Your child struggles with things that seem easy for other kids. Social situations feel overwhelming. Focus is hard to maintain. Sensory experiences can be too much or not enough. Emotions come out big and fast, and meltdowns happen more often than you’d like.
You’ve tried different approaches. Some things help a little, but traditional therapy doesn’t always connect. Your child might resist sitting still in an office, or maybe they just can’t express what they’re feeling in words.
You know your child has so much potential. You see their unique strengths, their creativity, their passion for the things they love. You want them to develop the skills they need to thrive, but in a way that honors who they are, not forces them to fit a mold.
At Take Heart Counseling, we integrate professional counseling with therapeutic work alongside horses. This isn’t traditional office-based therapy, it’s a hands-on, experiential approach where horses become active partners in your child’s healing and growth.
Horses are incredibly intuitive and respond honestly to human emotions and energy in real-time. They don’t judge, require eye contact, or demand verbal communication. Instead, they respond to body language, intention, and emotional state, making them perfect partners for children who struggle with traditional therapy.
All activities happen on the ground at our peaceful 52-acre ranch in Wernersville, PA. No horse experience is necessary, and riding is completely optional. Our licensed therapists design each session around your child’s unique needs, ensuring safety and comfort throughout.
What if therapy could meet your child where they are? What if learning didn’t require sitting still or talking about feelings? What if your child could develop social skills, emotional regulation, focus, and confidence through hands-on activities they actually enjoy?
At Take Heart Counseling, we specialize in neurodiversity-affirming equine-assisted therapy for children, teens, and families in Berks, Lancaster, Chester, and Lebanon counties. We understand that autism and ADHD aren’t problems to fix, they’re different ways of experiencing the world.
Our approach helps children develop the skills they need while honoring their unique neurology. Through therapeutic work with horses at our peaceful 52-acre ranch, children naturally practice communication, sensory regulation, attention, problem-solving, and social skills in an environment that feels safe, engaging, and fun.
Whether your child is verbal or nonverbal, highly sensory-seeking or sensory-avoiding, we design activities tailored to their specific needs, strengths, and interests.
You might benefit from neurodiversity-affirming therapy if your child is experiencing:
Working with horses engages the entire brain, helping develop skills in areas needing growth while being more motivating than traditional therapy approaches.
Our licensed therapists understand that neurodivergent children aren’t broken, they’re wired differently. Each therapist is licensed or pre-licensed in Pennsylvania, certified in trauma-focused equine-assisted psychotherapy through the Natural Lifemanship Institute, and experienced working with children on the autism spectrum and with ADHD.
They create a supportive environment where your child can be themselves. There’s no pressure to make eye contact, sit still, or communicate in ways that don’t feel natural. Instead, our therapists meet your child exactly where they are and help them build skills at their own pace.
For children ages 13 or younger, the first session is with parents to set up the family for success and understand your child’s unique needs, preferences, and goals.
Horses are incredibly intuitive and sensitive to human emotions and energy. They respond honestly in the moment, providing immediate feedback that helps children develop self-awareness and regulation skills.
For children with autism, horses offer a calming, non-judgmental presence that makes social connection feel safe. Horses don’t require eye contact or verbal communication, they respond to body language, energy, and intention. This allows children to practice social skills without the pressure of human social expectations.
For children with ADHD, horses require focus, calm communication, and impulse control. A horse won’t follow directions if approached with scattered energy or impulsivity. This natural consequence teaches attention and self-regulation in a way that feels meaningful rather than punitive.
Our outdoor ranch setting provides rich sensory experiences that support nervous system regulation. The fresh air, sunshine, ground beneath your feet, and the rhythmic movement of working with horses all cue safety and calm to the nervous system.
Activities like grooming, feeding, leading, and caring for horses provide calming sensory input for children who are sensory-seeking and help children who are sensory-avoiding gradually become comfortable with new textures, sounds, and experiences.
Being outdoors and around animals empowers us to take a holistic approach that addresses body, mind, soul, and spirit, meeting the whole child, not just targeting symptoms.
Equine activities naturally bring up opportunities for developing social skills, communication, emotional regulation, body awareness, and empathetic understanding.
Working with horses requires clear communication, patience, turn-taking, and cooperation. In group settings, children practice teamwork, sharing responsibilities, and reading social cues from both the horses and their peers. The authentic connection involved provides literal brain healing and skill development.
Unlike forced social skills training, these skills develop organically through meaningful activities that children actually enjoy.
Children with ADHD benefit tremendously from equine-assisted therapy. Horses require participants to be present, focused, and calm. They provide immediate feedback when attention wanders or impulses take over.
Activities are structured to practice planning, sequencing, following multi-step directions, problem-solving, and goal-setting. The need to communicate with a horse calmly and non-reactively promotes skills of emotional awareness, emotion regulation, self-control, and impulse modulation.
Research shows equine-assisted therapy is effective in reducing children’s irritability, agitation, and impulsivity while increasing cooperation, emotional regulation, capacity for delay, and behavioral control.
We understand that supporting a neurodivergent child affects the whole family. Our therapists work collaboratively with parents, helping you understand your child’s unique needs and teaching strategies you can use at home.
