Help Provide Free Equine Therapy for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Survivors

As a little girl, I didn't know how to process the hard things I was going through. I didn't know how to express emotions or trust people. But I knew I could lean on my horses, and they would help me feel everything I was too scared to experience on my own. My horses became my safe place. They taught me how to love, be confident, set boundaries, and communicate. They taught me how to trust myself and stay connected to my body when everything in me wanted to disconnect.

I never realized how much they helped me until my first therapy session as an adult. When my therapist asked, "How have you survived everything you've been through?" my immediate answer was: "Horses." My horse was my therapist before I even knew what therapy was. And from then on, I knew that I wanted to provide that for other survivors who would benefit from that same healing power of horses.

Now, as a licensed trauma therapist, I'm bringing these two worlds together. I'm launching an equine-assisted therapy program specifically for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence because I know firsthand how transformative this work can be. And I'm asking for your help to make this program free to them!

WHY HORSES HEAL TRAUMA DIFFERENTLY

There's something incredible that happens when a survivor stands next to a 1,000-pound animal and realizes: I can make this powerful being move with just my body language. If I can do that, then I can reclaim my power and control of my own life and body.

Horses mirror our emotions. They'll nudge a client's body wherever they're holding tension, helping them reconnect with feelings they've been avoiding and probably didn't even notice. They respond to our energy, teaching us we can be seen and still be safe.

For abuse survivors especially, this reconnection with the body is everything. When your body is taken from your control and turned into a crime scene, you want to disconnect entirely. But feeling a horse's warmth and the rhythm of their movement in their body creates a safe pathway back to your own.

Research shows equine therapy produces a 66% reduction in PTSD symptoms. Some studies suggest one equine therapy session equals 11 traditional talk therapy sessions because you're not just learning skills, you're practicing them in real-time with immediate feedback from an animal who sees you completely and accepts you anyway.

Horses are better therapists than any human could ever be. They're more in tune, more honest, and more reflective than we are. And I am honored every day to get to have them as the strongest tool in my therapist toolbox, to provide a space of healing for my clients.

WHY I'M ASKING FOR YOUR HELP

My goal is to create a program that can be completely free for survivors. I have never agreed with clients having to pay for their healing to reclaim their lives back after having someone take it away so viciously. And I do what I can to provide as many free and discounted therapy sessions that I can personally afford. However, the horses need to eat and have a safe place to live, and I can't afford to do free therapy and take care of them. So I'm asking for your help, to help provide the scholarships so that a survivor can find their healing with these horses!

MEET THE HORSES: A Beautiful Mother & Son Duo

Katie: My 17 year old retired multi-national champion Arabian mare who taught me everything about confidence, boundaries, and communication. She competed at the highest levels, winning numerous roses. Now, she's trading that for getting to work with trauma survivors and help them reclaim their lives.

Allstarr: Katie's 5 year old gelding, who looks like a spitting image of his mama. He's been a snuggler since birth and always loves being a show-off. He started off in the show ring and competing at national levels too! But showed a lot more desire to connect with people in a deeper and more meaningful way and has quickly fallen in love with his role as a therapy horse.

WHAT YOUR DONATION PROVIDES

SURVIVOR SCHOLARSHIPS

$1,850 = One survivor's complete 6-week healing journey

This includes:

• 18+ hours of specialized trauma therapy

• Small group support (6 participants)

• Professional guidance from a licensed therapist

• Weekly sessions combining horses, nature, yoga, and healing

• A pathway back to their body, their power, their life

Scholarship Options:

• $308 = Sponsors 1 week of healing

• $925 = Provides half a program (3 weeks)

• $1,850 = Fully sponsors 1 survivor

• $3,700 = Changes 2 lives

• $5,550 = Transforms 3 survivors

• $11,100 = Impacts all 6 members of the group!

Want to sponsor a survivor? Note "Scholarship" with your donation

PROGRAM OPERATIONS (Makes Free Therapy Possible)

To offer completely free therapy, the horses need care:

Annual costs: $17,000

• Katie & Allstarr's board and feed: $7,200

• Insurance (protects survivors and horses): $5,500

• Veterinary care: $2,000

• Farrier (hoof care): $1,300

• Program supplies: $1,000

Think of it this way: Scholarships are the healing. Operations keep Katie and Allstarr healthy, safe, and ready to serve survivors.

Want to support horse care? Note "Operations" with your donation

THE PROGRAM

Launching April 2026 in Cle Elum, Washington

6-Week Group Programs:

• Small groups (6 participants max)

• 3 hours weekly

• Combining equine therapy, trauma-informed yoga, nature work, and journaling

• Led by licensed trauma therapist

Who Can Attend:

• Survivors of sexual assault

• Survivors of domestic violence

Payment Structure:

• Those who can afford it: $1,850

• Full or Partial scholarships: funded by this campaign

• Cost should never be a barrier

• Our end goal is that every survivor has access to this for FREE!

HOW YOU HELP

$25 - Provides supplies for one session

$100 - Covers weekly care for Katie or AllStarr

$308 - Sponsors 1 week of therapy

$925 - Provides half a program

$1,850 - Fully sponsors 1 survivor's transformation

$5,550 - Changes 3 lives completely

Can't donate? We completely understand! If you'd be willing to share this campaign with your friends, family, and social network, it can help us reach more people to help these survivors! You might reach someone who wants to apply for the group or someone who can sponsor them.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: How do survivors apply for scholarships?

A: We have a confidential application on our website

Q: When does the program start?

A: We are planning to open doors in April of 2026!

Q: What if you don't reach your goal?

A: Any amount raised provides scholarships. $5K = 2-3 survivors. $10K = 5-6 survivors. Every dollar helps.

Q: Why not make it a nonprofit?

A: 501(c)(3) status takes 12-18 months and significant costs. I'd rather use that money to serve survivors NOW.

Q: Is this tax-deductible?

A: Not currently (not a 501c3 yet), but 100% goes to survivor care and horse care. We are working on getting a partnership with a 501c3 to make it tax deductible. If you are interested in working together on this, please don't hesitate to reach out!

Horses saved my life when I had nowhere else to turn.

Now I'm creating that lifeline for survivors - but I need help covering the costs so therapy can be FREE for those who need it most.

Your donation funds someone's healing. Someone's power. Someone's space to take control and power back of their life.

Every dollar matters. Every share counts. Every survivor deserves this.

THANK YOU!

Shahar Lawrence, LCSW

Holistic Counseling PLLC

Yourholisticcounseling.com

P.S. If you or someone you know needs this program, please reach out! Or if you'd like to collaborate with us in any other way we're always open to ideas!