- Membership based
- Ethics/Laws
- Conferences
- Articles
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- Networking
- CEUs
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Who We Are?
"Animals bless our lives. Celebrate and cherish the bond"
What Is Equine-Assisted Mental Health (EAMH)?
Equine-Assisted Mental Health (EAMH) is a specialized psychotherapy treatment that incorporates equines into the therapeutic environment. It is a form of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) that integrates the human–animal bond and relationship with a horse as part of treatment and recovery in psychotherapy.
Humans and horses have an ancient co-evolutionary relationship and have co-existed together in domestication for 6000 years. In modern era, since the 1990s to now EAMH treatment has been implemented in a multiplicity of ways across the USA and expanded over the world with diverse populations who have a variety of mental health disorders.
Since its inception the EAMH field has expanded to include dozens of terms, but most common are equine-related or equine-assisted services, equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFP), and equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP).
The Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) defines equine-assisted mental health as a form of experiential psychotherapy that is:
An interactive process in which a licensed mental health professional working with or as an appropriately credentialed equine professional partners with suitable equine(s) to address psychotherapy goals set forth by the mental health professional and the client. The equine is a critically important partner in the work of EFP. The equine’s prey nature and intense sensitivity to subtle changes in their environment make them perfect partners for professionals who teach a wide range of life and coping skills.
EAMH Methods & Approaches
Equine-Assisted Mental Health (EAMH) is a form of complementary alternative medicine (CAM) for behavioral health treatment that integrates horses in a multiplicity of ways with patients. Mental health professionals may use both standardized evidence-based and alternative-based goal-directed psychotherapeutic interventions with client-centered goals for an individual’s mental health treatment and recovery. In addition, horses’ welfare in EAMH work are paramount with consideration given to pairing mutually enjoyable therapeutic activities, and during human interactions their emotional well-being and physical safety are assessed on an ongoing basis.
In general, in EAMH clinical treatment state licensed psychotherapists and state registered interns work within their scope of practice with clients and horses conjunctively by combining various traditional psychotherapy treatment terminology, models, and theories with their respective clinical trainings, orientations, interests, and skillsets. Different levels of mental health treatment and recovery experiences are integrated based on needs and treatment goals of the client.
Client-centered treatment goals are adapted to help address individualized goals, and improve overall function, health, and wellness. Client populations interested in this unique approach may include:
Individuals, couples, families, and groups with severe, moderate, and/or mild psychiatric disorders; interpersonal challenges with others such as attachment-related issues, at-risk youth, couples issues, family system issues; trauma-related issues such as childhood trauma, sexual and/or physical abuse; and grief and loss.
Depending on their particular therapy or approach, licensed therapy professionals may work with equine professionals or in a team approach with additional assistants to help with safety risk management for both horses and people, and EAMH activity task support.
It is important to note, from a behavioral health perspective there has been limited outcome-based efficacy demonstrated within the body of evidence-based EAMH studies, and so it is still considered investigational by a majority of medical health insurance companies. However, the majority of EAMH research findings and conclusions were promising and suggested positive benefits from both EAMH practitioners and participants.
About Eudaemonia Equine Connections, Inc. (EEC, Inc)
Eudaemonia Equine Connections, Inc.® (EEC, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt USA public benefit charity nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing clinical issues and achieving treatment goals in equine-assisted mental health (EAMH) psychotherapy treatment; and advancing the knowledge and growth of equine-assisted mental health (EAMH) field through research design and consultation, original research, and peer-reviewed academic journal, Journal of Equines for Mental Health.
Our Vision
Our aim is to be a leader in providing quality, effective, and safe equine-assisted mental health clinical services in our local community and to be the world’s resource and contributor for equine-related mental health research.
Our Mission
We are committed to providing alleviation of human suffering and advancing equine-related mental health services in mental health treatment and scientific research inquiry.
Awareness. Accessibility. Affordability.
Our Business Name Meaning
Eudaemonia is a Greek word commonly translated as happiness, blessedness, wellbeing, self-actualization, and prosperity.
Connections with self and integrating the layers of changes needed may reduce suffering and allow for healing and growth.
The combination of eudaemonia and connections represent the purpose of this nonprofit to help aid and serve the public who are in need of healing from their suffering and distress and encapsulate therapeutic milieu style of mind-body-spirit holistic, transpersonal healing. Our mission is to help as many people as we can who suffer from the pain and challenges of mental health and life stressors with the soothing, grounding, and powerful connection that horses can provide.
