Connecting animals and nature with professional mental-health care for lasting wellbeing
Sande School of Horsemanship provides experiential therapy through its EquiTerra Integrative Mental Health Program.
EquiTerra offers a unique therapeutic experience that moves beyond the confines of a traditional office setting. Our programs utilize the calming and grounding presence of animals, specifically horses, and the restorative power of nature to facilitate profound healing and personal growth. Based on an expansive 10-acre facility, we provide diverse therapeutic spaces, including access to scenic trails as well as comfortable indoor and outdoor settings. This variety allows us to tailor the environment to the client's needs, offering flexibility for equine-assisted therapy, nature-based therapy or traditional talk therapy, with or without the horses present.
Our approach is holistic and trauma-informed, focusing on creating lasting change and wellbeing. We believe that the non-judgmental and intuitive nature of horses provides immediate, honest feedback, helping clients develop self-awareness, emotional regulation, trust, and healthy relationship skills. We proudly serve individuals, couples, and families dealing with a broad spectrum of mental health challenges, specializing in complex trauma and supporting clients with both physical disabilities and clients with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Our clinicians support those with all identities: Cis, LGBTQ+, Developing Identity, Transgender, Non-Binary, BIPOC, and others. We offer private and group therapy across a variety of modalities, including Equine-Assisted Mental Health, Activity-Based Mental Health, EMDR and Somatic / Mindfulness-Based Therapies.
EquiTerra is committed to the belief that quality mental health care should be accessible to everyone. We accept most private insurances on a limited basis. To help increase affordability, we offer self-pay options to see our Master-Level Counseling Intern for a rate of $75 per session, with sliding scale options available for those who qualify.
The EquiTerra team is led by Dominique Dubois, LCSW, who has 20 years of experience in social services and is dedicated to integrative, experiential therapies. Dominique oversees and works alongside our Master-Level Counseling Intern, Christa Hernandez. This collaborative structure ensures that every client benefits from a combination of seasoned expertise and fresh, cutting-edge therapeutic perspectives, all while upholding the highest standards of professional mental health care.
Sliding Scale Income Qualifications
If you have a financial hardship beyond the sliding scale or would like to talk about additional options please reach out to Sarah at the email address below.
For more information, contact Sarah at:
sarah@sandeschoolofhorsemanship.org
Please fill out the interest / referral form below and we will be in contact with you.
Christa Hernandez, she/her
Clinical Mental Health Intern
I believe that we live in a world where many people experience barriers to the care and support they deserve. My goal is to explore alongside clients as we navigate the things that matter most to them. I bring a steady, grounded, compassionate, creative and humorous authenticity to sessions. Through a strength based and client centered approach, I aim to provide clients a space to share, be heard, feel supported and collaborate on needs and goals. I have experience working alongside the disability community, both those with physical disabilities and those with cognitive/developmental disabilities. My approach is a combination of multiple different counseling theories: person centered, humanistic, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), multicultural, feminist / disability theories and equine assisted therapy. My goal is to help build a sense of community and foster healthy, authentic relationships in your life, including relationship to self. In my off-time I love doing outdoor activities like paddleboarding, hiking, horseback riding and other casual adventures. I love movies, tv shows and books and am continuously adding to my eternally long watch/read list.
Dominique Dubois, she/her
LCSW, Clinical Supervisor
I am a licensed clinical social worker who has been in the social services field since 2005. I have worked in numerous settings from integrative health, residential treatment, outpatient and private practice. My focus is to help create a balance in people’s lives through acceptance and understanding. I am a relational counselor who seeks out solutions through truly understanding a client's goals and wishes. I blend different therapeutic styles, like DBT and CBT, to help find the best fit for each individual. I also pull from my Native heritage and work with Native Americans to help create balance and heal disruptions in one’s life. I specialize in anxiety, trauma, PTSD, addiction issues, depression and mood disorders.I have extensive training in trauma treatment with both survivors and perpetrators. I work with adolescents age 13 and up and adults of all ages. On a personal note: you will usually find me in my garden, kayaking or snuggling with my two rescue pups watching whatever is cool on Netflix.