serves over 60,000 participants per year and we are proud to utilize its model and be a part of an organization that promotes safety, expertise, fun, learning, growth, excellence and professionalism.
Equine Facilitated Therapists and Holistic Therapists at Connected Growth & Wellness offer one-time workshops and weekly sessions which can help you find wellness and balance…
with anxiety
with ADHD
with depression
with binge eating disorder
with PTSD
with parenting
with life transitions
with grief and loss
with focus
with self esteem
with motivation and countless other issues, too!
With a connected horse and a trained therapist to help,
you don’t have to try to figure things out on your own anymore.
We want to help you experience contentment
and live a life that isn’t defined by fear.
Begin your journey toward hope and change here
with our Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) Program.
**Please note that we currently have a waiting list for slots in our equine facilitated therapy program**
We are in the process, however, of training twelve new therapeutic instructors, some who are also licensed therapists, to expand availability statewide.
Anyone wanting to begin as soon as we have an opening should book an initial consult now - please email our office now to reserve that appointment.
FAQs about EFP
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It depends on the service. Most services range between $165 for a short session to $695 for an intensive retreat. Occasionally health insurance companies offer coverage, please contact our office if you'd like to see if yours does or if any scholarship-based services are currently available.
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No! We welcome clients ranging from experienced riders to those who have never met a horse.
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Most often, no. Occasionally, treatment plans will include methods like rhythmic riding or bilateral stimulation on top of the horse, but those are less frequent and most of our EFP work is unmounted.
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The stables where we offer EFP also offer riding lessons, and we can connect you with an instructor there if you’d like.
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Therapeutic riding is focused on riding a horse to improve social, emotional and physiological goals. Students with medical or mental health needs may qualify for therapeutic riding instead of equine therapy, and you are welcome to contact us at hello@michigan-emdr.com to discuss.
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Our equine facilitated learning classes might be the best option for you! Click here to learn about those current offerings. Please note that the group offerings are not currently covered by health insurance, but we are working on exploring that option.
This month we are featuring two of our wonderful tack and equipment sponsors.
Thanks to Horses Haven for the gifts of blankets, sheets, turnout rugs and blanket liners for our therapy horses! This will help them stay warm and comfortable outside and inside in the Fall and Winter seasons ahead.
Thanks to Brightside Used Tack and Consignment LLC for the gifts of dressage saddle pads and bell boots for our PATH Intl “Principles of Therapeutic Riding” Instructor Training Class, which will help our certification candidates as many of them prepare to start new programs across the Midwest.
Sometimes it feels like climbing a mountain to outfit horses of unique shapes and sizes (we tend to get the special ones!) and our community has been exceptional in helping make sure everyone has everything they need. One of our horses even has his own personal Fairy Godmother! If you’d like to sponsor a horse, or “adopt” one for this holiday season (which gives you access to photos, videos and updates on a weekly basis, and a chance to come visit them in person!), please email us.