Here at EEC, Inc. we believe that increasing psychological well-being and fostering inner-species bonding relationship between humans and horses is possible, and that through these horse–human interactions may produce positive experiences that lead to biopsychosocial stability, an enhanced understanding of the self, and greater sense of interconnection with the world.
Eudaemonia Equine Connections, Inc. Services Include 4 Main Programs:
1. Equine-Assisted Mental Health Treatment for Stability and Wellness Clinical Program
2. Equine-Assisted Mental Health Research Design and Consultation Program
3. Equine-Assisted Mental Health Professional Membership Development Committee
4. Peer-reviewed academic journal, "Journal of Equines for Mental Health"
- Equine-Assisted Mental Health Treatment for Stability and Wellness Clinical Program-
Is a specialized psychotherapy treatment that incorporates equines into the therapeutic environment. In our EAMH clinical treatment program, the state licensed psychotherapists, psychologists, or counselors work with clients and horses conjunctively by combining traditional psychotherapy skills and techniques with interactions with the horse that are aligned with a clients’ mental health treatment goals.
At times, another professional who is trained as an equine specialist may participate collaboratively with the treatment process and assist with safety for horse and client. This model for psychotherapy treatment may include a team approach with one or more facilitators, and the environment of the barn and rural location often are used as milieu and ecopsychology therapy to assist in evoking connection with Nature, plants, animals, and the natural elements (as majority of treatment sessions will be done outdoors with the horses).
3. Equine-Assisted Mental Health Professional Membership Development Committee Program-
Is a small membership committee that includes a variety of professionals across the USA who are interested in assisting in creating a USA/Nationally-based professional membership association for professionals who work in equine-related mental health care. The goals are for equine-related mental health care professionals to have a place to collaborate together, receive resources and networking and important up-to-date information about EAMH law and ethics in your state or region, legal/ethical and liability and standards of care, lobbying empowerment, etc.
We are still coming up with the name, and will vote on the most popular name that encompasses the needs of this membership association. Once the name has been decided, we will announce it to the equine and mental health care communities and start accepting membership (which may include a small annual nominal fee + a hat or t-shirt with our name/logo). Stay tuned as this endeavor develops over this Summer 2023!
- Goals for the EAMH Professionals Membership to Include are:
2. Equine-Assisted Mental Health Research Design and Consultation Program-
This program was created to assist interested parties (beginner and/or veteran researchers) in developing research project designs and proposals in any area related to equines incorporated in mental health treatment for humans. There is a significant need in the field of equine-assisted mental health for quality research, and this program will help researchers create the best fit research project for their organization and/or research goals, and get started on the right track before recruiting for participants or starting collecting data.
Also, this program will assist with publicly posting of results of EEC, Inc research consultation projects, either on the Website, in the academic journal (if it passes peer review and editorial requirements), at conferences, etc.
4. Journal of Equines for Mental Health-
Is an academic peer-reviewed journal for equine-related mental health research nationally (USA) and internationally. Abstracts and article submissions will start to be accepted January 2023.
Copyright All Rights Reserved
(ISSN 2379-044X, Print) (ISSN 2379-0466, Online)
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About Dr. Rebecca Wara-Goss
Eudaemonia Equine Connections, Inc:
Founder/Executive Director
Clinical Supervisor
Principal Researcher & Research Design Consultant
Dr. Rebecca Wara-Goss, LMFT, Ph.D., Oregon Approved Supervisor, PATH Intl. CTRI & ESMHL is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Oregon, USA. Her approach is to create a safe and supportive environment, in addition to creating a therapeutic space where potential for healing, growth and self-transformations are possible through acceptance, warmth, respect, and collaborative participation with client treatment goals. She utilizes a variety of psychotherapy methods and techniques to help people experiencing psychological distress in order to achieve stability and emotional wellness. Rebecca’s clinical approach includes integrating evidence-based treatment modalities with holistic-transpersonal psychology and client-centered treatment approaches to achieve stability, symptom management, deeper sense of self, and life purpose.
Dr. Wara-Goss specializes in transpersonal psychology, humanistic and client-centered psychology, somatic and holistic psychology, psychosynthesis, and animal-assisted therapy (AAT)/equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFP); in addition to evidenced-based practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-focused (TF)-CBT, trauma work, solution-focused and strengths-based psychotherapies.
Since 2011, Dr. Wara-Goss has worked with diverse client population groups in either individual, group, couples and family psychotherapy treatment with children, adolescents, and adults. Her clinical psychotherapy counseling experiences include in-patient youth psychiatric stabilization services, special education mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and general social rehabilitative management in both agency and private practice settings.
