Christian counselor includes equine therapy

By Art Pulis, Business Advocate

Licensed Professional Counselor Kari Froelicher with an equine friend

In a town famous for both its Western heritage and its behavioral health facilities, it’s only natural for a counselor to blend the love of her equine friends into her counseling practice.

Licensed Professional Counselor Kari Froelicher has an 11-year background in professional counseling including more than four years as a primary therapist with Remuda Ranch. For the past four years she has had her own practice housed at Healing House at 313 West Apache Street.

Froelicher has had a life-long love for horses and has been riding since the age of four.

“I felt as a child, teenager, and now as an adult I have always known that riding horses is an emotionally therapeutic experience,” said Froelicher. “When I started studying counseling I realized that science confirmed what I had always known - horses can help heal.”

In her private practice Froelicher works in conjunction with Wings of Grace for her private and group sessions of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP). This emerging field uses horses as a tool for emotional growth and learning. It is a collaborative effort between the licensed therapist and horse professional.

EAP helps individuals develop and improve relationships, combat fears, help establish boundaries, and can assist in the healing of abuse issues, depression, anxiety, and communication problems. Because horses - like people - are social animals, they have distinct personalities, attitudes, and moods. Consequently they often mimic human behavior and become an excellent method of learning the effects of behavior.

“I have found that people respond well to EAP and more importantly have fun,” continued Froelicher. “The therapy is much more fun than sitting in a room and talking and often has a more lasting and positive result. People learn in a special way they don’t just by talking, and we often find that they need fewer sessions due to the impact of the equine therapy.”

Froelicher is also known as a Christian counselor in that she uses her strong Catholic faith in God as an important tool in her practice. While she sees people from all faiths, she recognizes the power of God as an important part of healing.

“Who better to call on than the Creator of the Universe to help solve problems,” said Froelicher.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Froelicher helps with a broad range of issues in traditional counseling sessions in addition to EAP. Her specialties include family counseling, couples counseling, group sessions, and treatment of emotional issues including anxiety, fear, boundaries, stress, and relationship management.

Froelicher can be reached through her Web site, www.godlycounseling.com, or by calling 232-9280.

Print this story

Email this story

Click ads for more information