Everyone’s walking on eggshells. The same arguments happen on repeat. One child is struggling, and it’s affecting everyone. Or maybe your family just feels disconnected, living under the same roof but feeling miles apart.
You love each other, but something isn’t working. Communication breaks down. Old patterns keep playing out. Everyone’s frustrated, and no one knows how to change it.
You want your family to feel like a team again. You want home to be a place of safety and connection, not tension and conflict. You want to break the cycles that keep everyone stuck.
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 your entire family works together with horses as partners in the healing process.
Horses are incredibly intuitive and respond honestly to family dynamics in real-time. They mirror what’s happening between family members, making patterns visible that might be invisible in daily life. Their immediate, non-judgmental feedback helps families see and practice new ways of relating.
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 family’s unique needs and goals.
What if your whole family could heal together? What if you could develop new patterns of communication, support, and connection that actually stick? What if everyone could feel heard, understood, and valued?
At Take Heart Counseling, we help families in Berks, Lancaster, Chester, and Lebanon counties rediscover hope, healing, and wholeness through therapeutic work with horses. Our equine-assisted family therapy provides a unique space where families can practice new ways of relating in real-time, with immediate feedback and guidance.
This isn’t sitting in an office pointing fingers or rehashing old hurts. It’s experiential therapy where your family works together with the horses, and the patterns that create problems at home naturally surface. You’ll see them clearly, understand them differently, and practice changing them right there at the ranch.
Whether you’re navigating behavioral challenges with a child, healing from family trauma, blending families, or simply wanting to strengthen your connections, transformation is possible.
You might benefit from family therapy if you’re experiencing:
For children ages 13 or younger, the first session is with parents to set up the family for success.
Our licensed therapists specialize in family systems and understand how patterns get passed down through generations. Each therapist is licensed or pre-licensed in Pennsylvania, certified in trauma-focused equine-assisted psychotherapy through the Natural Lifemanship Institute, and trained in multiple therapeutic approaches.
They create a safe, non-judgmental space where every family member’s voice matters. They understand that when one person in the family struggles, everyone feels it. And they know that healing together is often more powerful than individual work alone.
Our therapists meet your family exactly where you are, helping you build on your strengths while addressing the patterns that aren’t working.
Working with horses engages the entire family in a way that traditional talk therapy simply can’t. Horses respond honestly to what’s happening in the moment, reflecting family dynamics back to you in real-time.
How you interact with the horses brings up family patterns organically, so there’s no need for the “he-said, she-said” kind of thing. We can just work through what comes up in the session and strategize ways to practice change at home, outside the ranch.
Children learn best through play and active experiences, but here’s the secret: so do adults. The experiential nature of equine-assisted therapy brings healing and growth much faster than sitting in an office talking about problems.
We address every part of your family system: body, mind, soul, and spirit. Being outdoors at our peaceful 52-acre ranch provides a calming environment that naturally reduces stress and helps everyone feel more open.
Fresh air, sunshine, and the ground beneath your feet cue your nervous system that you’re safe. The horses bring authentic connection and movement. Our therapists design activities to facilitate discussions in the areas needed, allowing you to not just talk about change, but actually practice it in the moment.
Many families carry trauma, whether from abuse, loss, addiction, or chronic stress. Our trauma-competent approach helps families heal from these deep wounds together.
We understand how trauma affects family systems and how to create safety for everyone involved. Through work with the horses, family members learn to regulate emotions, communicate during stress, and support each other’s healing.
For families who desire it, we integrate biblical principles and Christian perspectives into therapy. We help families understand God’s design for healthy family relationships and find healing through faith.
However, faith integration is always optional. We welcome families of all spiritual backgrounds and meet you where you are.
Behavioral Issues: When one child’s behavior affects the whole family, equine-assisted therapy helps everyone understand the underlying emotions and needs. Children develop better emotional regulation, impulse control, and coping skills through work with horses.
Trauma Healing: Families healing from abuse, loss, addiction, or other trauma need a safe space to process together. The horses provide non-judgmental connection, and the experiential approach allows healing without having to verbally relive every painful detail.