In December 2019, Dr. Wara-Goss started her private practice, Eudaemonia Connections Counseling Services for Mental Health Treatment and Transpersonal Wellness, LLC, to work primarily with adults and couples with depression, anxiety, and trauma-stressor related disorders/posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); in addition to, grief/loss, major life changes, and meaning of life/life purpose.
In addition to clinical counseling skills, Rebecca has 15-years of higher education experience oriented towards clinical counseling skills and clinical research in mental health treatment and equine-facilitated/assisted psychotherapy, also known as equine-assisted mental health (EAMH). She has conducted research design and implementation as a Research Director at an at-risk youth equine program and worked as a research assistant on various research projects. In Spring 2020, Rebecca completed original applied research for her Doctorate in Philosophy (PhD) in East-West Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies.
Her research topic of interest was on the lived experiences of equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFP) treatment for female veterans with military-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Her dissertation was accepted for publication. Please contact her if you would like a copy of her doctoral dissertation:
Horses Healing the Wounded Warrior: A Qualitative Inquiry of Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy in Treating Posttraumatic Stress Disorder for Female Veterans.
Dr. Wara-Goss is interested in clinical research of the human-animal bond and how this interconnection may assist in human healing and self-transformations, and is interested in efficacy and benefits as a viable option for clients. She is passionate to help advance the field of equine-assisted mental health (EAMH). As part of this mission, she envisioned in 2011 the academic journal, Journal of Equines for Mental Health, and in Summer 2023 will officially launch and begin accepting submissions.
Dr. Wara-Goss has been a life-long lover of horses and has experienced personally and professionally the powerful connection of the horse–human bond and how that can both heal and be challenging. Horses continue to be her greatest lessons for personal growth, wisdom, struggles, and interconnectivity to herself and others. In turn, she believes our intimate relationship with horses fosters love, empathy, caring, responsibility, intrinsic value, recognition of the interconnectivity with all beings and all life, and pathways to healing, stability, and wellness.
Originally, born and raised in California as the youngest of ten siblings, in 2016 she moved to Oregon where she has found her perma-home and enjoys living in the Pacific Northwest. She is passionate about spiritual development, holistic (i.e. balancing mind-body-spirit) health and well-being, and self-transcendence to become one’s highest potential in their lifetime, in addition to utilizing the powerful healing potential of the human-animal bond in psychotherapy. Her three favorite things include horses, superhero films, and helping others.
Meet Our
Board of Directors
President
Pearl Podgorniak, B.A.
Pearl is an administrative professional and natural leader, with 20 years of experience coaching organizations and small business owners through the development of business plans, regulatory compliance, and administrative organization, Pearl is keen on creative problem solving, evaluating not only real and conceptual problems and needs of organizations, but also in developing strategic, effective solutions to help others move through the challenges of running a business. Pearl is a strong ambassador for accurately communicating the needs of individuals and groups in order to function in balance. Pearl currently serves as the Executive Assistant to the Vice President of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Cal Poly Humboldt, located in Arcata, CA.
Treasurer
Dr. Kimberly Ann Christensen, M.A., D.Div., Ph.D.
Dr. Kimberly Ann Christensen is a children’s education advocate, 3rd grade teacher and certified trainer in classroom management and differentiated learning with Time to Teach. As an education advocate, Kimberly has chosen to use her knowledge in elementary education and transpersonal psychology to advocate for a new vision in education that teaches our children that they are here purposefully and meaningfully and that their individual contributions matter. By creating an academic curriculum that honors inquiry, curiosity, leadership, multiple intelligences and socio-emotional learning through classroom activities that are based in real world applications, she believes that students will choose to invest in education for their own personal growth and decrease dropout rates.
Secretary
Sharon Cabana, M.A., LMFT
Sharon Cabana, M.A., LMFT is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in animal-assisted therapy, trauma, eating disorders, and holistic mental health. Her work with animal-assisted therapy focuses on spiritual horsemanship and the integration of neurobiology with spiritual counseling and care. She is a supervisor candidate in Oregon and teaches graduate coursework on the animal-human bond at Lewis and Clark College. She is currently pursuing her certification as an end-of-life doula in hopes of assisting families through grief and loss of both their human and animal loved ones. In her spare time, you can find her on the trails with her horse, Kaikoa, playing her fiddle, or reading a good book with a cup of tea.
