Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy with Kit Maxwell M.Ed, MA, PLPC, ACC
Therapy counseling comes in many different forms.
Sometimes, a somatic experience and a sensory rich environment can really resonate for those teens who are a bit more closed off. It can be hard for teens to open up, especially when they feel so overwhelmed. At Compassionate Counseling St. Louis we work hard to tailor our approach to your child’s needs even when they struggle with talking about their emotions - and, we want to connect you to other awesome resources that can support the therapy we’re doing with you and your child.
This month, we’re so excited to share our interview with Equine-Assisted Psycotherapist, Kit Maxwell about her experience working with horses. She discusses how this type of therapy helps teens with their anxiety in a way that grounds them and strengthens their awareness. Read more below about her expertise!
Why did you choose to become a therapist in St. Louis?
I have lived in the St. Louis area my entire life. It was a natural fit to have my therapy practice here in my hometown.
What kind of treatment do you provide?
I provide Equine-assisted psychotherapy to teens, adults, families and couples.
What ages do you work with?
I work with ages 15 to adult.
Can you walk us through what Equine Therapy is and the benefits that come from this type of therapy?
Equine-assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is a type of therapy implemented in partnership with horses. It is done on the ground participating in activities with horses in a sensory rich environment with the support of a human therapist. This creates a playful, open, and authentic environment allowing individuals to experience powerful shifts in their self-awareness and self-confidence.
When would a teen or young adult want to consider getting this type of therapy?
EAP is for any individual seeking to feel a greater sense of connection to themselves or to others. It is for anyone feeling stuck or unsure about any aspect of their life. As long as they are open to working with horses, it will be a valuable experience. Young people come to the horses with issues such as anxiety, anger, grief, family conflicts and self-confidence.
What can parents expect to leave with after working with you?
As the parent of a young person who worked through anxiety and panic disorder, I understand firsthand how hard that is for both the individual and his or her family. It was heart wrenching to watch and share my son’s struggle. From my own experience as a mother and a therapist, I can tell parents that there is hope and a light at the end of the tunnel.
How long have you been working with teens and Equus coaching?
I have been working with teens for over 30 years. I added Equus Coaching/Equine-assisted Coaching/Therapy to my practice about 5 years ago.
Who are your favorite types of clients to work with?
My favorite type of clients to work with are individuals who feel like they don’t fit the mold, who feel that they are misunderstood or expected to be somehow different than they are.
What happens during a first appointment with you?
In our first appointment, we meet the horses! We will talk about what we would like to work on, and then we get started! Activities that we choose will vary depending on comfort level and what we’re focusing on.
Could you talk a little about your approach and how it plays into your work with people recovering from anxiety?
A lot of the discomfort of anxiety involves difficulty being in the present moment and being in our physical body. Working with the horses is a deeply somatic experience allowing a fun way to strengthen the awareness of when we are not in the present moment and not grounded vs. when we are. The horses provide bio-feedback in the moment, bringing this to our awareness like a non-judgmental mirror of our internal state. Then, I, human therapist provides support on spotlighting this awareness and supporting with grounding techniques as needed.
What do you wish parents knew about getting Equine Therapy therapy for their child's anxiety?
Equine-assisted psychotherapy is an outside-of-the-box therapy that really resonates with many teens as well as adults. EAP is not the riding kind of therapy. This time with our horse therapist is a safe space to explore our inner dialogue, patterns and fears that can keep us feeling stuck. And then with our human therapist support, we can tie it all together.
How can people learn more and contact you?
You can visit my website! There is more information there about EAP and my contact information as well. I can also be reached at 314-277-9785.
Share one fun fact about you that most people don’t know.
Most people don’t know that I have a black belt in tae kwon do.
Curious to learn more about anxiety therapy? Want to know if you can get equine therapy and cbt at the same time? Contact Compassionate Counseling St. Louis to set up a free 15-minute phone consult. We’ll talk about what’s going on and best next steps - and if we’re not the right fit, we’ll connect you with other wonderful St. Louis-based therapists, like Kit!
Compassionate Counseling St. Louis provides specialized anger management and anxiety therapy in St. Louis for kids, teens, and college students. We work in Clayton, MO and serve kids, teens, and college students throughout St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Ladue, University City, Town and Country, Webster Groves, Creve Coeur, Kirkwood, Richmond Heights, and Brentwood.