Question 1

Where is Horses & Heroes located?

Accepted Answer

We are currently located in Leavenworth County, just north of Basehor, Kansas

Question 2

Do I need to have horse experience to participate?

Accepted Answer

No horse experience is required to participate in equine-assisted services.

Question 3

What is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)

Accepted Answer

EAP is a mental health practice of incorporating horses into the counseling session.
All sessions are ground-based (No riding), solution-focused, with a licensed, qualified and certified team.
Our horses are rescued or have been donated and come with their own stories of trauma, abuse, and neglect.
EAP is unlike traditional therapy in that we are outdoors, doing instead of sitting, observing the horses and allowing each person to make their own interpretations and solutions.

Question 4

Who does Horses & Heroes serve?

Accepted Answer

​​​​​​​We work with veterans and active military (any status - combat and non-combat), first responders (active or retired), and their families. We offer confidential counseling sessions. Eligible participants can attend up to 8 session hours at no cost. After those 8 sessions, there are additional options to continue services, which can be discussed with your treatment team.
 
For more information, give us a call at 913-210-5678 or email us at info@horsesandheroes.org.

Question 5

What kind of sessions do you offer?

Accepted Answer

We offer individual, couple, and family sessions. We also offer group and corporate sessions. For more information, give us a call at 913-210-5678 or email us at info@horsesandheroes.org.

Question 6

Why do you use horses?

Accepted Answer

We allow our team of horses to simply be themselves and this is what makes them wonderful co-therapists.  We are often asked if we have trained them to do or respond in certain ways, but we don’t.  What you get from a horse is their natural and authentic response to you.  Horses are very in tune with their environment, always aware of threat and safety so they also pick up on what is going on in us. It is like a mirror reflecting how real or disguised a person is, how congruent or incongruent.  
They assist our therapy in many ways, but a few common ones include: 
Helping clients to regulate emotions and energy by calming and grounding
Teaching clients to communicate clearly and effectively
In the face of a large and powerful animal they teach clients how to build trust and feel more confident and empowered.  
A horse’s ability to give honest and direct feedback helps to increase insight and self-awareness.  
Also, by combining all the elements of nature, equine-assisted work, and psychotherapy you will have an experience that engages your entire body and brain which is a highly effective way to process difficult experiences and learn new ways of being.

Question 7

What concerns do you treat?

Accepted Answer

​​​​​​​We effectively treat anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, communication problems, behavioral issues, anger, grief, life transitions, and traumatic and chronic stress.
 
For more information, give us a call at 913-210-5678 or email us at info@horsesandheroes.org.

Question 8

What can I expect from counseling sessions with Horses & Heroes?

Accepted Answer

There is a 3-Part Introductory Group that is required before individual sessions can begin. 
The Intro Group covers the basics of horse safety and what the EAGALA model looks like in a session, familiarization with the facility, horses, and humans, and is the perfect opportunity to explore goals you'd like to address during your individual sessions.
The Intro Group is not a therapy group; only skills-based topics (communication styles, etc) will be addressed during the Intro Group sessions.
Upon completion of the Intro Group, you will be eligible to proceed to individual therapy sessions. Counselors are assigned based on each participant's availability.
Sessions are held outdoors in a beautiful, calming setting surrounded by nature and fresh air. You will need to wear clothing and shoes (closed toe) acceptable for outdoor setting.  
They are co-facilitated by a licensed mental health professional and an EAGALA (Equine-Assisted Growth and Learning Association) certified equine specialist.  Your team also includes our horses. 
You will be interacting with the horses in a variety of ways (ground-based, no riding involved) to assist your treatment goals and learn about yourself, others, and how to heal and grow.  
 
For more information, give us a call at 913-210-5678 or email us at info@horsesandheroes.org.

Question 9

Will I get to ride a horse during my sessions?

Accepted Answer

Horses & Heroes follows a ground-based model so riding is not an option at this time.

Question 10

How can I trust you'll be able to understand my problems and provide beneficial help to me or my family?