Staff
Clinical Social Work Graduate Student Intern
Volunteer & Client Coordinator
Teresa Bonn, B.S., Clinical Social Work Graduate Student
Teresa Bonn is a master’s level student intern from the University of Denver graduate school of Social Work. She graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelors in science in zoology, and fisheries and wildlife with an option in pre-vet medicine. During her time, she worked as a stall worker at the veterinary school, where she developed her respect and admiration for horses. Over time, life experiences led Teresa into working in a dual-diagnosis mental health and addiction program, where her interest in clinical social work began. She is fascinated by the human-equine bond and how we can incorporate horses (and other animals) into therapy to help heal feelings of depression, anxiety, and the effects of trauma.
Clinical Social Work Graduate Student Intern
Heather Porch, B.S.W., Clinical Social Work Graduate Student
Heather Porch is a student intern, completing the distance graduate social work program at the University of Denver; and is a certified veterinary technician in Oregon. Heather has ridden since age eight, and has three years of experience teaching at-risk children in residential treatment horseback riding. Her experiences working with children and youth lead to her interest in clinical social work, and she is hoping that through her education, internships, and work experiences to learn how best to serve clients through the amazing qualities of horses in equine-assisted therapy and learning. In addition, Heather is a USDF bronze medalist, and currently enjoys poking around on her Belgian draft horse, Titan (aka the best horse in the world).
Clinical Social Work Associate Postgraduate Intern
Stephanie Haugen, B.A., M.A., Clinical Social Work Associate
Stephanie Haugen is a Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA) completing an Equine-Assisted Mental Health Practitioner Certificate program with the University of Denver’s Institute for Human Animal Connection. She holds a B.A. in Media Arts from Pacific University and an M.A. in Social Work from Pacific University. Her professional work experience includes two years as a Behavioral Health Counselor at Firefly Institute in Hillsboro, Oregon where she received training experiences in and specializes in Motivational Interviewing, Play Therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Stephanie grew up with horses and for several years participated competitively in the Oregon High School Equestrian Team (OHSET), 4-H, and in Hunter/Jumper discipline. In addition, she enjoyed Dressage and Driving training and competitions.
Clinical Social Work Graduate Student Intern
Morgan Gustafson, B.S., Clinical Social Work Graduate Student
Morgan Gustafson is a student intern completing the distance graduate social work program through the University of Denver. Morgan’s experience working as a Recovery Coach at an Adolescent Eating Disorder clinic, and experience working at a local children’s hospital inspired her to pursue a degree in social work, in the hopes of assisting youth and families through challenging times. In her spare time, you can find her hiking with her puppy, Mallow, skiing, and enjoying all the outdoor activities Oregon has to offer. She hopes to use the experience of equine-assisted therapy to further her education and learning in order to best serve youth and families in her community.
Barn Manager, Lead Equine Specialist, & Farrier
Teresa Hetu, B.A.
Teresa Hetu is a professional barefoot farrier with over 15-years of experience, horse trainer, barn manager, and equine nutrition and education consultant. Teresa has been around horses since she was a small child, and when she was not even old enough for school yet she would climb trees to get on horses’ backs. When she was 9-years old she started to train her first horse, and as a teenager competed in 4H, nationally in breed shows, and assisted families with equine breeding programs. In high school, Teresa continued to compete in 4H and in her high school’s equestrian team. Since she started horse training as a young child, every year she would pick a Thoroughbred horse off the racetrack and retrain him/her to resale.
After she graduated high school, Teresa worked for several years at a ranch where she managed over 150 horses. In addition, during this time, she apprenticed under a farrier and became responsible for managing the hoof care and veterinary care for the entire herd of 150+ horses.
After her time on the ranch, Teresa settled down to start a family and to attend college. She had a break from horses for several years, although her passion and love for horses never went away. Eventually, her childhood dream to own her own special horse became fulfilled when one day she could not resist to purchase and own an off-the-track (OTC) Thoroughbred who had caught her eye. The horse was a tall, beautiful chestnut gelding named “Fiyerro” (pictured in photo with her), and he not only became her heart horse, and competed in Dressage shows, he helped reawaken Teresa’s personal and professional work back into the world of horses. Shortly after purchasing her new horse, she picked back up farrier work and learned barefoot hoof care.
Currently, Teresa’s farrier business primarily is barefoot hoof care; however, she is adept at traditional farrier work and she adamantly will always work with hoof care and trimming treatment that are in the best interest of the horse’s hooves, their overall health and wellbeing, and that are suitable for the type of work and terrain that the owner’s will be asking of their horse. In addition, Teresa continues to raise her family, work as a graphic designer; and although her current equine experience is vast, she continues to expand, learn, and grow in equine knowledge and education related to horse training, hoof care, diet, equine management and veterinary care, and human-equine interactions.
