Abstract
The Equus Effect (TEE) program was developed in 2008 by Jane Strong and David Sonatore as an alternative, complementary therapeutic approach to assist veterans in navigating the personal and social struggles often faced during the transition from military to civilian life. The program has since expanded to include work with a range of populations, including, but not limited to, first responders and those in recovery from addictions and sexual trauma. TEE aims to support and develop stronger emotional and mental foundations on which participants can build healthy, authentic relationships. The program consists of four group sessions meeting weekly, typically with four to six participants and four horses. Each four-hour session provides dynamic, real-time opportunities to cultivate self-awareness, practice emotion regulation and interpersonal skills, and includes time for participants to debrief about what they learned that day. TEE uses a manualized curriculum, offering a semi-structured format that allows facilitators specific yet flexible guidelines for delivering the program content. Facilitators are rigorously trained. The program is fully unmounted and typically co-facilitated by two individuals trained and certified in TEE delivery.
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Strong, J., Sonatore LCSW, D., Lloyd-Richardson, E.E. (2025). The Equus Effect: Somatic Experiencing with Horses. In: Neria, Y., Fisher, P.W., Hamilton, A.J. (eds) Guide to Equine Assisted Therapy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-74426-6_5
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