Denise MacDonald has been a registered marriage and family therapist for 16 years. Four years ago, she began offering equine-assisted psychotherapy at her practice at Clearview Equine Centre. She has five horses, including two miniatures, all of whom have trauma in their own backgrounds.
It is a collaborative effort between the mental health care professional and a horse professional working with the clients and horses, MacDonald explained. The goal is emotional or behavioural change.
Story and video by Elaine Bombay