KC Creek Equestrian

Take the therapy session outside of the office. EAP incorporates the use of horses for therapeutic intervention by promoting emotional growth and healing. The horse becomes a part of a mental health counseling session where individuals interact with them in a variety of activities, including grooming, feeding, walking and equine games — improving psychological health.

“The concept that horses are helpful or healing to people struggling with mental health issues is based on the idea that horses are extremely sensitive to changes in the human being. Horses react and respond to people differently based upon emotional states. The horse acts as a large biofeedback machine, providing the client and the therapist with information regarding the client's moods and changes within those moods.” Cited by PATH Intl.

EAP benefits a variety of clinical concerns including depression, mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, ADHD, behavioral problems, stress management, and emotion regulation. Both a licensed mental health professional and horse professional conduct EAP. There is no riding involved. All therapy sessions are conducted by ground work.

Our mission is to provide emotional, behavioral, and social development to improve psychological health. We believe the bond between humans and animals fosters psychological growth and healing. Partnering with horses in the therapy session increases trust and confidence, improves self-awareness, increases focus and decreases impulsive behaviors, builds boundaries, and reduces depression and anxiety.

We believe that a client-centered approach to treatment offers you the chance for self-exploration, identification of personal strengths, and accomplishments of personal goals. We offer both brief and long-term psychotherapy to help with a wide range of concerns. Individual and group sessions are provided to those 6 years of age and older.

Treatment modalities include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy, and Solution-focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)

Mental Health. It’s a topic that we are all familiar with, but a topic that is still shushed. I have always had an interest in the psyche. Why we do the things we do. Why we feel the way we feel. What shapes us and how our choices can change our paths so drastically. All of us have been touched by mental health issues. Family. Friends. 1 out of 4 people have a mental health diagnosis. But mental health goes beyond just having a diagnosis. It’s about being mindful, being content with feelings and choices, reducing stress and finding joy in everyday life. It’s about making healthy decisions.

Rudy and I have discussed for some time what can we offer, or what can we change, to promote mental health in the community. How can we offer more services that will help promote psychological health? Services that go beyond the office and focusing on the diagnosis. So we thought about animals. Animals have a healing component. How can we integrate animals into the counseling arena? Horses. Big, powerful, intimidating creatures. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.

We researched several models of this type and found PATH Intl. How cool it is to be able to provide therapy in the arena using a horse as a partner? We saw how quickly change occurred in the therapy process. We saw how people who normally may have difficulties establishing a therapeutic relationship bond with a horse. We saw how patient and non-judgmental the horses were to the people. This is what we wanted to be able to offer to our community. This was hope that we can promote mental health in a different way.

Rudy and I both became PATH Intl. certified Equine Specialists in Mental Health. We will partner together, and with a horse, to provide mental health treatment. My role as a psychologist will not change much. Just the setting of treatment will be different. Our arena will be a place of psychological well-being. A place of change.

Dr. Laci Morgan attended Stephen F. Austin State University and earned a BA degree in psychology. She graduated from Argosy University Dallas with a MA degree in Clinical Psychology in 2005 and a PsyD degree in 2007. Her practicum training was completed at Timberlawn Psychiatric Hospital focusing on severe and persistent mental illnesses as well as a special focus with trauma populations. She completed her internship with Rockdale Regional Juvenile Justice Center and a post-doctoral fellowship with Granbury Regional Juvenile Justice Center, both working with youth in the justice system. She then moved to Wyoming to work for Yellowstone Behavioral Health Center providing community out-patient services for individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses. She currently owns and is the clinical director of Morgan Counseling and Assessment LLC in Henderson, Texas. She is fully licensed in both Texas and Wyoming to practice independently. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, Texas Psychological Association, International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, and a National Health Service Corp Alumni. She is a certified EMDR clinician and a PATH Intl. certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health.