Volunteer & Equine Specialist
Kuniko Kuriso, B.A.
Kuniko Kurisu grew up on her family’s 200-acre ranch in Sherwood, OR. Kuniko’s life-long love of horses began at an early age riding double behind her mother on the old cedar and fern trails on Parrett Mountain. When she was 5 years old, she was given a stellar Shetland pony for Christmas who taught her a lot. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Just change your mind. Since then, she’s owned over 16 horses from Peruvian Pasos to Thoroughbreds, Paints to Friesians. In her 45 years of riding and caring for horses on her family’s ranch she has hosted youth camps and introduced equine experiences to first-time riders from Europe, Africa, Japan and Israel. Kuniko believes strongly in the awe-inspiring powers of the natural world and in the deep intuitive relationship animals have to offer us. Kuniko is a graduate of Brown University with a B.A. in Comparative Religion. Aside from riding, Kuniko loves cooking, getting muddy and imagining she’s a ninja spy.
Editorial Advisor
Dr. Brian L. Wheeler, M.A., Ph.D.
Dr. Brian Wheeler is a writer and editor with over two decades of publishing-related experience. With a Ph.D. in East-West Psychology and an M.A. in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness — both degrees from the California Institute of Integral Studies — he currently serves as the resident scholar at the Alan Watts Organization. His career in publishing has involved a multitude of roles, ranging from editorial director, managing editor, staff writer, and copywriter to media manager, publicist, freelance journalist, and literary consultant. A portion of his doctoral research on paradox and the wisdom of Alan Watts has been published by the Journal of Humanistic Psychology.
Editor
Focus Group Member
Dr. Dulce García, Ph.D.
Dulce García is the Founder of Life-Is-Art™. She holds a Ph.D. in Transformative Studies from the California Institute of Integral Studies, and her dissertation is a scientific and spiritual exploration of the horse-human relationship. Dulce has dedicated the last 15 years to the study and research of the transformative potential of horse-facilitated activities. Dulce is certified as an Advanced EFL facilitator through Epona Equestrian Services. She studied in Tucson, AZ with Linda Kohanov, EFL pioneer and author of The Tao of Equus and Riding Between the Worlds. Dulce has held various clinics in Arizona and New Mexico since 2005. She also earned an MBA from the prestigious Thunderbird School of Global Management and has held leadership positions in industry and academe.
Dr. García’s published and unpublished works: https://ciis.academia.edu/DulceGarcia
Nonprofit Purpose and Status
Eudaemonia Equine Connections, Inc.® (EEC, Inc) is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt USA public benefit charity nonprofit organization (EIN 85-2173506) dedicated to addressing clinical issues and achieving treatment goals in equine-assisted mental health (EAMH) psychotherapy treatment; and advancing the knowledge and growth of equine-assisted mental health (EAMH) field through research design and consultation, original research, and peer-reviewed academic journal, Journal of Equines for Mental Health.
EEC, Inc. is a strong advocate in ending mental health stigma and increasing accessibility of EAMH services for specialized population groups such as men and women PTSD trauma survivors, men and women veterans, at-risk youth, children empathy and social skills, First Responders, and COVID-recovery relief.
As of September 9th, 2022, Eudaemonia Equine Connections, Inc. was determined eligible as tax exempt under the IRS section 501(c)(3), and effective date of exemption is July 27th, 2020.
From July 27th, 2020 to present all donors can deduct contributions they made to our organization and may receive tax deductible benefits as the law allows. In return you have received no goods or services. Please consult with an accountant or tax advisor regarding maximum allowable donations made or plan to make that can count towards a charitable donation.
Why Donate?
If you believe that mental health exists and mental health symptoms can cause significant distress and impairment in someone’s life or in their relationships with others, and if you believe in using innovative and alternative methods to help treat mental health issues by including horses in the therapeutic process, then your donation will go a long way in providing access and affordability for people who need mental health services.
It is not only because we are a nonprofit that we automatically solicit for outside funding for operating our programs, it is because the overhead cost of horses significantly offsets fee-based revenue; and it is our hope to provide on-going services to those who are unable to pay or afford costs of our in-person EAMH treatment services.
Donation funds, of any amount, will help sustainability of our programs and to serve more in our community who are in need of our services. Our vision is to help not just individuals, but groups and hold community and public outreach events and workshops, and that requires multiple horses, staff, volunteers, and resources. We will be able to meet that goal with the help of monetary and non-monetary donations
Donation funds, of any amount, will help sustainability of our programs and to serve more in our community
Donate to our PayPal Giving Fund
The safer, easier way to pay
Donate Now