Equine-Assisted EMDR
Equilateral: The Equine-Assisted EMDR Protocol®
Created by Sarah Jenkins
I created EA-EMDR to offer EMDR therapists and Equine Specialists a compassionate, clinically grounded approach to EMDR therapy—especially when working with complex trauma and dissociation—while keeping the well-being of both clients and horses at the heart of the work.
Inspiring Therapists
Healing Hearts
Helping EMDR Therapists and Equine Specialists Bring EA-EMDR Into Practice
Equilateral: The Equine-Assisted EMDR Protocol®
Created by Sarah Jenkins in 2011, EquiLateral: The Equine-Assisted EMDR Protocol®—also known as EquiLateral®—pioneered the clinical integration known as Equine-Assisted EMDR (EA-EMDR). It was the first manualized, phase-based protocol developed specifically to integrate equine-assisted interactions throughout EMDR therapy, and its training is the first Equine-Assisted EMDR training approved by the EMDR International Association (EMDRIA).
Comprehensive & Integrative Treament
I believe that supporting a client’s healing must never come at the expense of the horses we partner with—whether horses, donkeys, ponies, minis, you name it! EquiLateral® holds their comfort, choice, and well-being, together with the well-being of the client, at the heart of thoughtful, trained, and ethical practice.
Sarah has really done an amazing thing in finally blending the systematic, regimented protocol of EMDR with the intuitive, somatically and energy based practice of partnering with horses. It truly feels like science meets art in an alchemical mix that is transformational for clients and practitioners.
Gillian Ashley-Martz
MSW, RSW, RCC
In 2014, I felt the need to start a non profit to work with our military. As a Certified EMDR therapist & new horse owner I thought there must be a way to combine the two disciplines. Viola! I happened to see Sarah's Equine-Assisted EMDR training posted on the EMDRIA website. Now, 5 years later, we established Equines For Freedom. With Sarah’s guidance & expertise we have developed a successful program treating veterans & first responders with complex PTSD.
Ann Marie Lewis, MA, PA Licensed Psychologist
Clinical Coordinator, Equines for Freedom
This Equine Assisted EMDR training was the most professionally and personally helpful and inspiring training I have ever participated in. I feel a renewed sense of excitement about my work as a psychotherapist as well.
Lori Olsen
MC, LPC, SEP
Sarah’s EquiLateral® training provided me with the missing pieces I’ve searched for since attending my first equine-assisted therapy training in 2007. She is an expert in understanding trauma and its impact. She teaches a purposeful method of integrating EMDR therapy with horse-assisted interactions. Sarah’s sensitivity, authenticity and zest create a lively and emotionally safe learning environment.
Clarisse Charland, M. Ed., CAGS, MLADC
Grey Horse Counseling
How do we help them to heal?
We want our clients to heal their hearts. We want them to feel safe and grounded, but we also know that it may not be that simple. How do we help them to trust us when perhaps other humans hurt them the most?
Latest blog posts
We map our internal and external worlds in similar ways, as did my client in her traumatization. One can consider that our current mapping may be based on old data, old, outdated maps, and unprocessed traumatic material.