Equine-Assisted Services

Equine-assisted occupational therapy with me is a powerful, somatic, relationship-centered experience—where you, the horse, and I show up as equal partners in the healing process. 

 

Through my partnership with Special Spirit (EAGALA & PATH certified), mentorship with Freedom Reigns Ranch, Level One certification in Emotional Intelligence & Energy Mastery with the Academy for Coaching with Horses, and training in trauma-informed Equine LifeMan­ship, I’ve come to deeply understand how horses help us access and release trauma stored in the body. My foundation in over a decade of somatic bodywork allows me to guide clients gently and intuitively toward regulation, insight, and transformation.

 

These sessions are about more than horsemanship—they are about embodiment, nervous system healing, and emotional safety. Horses, with their honest and sensitive presence, reflect what’s happening in our inner world. As we interact—on the ground or mounted—we learn to recognize fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses, and begin to unwind the pain and beliefs that have shaped us. With the guidance of the horse, we build secure attachment, set healthy boundaries, and discover new ways of relating to ourselves and the world. The experience is never about controlling the horse, but about co-regulating, connecting, and learning to lead our lives from a place of embodied truth.

 

As one client beautifully expressed: Working with Erica and the horses has been a crucial part of my recovery... Learning to feel safe and connected with the horses—these massive, powerful animals that I can’t control—has profoundly helped me to be with my own nervous system, to feel safer in my own body, and safer when relating with my environment. The respect and love Erica has for the horses is contagious, and I feel so fortunate to have received the gift of their presence. 

 

Equine Assisted Programs are not about horsemanship skills or riding skills. They are about experiencing a unique and authentic partnership, challenging yourself to honestly assess your life, finding your strengths and building problem solving skills for your struggles. No prior horse experience is necessary. The ranch is located 30 minutes outside of Los Angeles.