Experience the healing power of horses.
Are you looking for a different kind of therapy? Step out of the office and into the paddock to reconnect with yourself and nature with equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP).
Experience the healing power of horses.
Sessions available in the Ajax/Pickering area of Durham Region · All activities are ground-based (no riding)
About Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)
Not your typical therapy session.
Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is an experiential form of therapy where horses assist as a supplement or standalone to mental health treatment. Guided by a licensed mental health professional and an equine facilitator (who in some cases may be the same person), EAP offers a unique, ground-based approach to traditional talk therapy.
- No previous horse experience is required and no riding is involved. All activities take place on the ground.
Why horses?
Horses are prey animals and the most perceptive of all domestic animals. They have an amazing ability to perceive not only danger, but the tone of voice and emotions of humans. Studies show that horses can interpret a human’s face with their emotional state. They can also pick up on our breathing, heart rate, stress level, and overall mood.
Horses also posses many mirror neurons, a specific class of brain cells. This means they are able to recognize and empathize with emotion in other living things. Humans have mirror neurons too. They’re responsible for our reactions when we see others experiencing things we might feel as well, like second-hand embarrassment, feeling sad when others cry, or getting scared when you watch a horror movie.
Horses’ unique attunement to body language, emotional energy, and subtle behavioral shifts offer an immediate, non-judgmental mirror for our inner experiences.
EAP Provides...
Immediate Emotional Feedback:
Horses reflect human emotional states in real time. If you are anxious, guarded, or assertive, the horse’s reaction helps reveal your unconscious feelings and body language patterns.
Enhanced Emotional Regulation:
Interacting with a 1,000-pound animal naturally invites grounding and mindfulness, helping you learn to manage heightened stress and anxiety.
Non-Verbal Skill Building:
EAP focuses heavily on non-verbal communication, assertiveness, setting boundaries, and personal space—all helpful tools for your everyday life.
Safe Experiential Learning:
Rather than just talking about challenges, you’ll work through real-time tasks with the horse—grooming, leading, or navigating ground-based obstacle courses—building practical problem-solving skills and self-confidence.
What can EAP help with?
EAP is highly adaptable and benefits youth, adults, and families addressing a wide range of mental health challenges:
Trauma and PTSD:
Building a safe, non-verbal environment to restore feelings of safety, trust, and healthy control.
Anxiety and Depression:
Promoting somatic grounding, present-moment awareness, and mood regulation.
Substance Use Recovery:
Fostering self-awareness, accountability, and healthy coping mechanisms to handle emotional triggers.
ADHD and Neurodivergence:
Enhancing focus, sensory integration, emotional boundaries, and social interaction skills.
Life Transitions and Grief:
Offering a comforting, non-judgmental partner to help process complex loss or identity changes.
Meet Your Therapist and Facilitator: Laura Boyko, MSW RSW, M.Ed.
I’m Laura Boyko, founder of BeWell Therapy. I’m a certified Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) facilitator through Dreamwinds and an Equine Assisted Psychotherapist certified through both Natural Lifemanship and OK Corral. I blend over 25 years of mental health experience with specialized equine training, providing a safe, compassionate space for clients to connect with horses and experience deep emotional healing.
Location and Booking
Sessions are conveniently available at partner stables in the Ajax/Pickering area of Durham Region.
Take the First Step
Ready to explore how equine assisted therapy can support your mental health journey?
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