Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is an experiential form of therapy that involves working with horses to address issues resulting from the traumatic effects of abuse, neglect, combat, grief and loss, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, chronic illness and other adverse life circumstances.  People often develop negative coping mechanisms and unhealthy relationship patterns as a result of relational wounds.  Similarly, horses are prey animals and spend a great deal of their time in their brainstem, or survival mode (fight, flight or freeze), much as trauma victims do.  Horses will respond honestly and directly to whatever behaviors and internal states a client presents to them in the round pen, allowing the client to experience immediate and helpful feedback about the communication and relational patterns they create with the people in their lives.  Horses provide opportunities to practice assertive communication, set boundaries, make requests, learn emotional regulation skills, and build trust and confidence in a mutual partnership.  All of the skills used to build relationship with the horse are transferable outside the round pen to human relationships.