Equine Therapy in Recovery

TL;DR:

Dr. Tiffany Towers describes Seasons’ equine therapy program, conducted off-site in Malibu with a specialized therapist. The sessions focus on energy attunement and non-verbal mirroring between client and horse rather than riding, providing insights into internal experiences relevant to recovery. She acknowledges some may find it unconventional but encourages openness to the experience.

About Dr. Tiffany Towers:

Dr. Tiffany Towers has embraced equine therapy as part of Seasons’ treatment modalities based on her deep understanding of non-verbal communication and somatic healing approaches. Her theatrical background and training at institutions like Yale School of Drama has given her particular appreciation for how much communication happens beyond words – through body language, energy, and presence. This artistic training helps her recognize the profound therapeutic value in interactions that don’t rely on traditional talk therapy methods.

With her doctorate in Clinical Forensic Psychology and extensive experience working with trauma survivors, Dr. Towers understands how traditional therapeutic approaches sometimes fall short for clients who have learned to intellectualize or disconnect from their emotional experiences. Her research on drama therapy techniques for veteran reintegration demonstrated her commitment to experiential modalities that bypass cognitive defenses and access deeper healing mechanisms.

As Clinical Director, Dr. Towers has observed how clients who struggle with trust, emotional regulation, or authentic self-expression often find breakthrough moments with horses that elude them in office-based therapy. Her willingness to include what some might consider “alternative” approaches reflects her commitment to meeting clients through whatever modality creates genuine connection and insight. She particularly values equine therapy’s ability to provide immediate, honest feedback about a person’s internal state through the horse’s responses.

Video Transcript:

Tell me how equine therapy works.

Part of our Season’s treatment program includes equine therapy, which is not at our facilities. It’s in the local Malibu area, working with our equine therapist who’s very, very special in how she works with each client individually. Even if clients have no experience with horses before, our equine therapist will walk them through the safety protocols and go at a slow pace to make sure that everybody is comfortable.

The therapy session is individualized, but other clients can wait and observe and be a part of the nature process as each person is going through their session. Now, our equine therapy here is not happening where you’re riding the horse or doing a lot of excessive activities with the horse. What it’s really about is the horse attunes to your energy in the session. And then there’s non-verbal mirroring that can go on that includes clues to what you’re experiencing internally and how that relates to what you’re working on in your recovery.

A lot of people might think it’s a little “woo-woo,” but I promise you that if you come and you give it a try, your horizons will be expanded.

Key Insights:

Dr. Towers emphasizes that equine therapy operates through energy and presence rather than activities or riding, making it accessible even to those with no horse experience. This approach focuses on the therapeutic relationship and awareness rather than skill-building or physical interaction.

The concept of horses “attuning to your energy” reflects the animals’ natural sensitivity to human emotional states. Horses respond authentically to what they sense, providing unfiltered feedback about a person’s internal experience that they might not recognize themselves.

The non-verbal mirroring creates a unique form of feedback that bypasses the potential for deception or self-delusion that can occur in traditional talk therapy. Horses can’t be manipulated through words or personas, offering genuine reflection of a person’s authentic state.

Her acknowledgment that some find it “woo-woo” demonstrates awareness of skepticism while encouraging openness to experiences that might initially seem unconventional but prove transformative.

Reflection Questions:

• How comfortable are you with non-verbal forms of communication and feedback?
• What might it be like to receive honest, unfiltered responses to your emotional state without judgment?
• How could interacting with an animal that responds purely to energy rather than words change your understanding of yourself?

Related Topics:

This video addresses experiential therapy modalities, animal-assisted therapy, non-verbal communication in healing, somatic awareness, and alternative therapeutic approaches that complement traditional treatment methods.