Therapy with Horses
in Pasadena & Los Angeles
Some things don't shift through talking about them. Not because the insight isn't there, but because the pattern lives somewhere deeper than language can reach.
Equine-assisted therapy, or equine therapy, offers a different kind of encounter. Working alongside horses- on the ground, not on horseback- you have access to something that a therapy office rarely provides: an immediate, honest reflection of what is actually happening in your nervous system and your relational patterns, offered by an animal that responds only to what is genuinely present.
Horses don't respond to what you say. They respond to what you are.
Why Horses
Horses are acutely attuned to the emotional and nervous system states of those around them. They are relational, responsive, and non-judgmental, and because they have no agenda, no history with you, and no interest in being managed or performed for, they offer a kind of feedback that is both immediate and honest.
What emerges in the interaction- how you approach, how you pull back, what happens in your body when something feels unpredictable- becomes the material of the session. These are the same patterns that show up in your relationships, your anxiety, and your sense of self.
Here, they become visible in a way that is difficult to access through words alone.
For many clients, this is what moves what hasn't moved.
Who This Work Is For
Equine-assisted therapy is for anyone who feels drawn to it. It tends to resonate most with people who:
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Are curious about working in a more embodied, experiential way
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Want something adjunctive to weekly therapy- a different layer of the work
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Feel regulated and grounded in nature or with animals
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Find that talking about patterns hasn't been enough to shift them
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Are working through trauma, anxiety, life transitions, or relational dynamics
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Are a couple wanting to work on connection and communication experientially
You don't need to have reached a dead end in therapy to benefit from this work. Many clients add equine-assisted sessions alongside their regular therapy because it reaches something different- something felt.
What to Expect
Sessions take place at a contracted facility in Pasadena, CA, and are led throughout by Sydney Burkhardt, LMFT. All work happens on the ground- not on horseback. No prior experience with horses is needed.
This is licensed psychotherapy, not a riding experience. The clinical framework is present in every session, and the work is tailored to you.
Individual and couples sessions are available in Pasadena.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need experience with horses?
No. All sessions take place on the ground- not on horseback. No prior experience is needed or expected. I only work with individual 18 years old and up. If someone you know is interested in equine assisted services, and very close to 18 years old, please reach out and we can discuss further.
Is this therapy or a wellness experience?
This is licensed psychotherapy conducted by Sydney Burkhardt, LMFT #161269. It is not recreational or a wellness program unless otherwise discussed or specifically outlined.
Can couples do equine-assisted therapy?
Yes. The relational patterns that exist between partners become visible in a new way in the presence of horses- and the work that becomes possible is often quite different from what a therapy office allows.
Do I need to already be in therapy to try this?
Not necessarily. It can be a starting point or it can be adjunctive to ongoing talk therapy. Reach out and we can talk through what makes sense for you.
Is this available virtually or in San Diego?
Equine-assisted therapy is in-person in Pasadena only. As long as you're a California resident and can attend in-person, we can work together!
