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Equine-Assisted Therapy Programs

Equine-assisted therapy involves guided interactions with horses to promote emotional growth, self-awareness, communication skills, and trust-building in addiction recovery. Horses provide non-judgmental feedback and opportunities for healing.

Found 300 treatment centers offering equine therapy across the United States.

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Showing 6 of 300 equine therapy treatment centers

Sage Recovery and Wellness Center

Sage Recovery and Wellness Center, located in Austin, TX, presents a variety of thorough addiction recovery programs designed for both adults and minors. The center focuses on dual diagnosis treatment for individuals facing both substance use and mental health challenges. Offering intensive outpatient, outpatient, and standard outpatient services, the facility employs customized methods that feature 12-step support, anger management strategies, and brief intervention methods. With dedicated programs aimed at teenagers and young adults, Sage Recovery and Wellness Center addresses the needs of a wide array of age groups. The center prioritizes individualized care, welcoming clients of all genders and promoting a nurturing atmosphere for those on their path to recovery.

Riverwalk Ranch
Mansfield, TX

Riverwalk Ranch, located in Mansfield, TX, delivers extensive treatment options for adults and young adults facing challenges related to substance use and concurrent mental health issues. The center features tailored programs for active duty military personnel, adult males, and adult females, offering hospital-based inpatient detox and treatment in a nurturing atmosphere. By employing techniques such as 12-step programs, anger management, and brief interventions, the facility aims to offer personalized, high-quality care. Whether individuals are in need of detoxification, assistance with substance use, or support for co-occurring disorders, Riverwalk Ranch ensures efficient and empathetic care for all clients.

Saint Genevieve

Saint Genevieve in Clute, TX, offers specialized substance abuse rehabilitation for adults and young adults. Their outpatient programs include medication-assisted treatment with methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone, alongside personalized counseling for addiction disorders. This facility is dedicated to a tailored treatment strategy, serving both men and women in their pursuit of effective recovery. Saint Genevieve's strength lies in its all-encompassing and personalized method to addiction care, ensuring each person receives expert attention and compassionate support.

Santa Maria Hostel Inc

Located in Houston, TX, Santa Maria Hostel Inc specializes in addiction treatment services tailored specifically for adult women. The center offers a range of services, including detoxification, treatment for substance use disorders, transitional living arrangements, and sober housing. Emphasizing 12-step programs, anger management techniques, and cognitive behavioral therapy, it effectively addresses the needs of clients dealing with both substance abuse and mental health challenges, including those who have faced trauma. The facility provides various treatment options such as intensive outpatient, long-term residential, and outpatient programs designed for adults of all ages, ensuring high-quality, gender-focused support for women in their recovery journey.

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River City Rehabilitation Center Inc, located in New Braunfels, TX, provides targeted substance abuse treatment services for both adults and young adults. The center offers various outpatient options, such as methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone therapies along with standard outpatient care. Emphasizing tailored treatment plans, they employ proven methods including 12-step programs, brief interventions, and cognitive behavioral techniques. River City Rehabilitation Center is particularly attentive to the needs of adult men and women, offering gender-specific programs that foster a nurturing atmosphere for all clients. If you are seeking effective addiction recovery in a caring environment, this facility is an excellent choice for thorough and individualized support.

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River City Rehabilitation Center Inc. in San Antonio, TX, delivers targeted outpatient services for individuals battling substance use disorders. Their comprehensive approach encompasses various treatment modalities such as medication-assisted treatment with methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone, standard outpatient care, and support through 12-step facilitation. Employing strategies like brief intervention and cognitive behavioral therapy, the center supports adults, including young adults, and offers gender-specific programming. River City Rehabilitation Center is dedicated to providing effective and individualized care for adults pursuing recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Equine Therapy

Equine-assisted therapy (also called equine-assisted psychotherapy or equine-facilitated therapy) involves guided interactions with horses to promote emotional growth, self-awareness, and healing in addiction recovery. Facilitated by licensed mental health professionals and equine specialists working together, this experiential approach provides unique opportunities for insight, trust-building, and personal transformation.

Why Horses?

Horses are large, powerful prey animals with highly developed social awareness and sensitivity to emotional states. They respond authentically to human emotions and energy, providing immediate, honest feedback without judgment or hidden agendas. Horses mirror human emotional states, react to incongruence between words and feelings, and respond to genuine, calm presence. This makes them powerful partners in therapeutic work.

Therapeutic Activities

Equine therapy sessions might include:

  • Grooming and Care: Calming, meditative activities building relationship and responsibility
  • Leading Exercises: Navigating obstacles together, practicing boundaries and clear communication
  • Liberty Work: Allowing horse to choose whether to connect, exploring themes of trust and relationship
  • Ground Exercises: Activities addressing specific therapeutic goals like teamwork, patience, or emotional awareness
  • Observation and Reflection: Discussing experiences and insights applicable to recovery

What Equine Therapy Addresses

Working with horses helps develop trust (essential for recovery relationships), set healthy boundaries, communicate authentically, regulate emotions, build confidence and self-efficacy, practice responsibility and consistency, develop patience and present-moment awareness, and process trauma in experiential rather than purely verbal ways. Metaphors from horse interactions apply directly to recovery challenges and relationships.

No Horse Experience Needed

Equine therapy typically occurs on the ground without riding. No previous horse experience is required or expected. Professional equine specialists ensure safety, teach necessary skills, and work alongside therapists. Initial nervousness around horses often becomes therapeutic itself - learning to manage fear, ask for support, and build confidence through gradual exposure and successful interactions.

Integration in Treatment Programs

Equine therapy works best integrated into comprehensive treatment programs alongside traditional therapies like CBT, individual counseling, group therapy, and other evidence-based approaches. The experiential, outdoor, nature-based format provides balance to office-based talk therapy. Many find equine therapy uniquely powerful for accessing emotions and insights difficult to reach through conversation alone.

Equine therapy resources:

Medically ReviewedUpdated: January 2026
Sources:SAMHSANIDACDC

Need immediate help? Call SAMHSA: 1-800-662-4357 (24/7, free)