Accepted Answer

We require our counselors and equine specialists to have knowledge and understanding of military and first responder cultures.  Our counselors are also trained in variety of mental health theories and interventions and have in-depth knowledge of traumatic and chronic stress.  Our program is trauma-informed, meaning the teams you work with understand trauma, its origins, symptoms, and how to prevent retraumatizing clients. 
For more information, give us a call at 913-210-5678 or email us at info@horsesandheroes.org.

Question 11

What if the problems I want counseling for aren't work, service, or combat related?

Accepted Answer

We will help you regardless of whether you think your concerns are related to your work or service.  It’s not always clear to people where their current distress is rooted, but we are here to help you uncover that and heal. Feel free to contact us and ask questions to determine if we are a good fit for your current concerns and goals.  
 
For more information, give us a call at 913-210-5678 or email us at info@horsesandheroes.org.

Question 12

How much will my sessions cost?

Accepted Answer

Thanks to the wonderful support from our private donors, grant funding, and corporate sponsors, equine sessions are free for military and first responder service members.

Question 13

What if someone else in my family wants counseling?

Accepted Answer

It can be very beneficial to include loved ones and members of your family in your therapy. Your sessions can be tailored to be individual, couples, or family.  For families and couples, equine-assisted counseling is very helpful in improving communication, learning to work together effectively, and increasing connection.
If you have a spouse/partner, or child/children that want services of their own, we offer a reduced rate of $75 per session. Those fees go back into the program to continue supporting our services.
For more information, give us a call at 913-210-5678 or email us at info@horsesandheroes.org.

Question 14

What if we are not affiliated with the military or first responder populations?

Accepted Answer

Fee-based Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is availabel to all through Bold Horse Solutions. Family-focused sessions from ages 4-80. www.BoldHorseSolutions.com or call 913-396-8064

Question 15

What do Group and/or Corporate sessions look like?

Accepted Answer

Corporate, clinical, and educational groups have found our services to be very beneficial in helping improve their work relationships by learning and practicing clear and healthy communication styles, increasing listening skills, building team cohesion, and creating connection. Clinical groups have also found that bringing patients to engage in EAP has increased insights into themselves, supported coping and grounding skills by real time practice, helped in emotion regulation and deeper expression and processing of concerns that they are working on in treatment.
Overall, we receive feedback that their patients, students, employees, etc. time in the arena supports and deepens the work they are already doing, making goals easier to achieve. 
For more information, give us a call at 913-210-5678 or email us at info@horsesandheroes.org.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Horses & Heroes located?

Do I need to have horse experience to participate?

What is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)

Who does Horses & Heroes serve?

What kind of sessions do you offer?

Why do you use horses?

What concerns do you treat?

What can I expect from counseling sessions with Horses & Heroes?

Will I get to ride a horse during my sessions?

How can I trust you'll be able to understand my problems and provide beneficial help to me or my family?

What if the problems I want counseling for aren't work, service, or combat related?

How much will my sessions cost?

What if someone else in my family wants counseling?

What if we are not affiliated with the military or first responder populations?

What do Group and/or Corporate sessions look like?

Don't see your questions listed? We want to answer them!

Contact us by calling 913-210-5678 or send us a message at info@horsesandheroes.org.

Click to read Strategic Plan Report

Subscribe to Our Blog

Frequently asked questions

Where is Horses & Heroes located?

Do I need to have horse experience to participate?

What is Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)

Who does Horses & Heroes serve?

What kind of sessions do you offer?

Why do you use horses?

What concerns do you treat?

What can I expect from counseling sessions with Horses & Heroes?

Will I get to ride a horse during my sessions?

How can I trust you'll be able to understand my problems and provide beneficial help to me or my family?

What if the problems I want counseling for aren't work, service, or combat related?

How much will my sessions cost?

What if someone else in my family wants counseling?

What if we are not affiliated with the military or first responder populations?

What do Group and/or Corporate sessions look like?

Don't see your questions listed? We want to answer them!

​

Contact us by calling 913-210-5678 or send us a message at info@horsesandheroes.org.

Click to read Strategic Plan Report

Subscribe to Our Blog