MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
StableStrides is a national leader in Mental Health Therapy involving horses. This is a unique therapeutic model, used around the world as a dynamic, powerful tool in mental health therapy. It offers personalized opportunities to support individuals’ or families’ mental or behavioral health needs by providing a distinctive perspective of, and engagement with, horses.
“We chose StableStrides because of the diversity in program offerings for our children on the Autism Spectrum. The programs are tailored specifically to each child’s needs both short and long-term with open-ended communication with the therapists about specific goals. The environment creates a space of peace for all involved and when you’re there you are treated like the only client.”
in 5 individuals experience mental illness each year
%
Number of people who will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime
Number of deaths by suicide every 11 minutes
Our mental health services are not particularly focused on horsemanship, but rather on giving clients a safe place to engage in activities with horses while at therapy. The horse helps clients process feelings, thoughts, and reactions while serving as an emotional mirror. This provides a deeper therapeutic experience due to the living relationship between the horse and the client. Horses are uniquely suited for this kind of therapy because they are intuitive and will react to behavior patterns and cues that people might miss, allowing the therapist and client to interact on a deeper level and address issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. StableStrides provides Eagala Model services, though our treatment teams draw from many therapeutic theories and modalities based on client preference and need. Your therapist will happily discuss which modalities of therapy might be right for you!
Group, couple, family, and individual therapy sessions are available through the Mental Health Services program at StableStrides. There is no horseback riding included in our mental health therapy. All of the work with our horses in mental health therapy is on the ground rather than on horseback. This enhances the unique relationship built and nurtured between the client and their horse. Our licensed therapists, PATH Intl. Certified Equine Specialists in Mental Health and Learning, and exceptionally trained horses work together to provide a one-of-a-kind therapeutic experience in a trauma-informed setting.
Our mental health therapists are CAMS (Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality) Trained. The CAMS Framework is first and foremost a clinical philosophy of care. It is a therapeutic framework for suicide-specific assessment and treatment of a patient’s suicidal risk.
StableStrides sees a future where mental health care holds no stigma and no one considers suicide as a solution. StableStrides is committed to providing knowledgeable, trauma-informed, and affirming care for all who need us, particularly Active Duty Service Members, Veterans and their Families, the LBGTQ+ Community, the BIPOC Community, and all of those who contemplate suicide or have experienced trauma or violence.
We accept the following insurance for mental health sessions
Tricare, United Healthcare/Optum, Cigna/Evernorth, Aetna, Friday Health Plans, TriWest/VA CCN.
StableStrides provides a sliding scale for self-pay clients, as well as other Military and Veteran Specific funding options. For those with Medicaid, we will happily refer you to our partnering organizations for mental health therapy groups involving horses.
StableStrides’ mental health therapy impacts:
Symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, PTSD, ADHD and more!
Emotional Awareness
Impulse Control
Problem-Solving Skills
Addictions
Grief & Loss
Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors
Military Life & Deployment Stress
Anger Management
Frustration Tolerance
Stress Tolerance
Interpersonal Relationships
Communication and Assertiveness
Mental Health Therapy Group Offerings
Mental Health Therapy Groups
StableStrides offers mental health therapy groups focused on building social skills. These groups increase confidence and social-skill building for positive peer interactions. The groups are separated into appropriate age ranges, with flexibility for client needs, maturity, and abilities to be taken into consideration. These groups can be a stand-alone therapy or a complimentary service to other therapies that your child or teen is involved in. Children and teens in these mental health groups involving horses learn socially appropriate ways to interact with others their age, as well as build important skills like problem-solving, conversational turn-taking, healthy relationships, boundary setting, coping skills, and conflict management.
Female Teen Group: Ages 14 to 17, female-identifying teens welcome! This group meets Wednesday evenings, twice a month at our Latigo location.
Male Teen Group: Ages 12 to 15, male-identifying teens welcome! This group meets Wednesday evenings, twice a month at our Latigo location.
Pre-Teen Group: Ages 11 to 14, all genders welcome! This group meets Tuesday afternoons, twice a month at our Latigo location.
Kids Group: Ages 6 to 10, all genders welcome! This group meets Tuesday afternoons, twice a month at our Norris Penrose Event Center location.
Be Herd Wellness Groups
Similar to support groups, we gather amongst the herd of therapy horses to find community, share struggles, and successes, and seek help from peers. Meeting at our Norris Penrose Event Center location on Wednesdays from 4:30 to 6 pm, each week of the month features a different non-profit organization for you to connect with. These groups are free to both the participants and the non-profit partners. No prior registration is required. Feel free to join us for one group, every group, or every once in a while!
First Wednesday of the month: DBSA of Colorado Springs – Open to people, ages 15+, living with mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder.
Second and Fourth Wednesdays of the month: NAMI Colorado Springs – Open to people, ages 18+, living with, or family/friends of those struggling with a mental illness.
Third Wednesday of the Month: The Independence Center – Open to people, age 18+, who self-identify as having a disability. This includes those with a cognitive, physical, or mental health disability, who have blindness or low vision, or who are deaf/hard of hearing/deaf blind.
Interested in partnering with StableStrides to include horses in your mental health therapy groups? Contact us today.
StableStrides is not available on a 24-hour basis for emergencies. In the event of an emergency, please call 9-1-1 immediately. If you are in need of crisis services, you may consider one of the following hotlines.
Colorado Crisis Services: 1-844-493-8255 or Text “TALK” to 38255
Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255
Trevor Lifeline for LGBTIQA Youth: 1-866-488-7386
Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline: 1-844-CO-4-KIDS
TESSA Safe Line for Victims of Partner or Sexual Abuse: 719-663-3819