Equine-Assisted EMDR Therapy in South Kingstown, Rhode Island
Equine-assisted EMDR is a trauma therapy approach that combines EMDR procedures with ground-based, clinically guided interactions with a horse.
At Emerald Heart Counseling, adults work with Jessica Veroline, LICSW, and her horse, Joe, in an outdoor setting in South Kingstown, Rhode Island.
No riding or prior horse experience is required.
what is Equine-Assisted EMDR at Emerald Heart Counseling?
Emerald Heart Counseling offers EQUILATERAL™: The Equine-Assisted EMDR Protocol®, developed by Sarah Jenkins, LPC, which is an animal-assisted approach to EMDR therapy. It emphasizes appropriate training, ethical practice, and the welfare of both clients and horses.
Equine-assisted EMDR offers an embodied way to process trauma that may feel difficult to shift through talk therapy alone.
Joe partners with Jessica in a calm outdoor environment where you may practice emotional regulation and work toward safely reprocessing traumatic memories. Sessions thoughtfully integrate EMDR with experiential, ground-based interactions with Joe.
Why are Horses incorporated into emdr therapy?
Horses are highly sensitive to their surroundings and responsive to subtle changes in movement, body language, and energy. Their social awareness and nonjudgmental presence may help you notice physical sensations, emotions, relational patterns, and nervous-system responses as they arise.
During your session, we will explore what you notice, how you respond and what the experience brings up for you.
This approach may be supportive for adults experiencing:
- Emotional dysregulation
- Anxiety
- Disconnection from their bodies
- Difficulty making progress through talk therapy alone
Through this work, you may develop greater:
- Connection: Rebuilding trust and a sense of relational safety
- Regulation: Practicing grounding, calming, and nervous-system stabilization
- Insight: Recognizing emotional and relational patterns
- Empowerment: Practicing boundaries, choice, and assertiveness
What happens during an equine-assisted EMDR session?
Sessions take place outdoors in Joe’s pasture at a horse stable in South Kingstown. All work is done from the ground. There is no riding involved.
Depending on your comfort level, needs, and therapeutic goals, a session may include:
- Approaching and connecting with Joe
- Leading or walking alongside Joe
- Observing Joe’s behavior and your responses
- Brushing Joe
- Practicing boundaries and communication
- Noticing physical sensations, emotions, and thoughts
- Grounding through Joe’s presence and the surrounding environment
You are never required to touch or approach Joe before you feel ready. Each session is tailored to your comfort level and clinical needs, with EMDR protocols integrated thoughtfully and at an appropriate pace.
For some people, working alongside Joe can make trauma therapy feel more connected, grounded, and experiential than office-based therapy alone.
Joe at Emerald Heart Counseling's Equine-Assisted EMDR Therapy Program in South Kingstown, Rhode Island
Who may benefit from equine-assisted EMDR?
Equine-assisted EMDR is available for adults who:
- Need support regulating their nervous system
- Feel stuck in traditional talk therapy
- Want a more embodied and experiential approach
- Feel disconnected, overwhelmed, or unsure how to put their experience into words
A consultation can help determine whether this approach is clinically appropriate for your needs.
Participation does not guarantee a particular outcome, and suitability is determined through clinical assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Equine-assisted therapy is a private-pay service and is not covered by insurance. Sessions are $200 per hour.
Sessions are 60 minutes-90 minutes long and are based on your treatment needs and availability for appointments.
Sessions may occur individually, twice per week or every other week depending upon your treatment needs and availability for appointments.
Yes.
Yes.
Yes, I offer a complimentary 15-minute consultation.
Payment can be made by check or credit card.
No. Sessions are designed for people with all levels of horse experience and comfort.
Equine-Assisted EMDR therapy is available for calming and resource skills (phase 2 of treatment) for individuals already working with an EMDR therapist.
Yes. Sessions are grounded in trauma-informed clinical practice and tailored to your comfort, readiness, and therapeutic goals.
No. All therapeutic work is completed from the ground.
Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes suitable for a pasture or stable environment.
Sessions are held outdoors at a horse stable in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. Specific location and arrival details are provided before your appointment.
If the weather is bad, your session will be cancelled and then rescheduled to another day when the weather is better.
Individuals can cancel an appointment, if they provide 24 hours’ notice by informing Jessica.
Ready to Begin?
Equine-assisted EMDR offers a gentle and experiential path toward healing, particularly for people who feel disconnected, anxious, or stuck in traditional therapy.
Contact Jessica to schedule a consultation and explore whether EQUILATERAL™: The Equine-Assisted EMDR Protocol® as developed by therapist Sarah Jenkins, LPC may be an appropriate fit for you.
Jessica Veroline LICSW
23 North Road, Wakefield, RI, USA
Phone: 401-447-9771 Email: jessicaveroline@hushmail.com Rhode Island Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker #: ISW02727 Massachusetts Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker #: 1142445
This website uses cookies.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.