Family sessions help everyone learn new ways of communicating and supporting each other. Parents often report that the skills learned at the ranch transform family dynamics at home.
No horse experience is necessary. Our therapists design each session based on your child’s specific therapeutic goals, sensory needs, and interests.
Activities might include:
Some sessions are more learning-oriented and experiential, where your child practices skills that translate into other situations. Other sessions are more psychotherapeutic, where deep emotional regulation and social connection healing occurs.
Each session ends with processing time appropriate to your child’s developmental level. We never force verbal processing if that’s not comfortable for your child.
Autism Spectrum Disorder: Studies show that equine-assisted activities substantially improve social and behavioral skills of children with ASD. Meta-analyses indicate significant improvements in social cognition, communication, irritability reduction, and hyperactivity management. After just 12 weeks, children who participated in equine therapy showed notable improvements in social skills and language abilities.
ADHD: Equine therapy offers an active, hands-on experience that leads to increased positive behaviors and reduced negative behaviors. The sense of accomplishment and instant feedback during sessions serves as a powerful motivator. The calming effect of horses helps reduce anxiety and improve focus.
Motor Skills: For children with coordination difficulties or low muscle tone, activities with horses help improve balance, core strength, motor coordination, and body awareness. The movement of grooming, leading, and walking with horses develops physical skills naturally.
Young Children (Ages 3-7): Play-based activities with the horses help young children develop basic social skills, emotional awareness, sensory regulation, and confidence. Activities are short, engaging, and adapted to short attention spans.
School-Age Children (Ages 8-12): Children in this age group work on more complex social skills, problem-solving, emotional regulation, and independence. Activities can be individualized or done in small groups to practice peer interaction.
Teens (Ages 13-17): Adolescents benefit from the non-judgmental acceptance horses provide during a time when peer judgment feels intense. Equine therapy helps teens develop self-confidence, emotional regulation, social skills, and transition planning for adulthood.
Young Adults: We support young adults with autism or ADHD in developing independence, social relationships, employment skills, and emotional regulation needed for adult life.
Our Clinical Team is made up of Counselors first and foremost. Skilled in a variety of therapeutic modalities, our Clinicians are all licensed or pre-licensed in Pennsylvania, and have a minimum of a Master’s degree in their field. Each of our therapists are certified in trauma-focused equine assisted psychotherapy through the Natural Lifemanship Institute. Compassionate care, trauma-competent professionals, all whose lives have been changed by horses as well – our team is truly unique.
Is equine therapy safe for children with autism or ADHD?
Yes. Safety is our top priority. Our horses are gentle, well-trained therapy partners. All activities are supervised by licensed therapists and conducted on the ground, riding is optional, not required. The therapy environment is structured and predictable.
What if my child is afraid of horses?
That’s completely normal. We take things slow and never force interaction. Many initially nervous children discover that horses become their favorite part of therapy. We can start with observation from a distance and gradually build comfort.
What if my child is nonverbal?
Equine therapy works beautifully for nonverbal children. Horses respond to body language, not words. Many nonverbal children connect deeply with horses and develop communication skills through this alternative pathway.
What about sensory sensitivities?
We adapt all activities to your child’s sensory needs. If certain textures, sounds, or experiences are overwhelming, we modify accordingly. The ranch environment offers various sensory experiences, and we can focus on what works for your child.
How long does therapy take?
Every child is different. Many families see improvements in the first few sessions. Some children benefit from 12-16 weeks of focused work, while others thrive with ongoing support. We’ll work with you to develop a plan that fits your child’s needs.
Do you offer individual or group sessions?
We offer both. Individual sessions provide focused, one-on-one support. Group sessions offer opportunities to practice social skills with peers in a structured, supportive environment. We’ll recommend what makes sense for your child.
Can parents participate?
For children 13 and under, we encourage parent involvement. You’ll learn strategies to support your child, and family sessions help everyone practice new skills together.
Does insurance cover therapy?
We work with out-of-network benefits and partner with Thrizer to help you get reimbursed. We also accept HSA and FSA payments. Contact us to discuss your specific coverage.
Your child is not their diagnosis. They are a unique individual with gifts, strengths, and enormous potential. They deserve therapy that honors who they are while helping them develop the skills they need to thrive.
At Take Heart Counseling, we provide neurodiversity-affirming equine-assisted therapy for children, teens, and families across Berks, Lancaster, Chester, and Lebanon counties. Our specialized approach helps children with autism and ADHD develop social skills, emotional regulation, focus, and confidence in an environment that feels safe, engaging, and fun.
The peaceful ranch, the honest connection with horses, and the compassionate guidance from our therapists create the perfect setting for growth. We believe all people are created with purpose and intention. Your child is not a mistake. They’re exactly who they’re meant to be.
Call Take Heart Counseling at (717) 917-7137 or contact us today to schedule your free 15-minute consultation. Let’s help your child discover their strengths and build the skills they need to shine.
Wherever you are at on your journey, we are here for you. Our human and equine team will walk alongside you so you can find hope, healing, and wholeness in your life. You are worth it. Reach out to us today.
