We offer trauma-informed equine facilitated therapy, focusing on the horse-human connection as a pathway to building connected relationships.
Working with horses in a therapeutic way provides unique openings for clarity in relationships, healing of old wounds and learning new ways of being. The feedback we hear most consistently from clients is a feeling of deep calm and an overall sense of wellness.
We call this experience the emotional reset button, which is a gift horses give us. Work with horses affects us on many levels including the physiological, relational, psychological and physical.
Our dedicated team shares a commonality with the herd in that we all come from different life places and experiences that add to the overall experience. We all (horse and human) share a commitment to bringing healing to others through the power of connectedness.
Director, Co-Founder
April has loved all things equine for as long as she can remember and will never forget her first ride on a big Palomino named River. April was blessed to grow up riding, and spent time working on a ranch in college. This gave her the opportunity to interact with many different horses, it was here she fell in love with their intuitive nature and kind hearts. Her dream of bringing the horse into the healing process has been realized in her work as an Equine Facilitated Psychotherapist. April is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, she is also certified in Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy. She is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) and received specialized training in Equine Assisted EMDR. She has been utilizing this powerful modality in her practice for 10 years. April's therapeutic philosophy involves inviting the horse as a willing participant into the session, she firmly believes in the horses ability to facilitate change and healing. She has worked with adults, children and families struggling with a variety of issues, and has been witness many times to the power of equine therapy.
Equine Specialist, Co-Founder
Growing up in rural Idaho, Sheila's favorite thing to do as a young girl was to spend time on her grandparent's ranch in Montana and be among the horses. Carrying this love into her adult life, she has become very skilled at reading horses and brings years of experience into her sessions.
As a student of her own horse, a beautiful Colonial Spanish Barb, she has learned how horses are the perfect teachers of patience, respect and understanding. After raising her children, she found her calling as an Equine Specialist. Sheila helps clients connect with the horses and discover new insights about themselves.
She holds a certificate in Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy and blends natural horsemanship and a good measure of heart into her work. Since 2009 she has worked as an Equine Specialist serving a variety of populations. Sheila loves this work and is a gift to those who benefit from her wisdom.
Lead Therapist
Sue has been in the social work profession for over 25 years with a commitment to helping others heal. She has worked with many populations including children and families engaged with the Social services system (adoption, family reunification and forensic interviewing of children who were victims of abuse), College age adults as a director of a college counseling center, private practice and foster youth. She also enjoys teaching and training other mental health professionals as a clinical supervisor. She is trained in EMDR and Natural Lifemanship.
Sue came to equine work as an avenue to support herself in her own healing journey. She’d always had a love of animals but little experience with horses. Over the last 5 years she has been so excited to watch and learn what the horses have to teach. Every day, she sees the intersection in best trauma practice and how horses live. It’s an honor to do this work alongside the Brave Grace herd and humans!
Our horses are our teachers, we respectfully consider them the most important part of the therapeutic team. At Brave Grace we have been gifted with a truly special group of beautiful horses that continually amaze us with their healing spirits.
Journey is a Morgan/Arabian cross, born in 1999. He spent much of his life as a riding and lesson horse. His previous owner noticed that Journey had a special way with people. His gentle presence and calming spirit draws many hurting people to his side. As he engages in his leadership role in the herd, he offers a near perfect blend of holding space and setting boundaries with gentleness in between. You can often find Journey resting his head on the shoulder of someone who needs an extra dose of love. He is an integral part of the herd and embodies strength, comfort, and leadership.
Eli is BLM Mustang gelding. He was born in 2010 in the wild in Northern California near the Nevada border. Eli was captured as part of the BLM herd management program when he was just a year old. He lived in a holding facility for 2 years before being chosen for the Mustang Makeover competition, held in Norco, CA in 2014. Eli placed well in the competition and was purchased by a couple, who after 6 weeks, decided they could not keep him. April heard about Eli needing a new home and adopted him. Eli is a sweet boy who takes a while to warm up to you. It took some for him to trust humans, but he’s come a long way. He can be aloof at times, but is goofy and smart. His favorite things to do are eat grass, hang with the other horses, and go exploring on trail.
Huck is a sweet middle aged gelding, we do not know his exact age or breed because he was rescued from a kill-pen on his last day before being shipped to slaughter. When his current owner saw him, she knew she had to rescue him. Huck is now very well loved, he has a playful personality and always comes in for a close greeting when he encounters new friends. Despite the terrible circumstances he landed in, he loves people. He’s also the first to test and see if people or other horses have their boundaries in place. Huck loves his buddies in the herd, especially Eli and Journey, and is often the initiator of rambunctious play.
Our program is hosted at Serrano Creek Ranch Equestrian Center in Lake Forest. It is a hidden gem with easy freeway access and is next to a park so it offers the peace of nature and slow pace we often need. There are multiple working arenas. The park is also used as a place to take meditative horse walks.
Q: If I don’t have horse experience, is equine therapy going to assist me?
A: Yes! Often, when we step into something new or an old thing in a new way, we can deepen our learning and growing. Those initial learning steps are often some of the most powerful. Additionally, the staff hold safety with prominent importance so the experience can be helpful for all involved. You will be guided each step of the way.
Q: What should I wear?
A:We recommend clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. A hat, sunscreen and water to drink are also suggested. We have a loaner boot barn for you to borrow boots for safety if you don’t have your own.
Q: How many sessions are needed to help me?
A: The number of sessions vary depending on what you are wanting to accomplish. With your first session we can discuss your needs and goals and see what makes the best sense for you.
Q: Do you take insurance?
A: At this time, we do not take insurance. We can provide you a Superbill for you to submit to your insurance or health saving account for reimbursement.
Q: How much does a session cost?
A: We have a variety of rates depending on what is provided. Services include individual sessions, group sessions and workshops. For specific questions and information, please email April@bravegrace.com. We look forward to serving you.