Fund Story
Anam Cara helps people heal from emotional wounds, build resiliency and promote mental wellness; whether that be anxiety, depression, childhood trauma, adult trauma, military support, relationship support, transitioning from military to civilian life, LGBTQ+ topics, or other life transitions.
Anam Cara is Gaelic for Soul Friend. In the Celtic tradition, a Soul Friend is one who journeys with you on your path of self-discovery without any judgment or advice. At Anam Cara, the horses are invited to partner with treatment teams and provide that connection on your journey. They have no agenda or judgment; and meet you right where you're at; in the here and now. What horses bring to the therapeutic process is experiential and undeniable, and now measurable with technology and the research is available and continuously growing. Simply put, horses' nervous systems help our nervous systems co-regulate. (Heart rate and breathing will synchronize) As we build connection, we learn about ourselves in ways that are both emotionally and physically safe. Experience with horses is not necessary. All the work we do is from the ground. (We do not ride.) The treatment team consists of a licensed mental health provider, an Equine Professional and one or more horses. We also provide traditional talk therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral therapy, Dialectical Behavior therapy, Somatic Experiencing, Polyvagal therapy, etc.