Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) utilizes a horse as a third party to the counseling relationship. Therapists teach body language, decision-making skills, creative problem-solving skills, and nonverbal communication. Horses serve as the silent partner to the process, providing you a safe place to work our emotional solutions that can be applied to problems with living. In EAP, horses team up with human therapists to provide support and facilitate counseling that might be more difficult using conventional means.
Your therapy experience will be facilitated at a state-of-the-art equestratian arena in a majestic setting of southeastern Denver with views of the Rocky Mountain Front Range. Not only will you experience equine assisted therapy but also you will truly experience God's Country.
 Michael Dawson, MA, LPC |
The Philippi Center is owned and operated by Michael Dawson, a Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado, and an EAGALA certified Equine Assisted Psychotherapist and has successfully conducted equine assisted psychotherapy in his practice for the past ten years. |
- Michael is a former program director of a children's grief support program in Denver, and has conducted numerous workshops and presentations on children's grief for graduate schools, local school districts, mental health professionals, and area programs and agencies.
- He has over 40 years experience as a horseman and has developed a keen understanding of the behavior, value and character of the animal.
- He is founding co-director of the Starfish Children's Grief Support Program for the Douglas County School district in suburban Denver, where he also provides ongoing grief facilitator training for Douglas County school staff.
- He is author of the book Horses Healing Grief, has written articles about grief and loss for local publications, and conducts Horses Healing Grief facilitator training for therapists and hospice workers.
- He has conducted equine assisted grief support groups in residential treatment, and holds Horses Healing Grief support events for children each summer.
- Michael is currently staff counselor for Project Sanctuary, a non-profit therapeutic retreat program for military families, where he provides support for families experiencing battle stress and anticipatory grief.
