14/01/2026
ANXIETY / DEPRESSION / GRIEF / PTSD / ASD / BPD …..
Acknowledging that you’re experiencing anxiety, depression, fear of rejection or abandonment, and /or reduced self-confidence, takes courage and is an important first step towards healing.
In my work as an Equine-Assisted Psychotherapist and Master Counsellor, I’ve found that projective and experiential exercises give clients a safe way to explore complex underlying thoughts and emotions that may not yet be fully conscious. Equine-assisted psychotherapy can be particularly powerful in this process.
Horses often reflect aspects of ourselves that we haven’t previously noticed, helping to increase self-awareness and deepen understanding of our emotional responses.
This awareness then informs healthier coping strategies and highlights moments when we may be judging ourselves too harshly, while also clarifying the roles others play in our lives.
Another helpful approach is to examine the consequences or feared outcomes associated with anxious thoughts. This involves asking: What am I anxious about, and what outcome am I afraid of? Once the feared outcome is identified, we can begin to explore practical, solution-focused responses.
For example, if someone feels anxious about crossing a road, it can be helpful to unpack the fear:
Am I afraid of being injured?
Am I afraid of being killed?
Understanding the underlying fear gives us a clear starting point. If the fear is ultimately about dying, we can then ask, What can I do to reduce that risk or feel safer in this situation?
This solution-focused mindset helps shift us from feeling powerless to feeling capable and supported. Developing somatic awareness also allows us to recognise when similar triggers arise in other situations.
Addressing both the origin of an anxious thought and its anticipated outcome provides valuable perspective. It helps us identify what truly needs attention and how we might challenge or reframe the thought in a constructive way.
Continuing with the road-crossing example: if the fear is about dying, possible solutions might include using a pedestrian crossing, overpass or underpass, driving instead, or asking someone to accompany you. Each of these actions reduces the perceived threat and, in turn, the anxiety.
While irrational fears don’t always respond immediately to logic, consistently replacing fearful assumptions with factual, grounded alternatives can gradually build new, healthier neural pathways. Many clients are surprised by how this process improves their sense of control and self-esteem over time.
To summarise: simply standing in anxiety rarely changes the situation. Acknowledging the fear and actively seeking ways to work around it helps restore a sense of agency, empowerment, and self-worth. With repetition, this approach supports the development of more balanced and resilient thinking patterns.
Apologies for the length, but I wanted to illustrate how anxiety is often rooted in fear of the future and the unknown. By minimising uncertainty where possible, we can reduce anxiety, increase autonomy, and strengthen self-esteem through informed decision-making.
In my experience, the most effective work combines somatic awareness with thoughtful, solution-focused examination of the facts surrounding a thought or behaviour. This integrated approach—drawing on CBT, DBT, Schema Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Somatic Awareness, Attachment Theory, and Polyvagal Theory—supports clients in addressing challenges in a way that is meaningful, personalised, and empowering.
I hope this is helpful.
Horses Helping Humans Heal 🐎
Equine Assisted Therapy is partnering with horses to heal our hurts, to deal with our anxieties, depression or other mental health issues and to learn to manage the pain in our lives. Welcome to Horse Connection - counselling with a difference!
