In the evolving landscape of trauma-informed care, the significance of embodied therapy and somatic experiencing (SE) has gained increasing recognition. At Harmony Barn, we integrate these approaches into our equine-facilitated sessions, offering clients an opportunity to access healing through the wisdom of their own bodies in the presence of the herd. Our approach is rooted in the understanding that trauma and dysregulation are not simply cognitive experiences but are stored and expressed through the nervous system. By working with the body’s innate capacity for self-regulation, we create a space for deep healing and transformation.
The Role of the Body in Trauma and Healing
Trauma is not solely an event that happens to someone; it is an experience that lives in the body. When faced with overwhelming stress, the nervous system may become stuck in patterns of fight, flight, or freeze, leaving individuals feeling disconnected, hypervigilant, or numb. Traditional talk therapy, while invaluable, can sometimes struggle to reach these physiological imprints of trauma. This is where somatic approaches, including SE, become essential.
Somatic Experiencing, developed by Dr. Peter Levine, is a therapeutic modality designed to help individuals renegotiate and resolve trauma by working with the body’s natural self-regulation mechanisms. Rather than reliving traumatic memories through narrative alone, SE helps clients track bodily sensations, impulses, and emotions to facilitate the completion of interrupted survival responses. This process supports a greater sense of safety, agency, and connection to the present moment.
Equine-Facilitated Therapy as an Embodied Experience
Horses, as highly attuned prey animals, naturally model nervous system regulation and social coherence. Their ability to sense and respond to subtle shifts in energy and intention makes them remarkable partners in embodied therapy. At Harmony Barn, our equine-facilitated sessions take place in a serene grove of California oaks, where clients sit with a therapist and an equine specialist, observing the herd in their natural environment.
Unlike more directive equine therapy models, our approach does not involve riding or direct interaction with the horses. Instead, we invite clients to engage in mindful observation, tracking their own internal experience as they watch the herd. As the horses shift between states of rest, alertness, and engagement, clients are encouraged to notice corresponding shifts within themselves—perhaps a softening of breath, an easing of tension, or an increase in groundedness. In this way, the horses become co-regulators, providing a felt sense of safety and attunement that words alone cannot convey.
Somatic Awareness in the Presence of the Herd
Throughout the session, the equine specialist speaks gently about the nature of horses, their herd dynamics, and the attuned and connected approach we uphold at Harmony Barn. We value the horses for who they are—not for what they can do for us—and invite clients to witness their authenticity, boundaries, and relational intelligence. This way of being with the herd serves as a model for clients to reconnect with their own innate wisdom and self-regulation.
Our trauma informed Somatic Experiencing Practitoner, may invite clients to track sensations in their body, noticing how they shift in response to the presence of the horses. The therapist may encourage simple grounding techniques, such as orienting to the natural environment or gently lengthening the exhale. These small but profound moments help clients reestablish a connection with their own nervous system, allowing for integration and healing to unfold organically.
A Different Kind of Therapeutic Space
At Harmony Barn, we do not push for catharsis or dramatic breakthroughs. Instead, we hold space for the quiet, incremental shifts that allow the nervous system to find greater stability and coherence over time. The work is subtle yet powerful, inviting clients to build capacity for presence, resilience, and self-trust in a way that feels safe and embodied.
In a world that often prioritizes cognitive solutions to emotional pain, we offer something different—an opportunity to slow down, listen deeply, and rediscover the body’s capacity for healing in the steady presence of the herd. Through the integration of Somatic Experiencing, embodied awareness, and equine-facilitated therapy, Harmony Barn provides a sanctuary where clients can reconnect with themselves in a profound and lasting way.