Take Heart Counseling & Equine Assisted Therapy
personalized experiences to reach your goals
Counseling intensives at Take Heart combine clinical depth with the immediate, honest feedback of equine-assisted therapy — compressed into one powerful experience. Half-day, full-day, and multi-day formats available.
From the moment you step onto the property, you’ll feel the shift.
The pace slows. The noise quiets. The work begins.
Most therapy happens in 50 minutes — and 50 minutes is often just enough time to open something and leave it open. A counseling intensive is different. Over the course of a half-day, a full day, or multiple days, you and your therapist go where a weekly session can never quite reach. You move through material that would take months in weekly therapy. And you do it here, on 52 acres in Berks County, with horses that have an uncanny way of meeting you exactly where you are.
Every intensive begins with a free 15-minute consultation to understand your goals and determine which level of immersion is the right fit. Your intensive begins before you arrive. A virtual preparation meeting lets us establish connection, set your intentions, and design your experience together — so that when you step onto the ranch, you’re already in it. And it doesn’t end when you leave. In the weeks that follow, we’ll reconnect for a closing session — space to name what has shifted, anchor what emerged, and design what comes next. Whether that means ongoing support at Take Heart, a connection to a therapist closer to home, or simply a thoughtful plan for the season ahead, we close the arc together.
The intensive itself is offered in three formats: a single full day for a focused, concentrated deep-dive; multiple half days (2–3 sessions) for those who prefer to build momentum over time; or multiple full days (2–3) for the most comprehensive, transformative level of immersion. Whether you’re processing trauma, navigating burnout or a major life transition, or simply ready to do the kind of work that changes things, a counseling intensive gives you the time, space, and depth to get there.
One Full Day
A complete arc from intake to integration. Intake & followup sessions done prior to, and the week following your time at the ranch bookend the core clinical work.
From $2,700
Multiple Half-Days
2–3 Half Days
For out-of-state clients, couples, or anyone ready to go all the way in. Each day builds on the last.
From $2,900 – $3,600
Multiple Full Days
2-3 Full Days
A focused deep-dive. One equine sessions, core clinical work, and integration. Ideal for a first intensive or a targeted issue.
From $4,500 – $6,400
No two intensives look the same, because no two people arrive with the same story.
What every intensive shares is a rhythm: time with the horses, time in clinical work, and time to integrate what surfaces in between. We move between the arena, the pasture, and the quiet of the indoor space as the work calls for it. Some of the most important moments happen standing at a fence with nothing required of you.
Your experience is designed with you — in your preparation meeting, we’ll talk through what you’re bringing, what you’re hoping for, and how to shape your time here so it serves that. Then we stay responsive. If something opens that needs more room, we give it more room. If you need to slow down, we slow down. That flexibility isn’t a lack of structure; it’s the reason this work goes as deep as it does.
Whether you’re traveling in for your intensive or intentionally staying away from home to protect the experience, we’re glad to help you think through where to stay and eat during your time here.
For many clients — especially those doing multi-day intensives, or couples stepping away together — arriving the night before and staying nearby allows you to fully arrive. There’s real value in not rushing to the ranch from a busy morning, and in having a quiet space to rest and reflect between sessions. The work we do here goes deep. Giving yourself soft edges around it matters.
Take Heart is located in Wernersville, PA, in the heart of Berks County — a peaceful, rural setting surrounded by farmland, historic small towns, and easy access to the amenities of West Reading, Wyomissing, and Lancaster County.
Where to stay:
Where to eat:
Would specific recommendations help? Reach out — we’ll happily share favorites from our team based on where you’re staying and what you’re looking for. Many of the clients who come to us from further away — or who intentionally build a restorative stay around their intensive — find that thoughtful lodging and quiet meals become part of the healing itself.
Do I need to have done therapy before?
Not necessarily. Some clients come having never worked with a therapist. Others have years of therapy behind them and are ready to go deeper. We’ll assess fit during the discovery call.
Do I need horse experience?
No. You don’t need to ride, and you don’t need to have spent time around horses. The equine work is taken at whatever pace is comfortable for you.
Can I do an intensive if I’m afraid of horses?
Yes. Many of our most powerful sessions happen with clients who start out nervous. We move at your pace, always.
Can couples do an intensive together?
Yes. Couples intensives are available in Full-Day and Multi-Day formats and are discussed during the discovery call.
Do you take insurance?
Intensives are private pay. We provide superbilling receipts so you can submit for out-of-network reimbursement with your carrier.
What happens after my intensive?
Within 72 hours you’ll receive a written summary of key themes and what emerged. From there, we’ll reconnect for a closing session — space to name what has shifted, anchor what emerged, and design what comes next, whether that’s ongoing support at Take Heart, a connection to a therapist closer to home, or a thoughtful plan for the road ahead.
How far in advance do I need to book?
We recommend reaching out a minimum of 3–4 weeks in advance. A 50% deposit holds your date.
Can I add horsemanship as part of my intensive?
Yes. We can schedule time with one of our equine professionals to complement your intensive work, no matter your horse experience level.
Can current clients participate in intensives?
Yes. We can coordinate with your current therapist to design an intensive that enhances your regular therapeutic work.
“This has been a truly life-changing experience.”
“I didn’t know how much I needed to let go – and found peace I never knew before.”
“Being at the ranch allowed me to settle into the work with my whole being, my whole body and soul, in a way that an office never could. I was able to just be present with myself and the horses and my therapist in a rare way.”
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.
