Eleni Dines

EAP: Equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP) involves partnering with horses in a way that can support healing, change, and transformation. During an EAP session, the therapist guides you through the process of building a healthy and reciprocal relationship with the horse or horses. This takes place unmounted on the ground, to allow you to see and feel the immediate feedback that the horse provides. Horse are relational, sentient beings who have distinctive capacities for perception and clear, whole-body communication. Through the relationship-building process, you may encounter patterns of behavior, communication, and interaction that are causing friction and distress in your everyday life. At the heart of EAP is the belief that connection is the key to healing; connection with self, other, and the world around you. You may benefit from EAP if you are feeling stuck and disconnected, anxious and overwhelmed, struggling with controlling your words, actions, or feelings, have experienced trauma, or if you are on a path of recovery from substance use. If you are ready to start your healing journey with horses.

I believe you are the expert of your own life and my work is to meet you exactly where you are. I believe it is possible for you to step into your most authentic self and my work is to walk with you as we explore what has been getting in the way of accessing what feels true and good to you. Fundamental to my work is the belief that healing happens in the context of healthy and reciprocal relationships, whether that is a relationship with yourself, others around you, and/or your environment. I am committed to creating a therapeutic space that centers consent, agency, and autonomy where all identities and experiences are welcome. 

My passion is helping people heal through partnering with horses. Horses provide us with a unique opportunity to gain clarity and insight into how we move in the world, how we relate to ourselves and others, and to practice doing things differently in the moment. I am a lifelong student of horses and have been facilitating experiences involving horses and humans since 2008. I have held certification through the equine assisted growth and learning association (EAGALA) and have training in and am pursuing certification in the Natural Lifemanship model of trauma focused-equine assisted psychotherapy (TF-EAP) as both an equine professional and mental health professional. 

I have worked in both office and EAP settings serving a wide range of clients and populations including youth at risk, veterans, LGBTQIA+ folks, couples, families, and groups. My clinical work is influenced by Bowen Family Systems Theory, Internal Family Systems, narrative therapy, mindfulness-based practices, and anthroposophy. I look forward to collaborating with you on identifying and working towards your therapeutic goals.