Equine Assisted Counseling
This is therapy.
Just not the kind that happens in an office.
Licensed mental health treatment,
with horses as partners in the work.
The horses are not a technique and they are not decoration. They are partners in the work - steady, honest, and completely uninterested in the version of yourself you present to everyone else.
You do not need experience with horses. You do not need to know what to say. You are welcome to begin just as you are.
Of everything we offer, this is the one that is clinical treatment. It's led by a licensed clinician, and everything that comes with that applies — an assessment, an individualized treatment plan, and confidentiality.
Our riding programs are different, and deliberately so.
Confidence Riding
Our riding program — real horsemanship and real confidence, guided by a riding instructor.
Therapeutic & Adaptive Riding
Riding with individualized adaptations and a support team — horse leaders, sidewalkers, adaptive equipment.
Neither one is therapy. Both are real programs run by trained people. They're just not clinical treatment, and we won't dress them up as that.
If you're not sure which of the three you're looking for, call us. Working that out is our job, not yours.
Confidence Riding →Therapeutic & Adaptive Riding →
This is our clinical program
What Makes This Different
At HorseSpeak, Equine Assisted Counseling is led by Marybeth Wiefels, MA, LPCC, and our team of licensed clinicians — each trained in both clinical practice and horsemanship. That combination is genuinely rare in equine-assisted work, and it matters.
It means that whatever surfaces in a session — whatever shifts, whatever feels tender or unexpected — is held by someone qualified to meet it. You're not just spending time with horses. You're working with professionals who understand both the therapeutic process and the language of horses.
That's the level of care we hold ourselves to.
Talk to Us →
This may be for you if…
You are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck
You are carrying stress, trauma, or emotional exhaustion
You are struggling to slow down or feel present
You have found talk-only therapy or clinical rooms hard going
You are neurodivergent and more at ease around animals than in a traditional setting
You want support that feels human and grounded, and is still real treatment
You do not know exactly what you need yet
You do not have to have it figured out before you come.
We work with individuals, teens, adults, couples, and families. LGBTQ+ clients and couples are warmly welcome.
Sessions unfold in a calm ranch environment, grounded and unhurried. There's no script to follow.
A session might be conversation, walking, observing, or quiet time alongside an animal. Animals are never required — they're available if and when it feels right.
Gentle, grounded support for noticing patterns and understanding yourself better. Nothing is rushed.
Explore the Ranch →How Sessions Begin
Why Animals are Part of the Process
Calm, supportive presence. Animals offer steadiness without expectation. They respond to how we feel, not what we say.
Choice always comes first. Animals are never required in sessions. They are available if and when it feels right.
Gentle mirrors. Horses notice boundaries, tension, and calm. They reflect patterns without judgment.
Regulation before words. Animals help settle the nervous system. This can make talking feel more possible.
Shared space, not performance. Nothing to prove. Nothing to get right. Just presence, connection, and care.
Safety Comes First
Your emotional and physical safety matter here. Boundaries are respected, for people and for animals. Care is private, grounded, and offered with integrity.
Sessions
We offer both individual and small group sessions — whichever feels right for where you are.
One-on-One
Just you, your therapist, and the horses. Around 45 minutes, with a little longer for the first session so there's room to get to know each other.
Small Group
If you're unsure, you're welcome to join a group session first. It's a gentle way to experience the work, without committing to anything more. Many people find that's all they need to know they're in the right place.
For current session rates, prepaid options and availability, please give us a call — we're glad to talk it through before you decide anything.
Book a Session →
WHEN YOU ARE READY
There's no pressure to know what you want before you reach out.
You can start with a conversation — a brief call to ask questions, understand what to expect, or just hear a human voice before deciding. Or you can simply come to a group session and see how it feels.
Either way, we'll meet you where you are.
Get in Touch →>Call (209) 772-3871 →
