Equine Assisted Development is an EAGALA-certified farm in Grand Rapids, Michigan that makes quality, evidence-based equine therapy services to underserved communities.
Equine Assisted Development offers individual sessions, group sessions and retreat therapy programs through financial donors, scholarships and partnerships committed to furthering equine assisted learning, growth and development. EAD offers client's two distinct forms of therapy, first the EAGALA Model - equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP) and second, equine assisted learning (EAL).
The EAGALA Model is considered the gold standard for equine assisted psychotherapy and personal development. Clients looking to utilize EAP therapy are required to provide their own licensed therapist to accompany therapy sessions to work alongside an EAGALA certified horse specialist and those interested in EAL, work solely with an EAGALA certified horse specialist.
Please note, client's that fall within the military program group MUST utilize EAP therapy and provide their own licensed therapist.
Recent media features:
Equine Assisted Development interview - woodradio.iheart.com
Non-profit Brings "Real Happiness" with Mobile Horse Therapy - WomansLifestyle.com
Free Horse Therapy Offered to Essential Workers - fox17online.com
See what other sources have to say about equine therapy:
How Horse Therapy can Help Veterans - Military.com
The Therapeutic Value of Horses - PsychologyToday.com
Using Equine Therapy as Mental Health Treatment - VeryWellMind.com
Who is Equine Assisted Development?
Equine assisted therapy is unique and universal in its ability to make a positive impact on every individual who works with our horses, providing healing to various forms of trauma. EAD wants to bring hope to our clients, our city and our community.
EAD provides a safe, calm space for individuals experiencing grief, depression, PTSD, anxiety, trauma, Alzheimer's, Dementia and other psychological issues. We believe that EAGALA equine assisted therapy and equine assisted learning can lead to healing, growth, and a better understanding of ourselves, our patterns, and our personal barriers in life.
Our most critical EAGALA equine therapy work is done with at-risk clients referred to us by outside agencies throughout West Michigan (such as Manasseh Project, Family Outreach Center, Arbor Circle and public schools with high at-risk populations). Our clients may have troubled histories: abuse, sex trafficking, addiction challenges, self-worth, behavioral and identity issues. We believe one life changed can change a community.
"Professional Experiential Therapy that Drives Change"
short video from www.EAGALA.org
What does equine assisted
psychotherapy at EAD look like?
Our EAGALA equine therapy experiential programs are interactive through a variety of non-riding activities. All of our EAP equine therapy sessions are facilitated by a certified equine specialist and a therapist who help process activities and emotions with participants. Most sessions are 45 minutes and cater to the client's specific needs.
How does EAGALA
equine therapy work?
Using dialog, horse-centered activities, observation and open-ended questions, clients discover perceptions and mental processes behind their beliefs and actions. Equine therapy helps people tell their story and find their own solutions in a non-judgmental, emotionally safe place - an arena and farm, right in the city, right where you are.
What is equine therapy's impact on mental health?
Sessions take place in the barn, arena or pasture. Each session builds upon the last to help create new neural pathways in the brain. Client's engage critical thinking, decision-making, communication and self-awareness skills, observing how horses mirror perceptions and mental processes behind their beliefs and actions.