What actually is EAP?
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is a therapeutic approach involving interactions between individuals and horses to address mental health and behavioral challenges. It is a collaborative effort between a licensed mental health professional, an equine specialist and horse(s).
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With EAP, instead of only talking about what you're carrying, you have the option to move through it in real time on the ground with a horse, a licensed clinician and equine specialist beside you.
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Horses don't read your resume or your story. They respond to tension you're holding, the breath you're not taking, the part of you that's bracing. That honest, immediate feedback can help to surface things talk therapy can circle for months. And because it happens outdoors in the presence of a calm animal, your nervous system gets to practice steadiness instead of just discussing it.
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All of our work is ground-based. There is no riding, and you don't need to know a thing about horses to begin.
What your first time here looks like
In your first session you'll meet your clinician and equine specialist, settle into the space, and talk through what brought you here and what your goals are. From there, you'll spend unhurried time with the horses, guided every step of the way.
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You leave with a felt sense of what EAP entails and a clear picture of what continuing could look like.
There's no pressure to commit to anything beyond that first visit.
Practical details, so nothing is a surprise:
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Held on a quiet ranch in Brookshire, TX (exact location shared once you book your session)
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About an hour 1:1 - unhurried and fully focused on you
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A covered arena means weather rarely gets in the way
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Wear closed toe shoes and clothes you don't mind getting a little dusty
Who comes to Beacon Ranch?
This work tends to land for people who are:
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Carrying stress, anxiety or burnout that's lingered even in talk therapy
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Working through grief, trauma, or a major life transition
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Feeling stuck or talked out in traditional therapy
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Drawn to something experiential, outdoors, and hands on
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Curious about horses, even if they've never been near one
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You don't need a diagnosis or a clear reason. "Something feels off and I want a different kind of help" is how many of our clients start with us.
Who you'll work with
Every session follows the EAGALA evidence based model - the international gold standard for this work. That means you're never on your own out there and there will be structure in how the session is conducted. You'll have a licensed mental health professional and a certified equine specialist present for the entire session, plus the horses themselves.
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Sessions are led by Danielle Mitchell, EAGALA certified LPC with 20+ years experience in trauma informed care. Danielle is also a Registered Dietician and Functional Medicine Coach. These additional certifications allow her to provide add on services like NeuroWell+ Nutrigenomics Panel to support your body while you focus on your mind in EAP sessions.
All EAP work is supported by Rachel Clyde, equine specialist.
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The model moves through four simple movements: Observe, Relate, Move, Create. That give you real, practical tools for regulating your body, understanding what you feel, and connecting more honestly. It's evidence based, structured and intentional.
Rachel (left), Danielle (right)
How to start, and what it costs
The best first step is a free 15 minute call. We'll talk through what you're looking for, answer your questions, and make sure equine assisted work is the right fit for you before you book a session.
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Individual sessions are one hour, one-on-one: $350 each. Most clients commit to a series (we recommend 10) which brings the per session price down. 10 sessions is our clinical recommendation for most clients to make meaningful progress toward their goals.
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EAP is a therapeutic approach involving interactions between individuals and horses to address mental health and behavioral challenges. It is a collaborative effort between a licensed mental health professional, an equine specialist and horse(s). Fees provide the expertise of this collaborative team and help cover the cost of caring for the herd.
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Questions people ask
Is this group therapy? Your one on one sessions are private and built entirely around you. We also offer small-group EAP (up to 4 people) for those who want it. The two are separate - you choose.
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Do I need any experience with horses? None at all. Your equine specialist guides every interaction and keeps you and the horses safe the whole time.
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Will I be riding? No. All of our work is done on the ground. The EAGALA model we follow is ground-based only, there's no riding involved.
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What happens if the weather's bad? Sessions still run. The ranch has a covered arena, so rain rarely changes plans.
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What should I wear? Closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothes you don't mind getting a little dirty. Skip open-toed shoes, loose scarves, and strong perfume around the horses.
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How do I pay, and do you take insurance? Sessions are private pay and payment is collected when you book to hold your spot.
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What's your cancellation policy? We are happy to help you reschedule with 48 hours notice. All sessions paid in advance are non refundable.
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Who is this a good fit for? Anyone open to a hands on, outdoor kind of support: especially people working through stress, anxiety, grief, trauma, or transition, or who feel they've plateaued in talk therapy.