Rudy Morgan attended Arizona Automotive Institute obtaining 2 degrees in Diesel Technology and Autotronics. He then attended Tarleton State University studying Industrial Technology. He worked as an EMT for several years and has been an active fire fighter with Glen Rose Fire Department in Glen Rose, Texas and Wapiti Fire Department in Cody, Wyoming. He currently owns and operates 9zero3 Ag & ATV in Henderson, Texas servicing automotives, all terrain vehicles, and farm equipment. He grew up around horses as his mother offered riding and driving lessons to the community and he participated in several Western and English riding competitions. He has rehabilitated abused horses, is a certified farrier, and is a specialist in natural horsemanship and hoof care. He has extensive experience with all types of horses and riding styles. He is a PATH Intl. certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health.

Daniel Cabrera grew up in Bonham, Texas. He attended East Texas Baptist University after graduating high school and earned a BS degree in Psychology and a MA in Counseling. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Behavioral Health at Arizona State University. He completed his practicum hours and gained several years of experience with Adult Intensive Services at Community HealthCore. He is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor-Intern employed with Morgan Counseling and Assessment. He is a member of the Texas Counseling Association. Daniel currently resides in Henderson, Texas with his wife, Taryn.

Dayton is a little guy ready to start in sessions. He loves people and loves to be the center of attention. He’s curious, friendly, and enjoys neck rubs and nose kisses.

~Sponsored by Jack Powers and family

Joe is currently enrolled in school training for inclusion in therapy sessions. He is inquisitive but still a little shy. Once he has your trust he loves to be rubbed and brushed.

~Sponsored by Jack Powers

Charley is a temporary placement and currently enrolled in school training for inclusion in therapy sessions. She has a strong personality and is sweet and gentle when she has your trust.

~ Sponsored by Jack Powers

Apache is a temporary placement and still has a lot of schooling before she’ll be ready for therapy sessions. She is working on building trust and feeling safe around humans. She interacts great with the herd and needs gentle and caring interactions from others.

~Sponsored by Jack Powers

Jethro is the sweetest donkey ever. He loves people and getting attention. He’s loud. He runs across the pasture hee hawing when he sees you’re outside. He’s a great asset to the EAP program.

~Sponsored by Mike Tschantz & Christina Branson

The barn sits on 50 acres. It will start small and grow with time. Sessions are held within a round pen or around the horse stall areas. All work is done outside weather permitting.

A part of the acreage are sensory trails that incorporate natural and man-made elements and activities to encourage engagement with the natural world. Slopes, turns, and changes in footing challenge the client’s problem solving skills. Trail signs and activity stations encourage visual skills, speech, spatial recognition, and language proficiency - all a part of development healthy communication skills. Sensory trails also improve the mental health of the horses as it switches up their day and keeps them interested.

How YOU can HELP

Scholarships are set up for those who qualify for financial assistance. Individuals will be selected each year and awarded financial assistance through our scholarship fund to complete treatment at low cost or no cost.

Horse sponsorship helps take care of feeding needs, such as grain and hay, stall maintenance, and veterinary bills. KC Creek accepts donated equines to be included in our program as a therapy horse.

In Kind Goods keep KC Creek Equestrian with basic necessities for the clients and the horses. For the clients: new and used boots of all sizes, equestrian helmets, leather work gloves, etc. For the horses: grooming items, halters, lead ropes, bridles, foot care items, fly spray, etc.

When volunteering it is often surprising how therapeutic it can be. It’s fulfilling to watch others develop emotionally, behaviorally, and socially.

Volunteer roles may include, but not limited to, focusing on the needs of the horse. Volunteers feed, water, and medicate the horses, clean stalls, and report any health concerns to the directors. They help with community events and special programs hosted at KC Creek. Volunteers do not interact directly in the therapy sessions. Volunteers need to be at least 14 years of age.

www.pathintl.org

Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) was formed in 1969 as the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association to promote equine-assisted activities and therapies (EAAT) for individuals with special needs. PATH Intl. members help children and adults with physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges find strength and independence through the power of the horse. More recently, programs offer services in human growth and development to serve wide-ranging audiences for such educational purposes as leadership training, team building, and other human capacity enhancement skills for the workplace. PATH Intl. is the credentialing organization for accrediting centers and certifying instructors and equine specialists. *Cited from PATH Intl. website

We plan on having our Grand Opening in the Spring of 2019. The horses are training and getting ready to partner with you in therapy.

The beginning of The Barn.

KC Creek Equestrian is located 10 miles outside of Henderson in East Texas.