Blended Families: Stepfamilies face unique challenges around roles, boundaries, and loyalty. Working together with horses helps new family configurations develop their own healthy patterns and build authentic connections.
Neurodiversity Support: Families with children who have ADHD, autism, or other neurological differences benefit from the sensory-rich, structured activities equine therapy provides. Horses naturally support emotional regulation and social skill development.
Communication Skills: Families who struggle to communicate effectively learn new skills through immediate practice. Horses only respond to calm, clear communication, teaching families by experience what works.
Sibling Relationships: Brothers and sisters working together with horses learn cooperation, empathy, problem-solving, and how to support rather than compete with each other.
No Pointing Fingers: When working with horses, the focus shifts from blaming each other to solving challenges together as a team. The “us vs. the problem” approach naturally reduces defensiveness.
Immediate Feedback: Horses respond in real-time to family dynamics, making patterns visible that might be invisible in daily life. You see how your family works together, who takes charge, who withdraws, and how you communicate under pressure.
Engaging for All Ages: Children who resist traditional therapy often engage readily with horses. The hands-on nature keeps everyone interested and motivated, from young kids to teenagers to adults.
Practice in Real-Time: You don’t just talk about better communication or teamwork, you practice these skills with the horses and with each other. This embodied learning creates changes that talking alone can’t achieve.
Natural Environment: Being outdoors reduces stress for everyone. The peaceful ranch setting helps family members relax, be more present, and connect more authentically.
No horse experience is necessary. Our therapists design each session based on your family’s unique goals and challenges.
Activities might include working together to accomplish a task with a horse, practicing communication skills while leading or grooming, or observing how different family members interact with the horses and what that reveals about family patterns.
Sometimes activities are more learning-oriented and experiential, you’ll practice skills that translate into other situations you’re facing. Other times sessions are more psychotherapeutic, where deep healing through corrective experiences occurs.
Each session ends with time to process and discuss what happened. We help you understand the experiences and provide ideas for applying what you learned in your life outside the ranch.
Many families see changes in the first few sessions. Some families finish therapy in 12-16 weeks, while others choose to stay longer. Either way, it’s our privilege to be part of your family’s journey.
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.
What ages can participate in family therapy?
We work with families with children ages 3 and up. For children 13 or younger, the first session is with parents only to set up the family for success.
Do all family members need to come?
Ideally yes, but we understand that’s not always possible. We can work with whoever is able and willing to participate. Sometimes starting with one parent and child creates momentum that brings others in later.
What if my child is nervous about horses?
That’s completely normal. Our horses are gentle, and we take things slow. Many initially nervous children discover that the horses become their favorite part of therapy. We never force anyone to work with horses if they’re not ready.
What if we prefer not to work with horses?
You have full choice. We can meet in our office spaces, walk around the ranch trail, or provide virtual telehealth sessions. While we believe horses provide unique benefits, you decide what feels right for your family.
How long does family therapy take?
Every family is different. Some see significant improvement in 8-12 sessions, while others benefit from longer-term support. We’ll work with you to develop a plan that fits your family’s needs.
Will the therapist take sides?
No. Our therapists remain neutral and create space where every family member can be heard. The goal is to help your family work better as a team, not to determine who’s right or wrong.
Does insurance cover family 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.
What if we’re not Christian?
Everyone is welcome at Take Heart regardless of spiritual background. While faith is the foundation for our team, we respect where you are on your journey. You decide how much or little to include spiritual topics.
You deserve a family life that feels connected, supportive, and joyful. Your children deserve to grow up in a home where they feel safe, heard, and loved. Your family doesn’t have to stay stuck in the patterns that aren’t working.
At Take Heart Counseling, we walk with families across Berks, Lancaster, Chester, and Lebanon counties through real-life challenges to rediscover hope, healing, and wholeness. Our equine-assisted family therapy provides the tools, insights, and support your family needs to transform.
The peaceful ranch, the honest feedback from the horses, and the compassionate guidance from our therapists create the perfect environment for family healing. We encourage families to heal together so that each person learns new skills for facing challenges as a team.
Call Take Heart Counseling at 717-204-8680 or contact us today to schedule your free 15-minute consultation. Your family is worth it. Transformation starts here.
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.
