Mustang Magic
Equine Therapy Services 

Where connection and healing happen

ABOUT
Hello and welcome to Mustang Magic Equine Therapy Services! I am thrilled you found your way here.

My name is Annette Pelletier, and although my family and I are relatively new to Central Oregon, I am not new to helping people on their journeys of healing. I have held my LCSW since 2016 and have been in the helping profession since 1998.

I strongly believe in the power of experience as a way to heal and grow. Therefore, I utliize experiential therapies such as, equine therapy and adventure therapy, in conjunction with traditional talk therapy to help my clients navigate and overcome the challenges and hardships of their lives. 

Having worked through and healed from my own challenges and hardships in life, I understand the importance of feeling safe and connected with your helper. Therefore, I do my very best to ensure we are a good match and I am able to provide you with the safety and connection you need to help you navigate your way through these difficult times. 

My intention is to provide you with a place of sanctuary in your healing.  

Services

Individual Equine Therapy

Individual equine therapy sessions provide an intimate experience to focus on your personal therapeutic goals in partnership with your therapist and equine partner.

Family Equine Therapy

Family therapy sessions can look many different ways and requires participation and committment from all attending participants in the family system. Family therapy sessions can involve two or more people in partnership with one horse and the therapist.

Group Equine Therapy

Specialized group Equine Therapy sessions are scheduled throughout the year. Please reach out for private organization group scheduling or see the events page for upcoming scheduled groups.

Individual/Family/Group Adventure Therapy

Adventure therapy offers an opportunity for participants to engage in active and experiential therapies with or without the presence of a horse. Activities such as on-site therapeutic geocaching, primitive fire building, therapeutic archery, and low ropes challenges are provided as a unique way to engage in your therapeutic process

Your Team

Annette L. Pelletier

Clinical Therapist & Founder

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the states of Oregon and Utah. I have extensive experience working with individuals of all ages, backgrounds, and presenting concerns, however, my passion is working with adults of all ages who have experienced traumatic events in their lives and are driven to heal and move forward in their lives. I approach my work through trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy, dialectal behavior therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), reality therapy, motivational interviewing, brainspotting, Gestalt therapy, equine-assisted psychotherapy, and adventure therapy interventions. I am certified in choice theory and reality therapy through the William Glasser Institute, received EMDR training through the EMDR Institute, where I received my certification of completion for EMDR part 1 and part 2 and am phase 1 brainspotting trained. Additionally, I am trained and certified in trauma-focused equine-assisted psychotherapy and have specialized training in the use of equine-connected EMDR through The Natural Lifemanship Institute. I am also a certified adventure therapist through the Association for Experiential Education. I have my equine facilitator certifcation through Touched By a Horse and am currently going through their Gestalt Equine Coaching certification program.

Kiva

Mustang

Kiva is a 4 year old mustang mare who was adopted from a wild horse sanctuary in California. She presents with a beautiful balance of tenderness, assertiveness, and wisdom.

Apache

Mustang

Apache is a 4 year old mustang gelding adopted from a wild horse sanctuary in California. Apache presents with a big personality and playfulness. He is curious, gentle, and playful.

Neptune

Arabian/Paint Cross

Neptune was rescued from a kill pen in Texas and adopted by us 2 years ago. He is thought to be a14 year old arabian/paint cross. Neptune's detailed history is unknown to us, but we know his life was filled with trauma prior to landing with us. He has adjusted well to our little herd and we are continuing to help him heal from his own trauma as he helps others learn to heal.

Kaz

Arabian

Kaz is 18 years old and will be joining our herd at the end of October, 2024.

Scooter

Quarter Horse/Arabian Cross

Scooter is 19 years old and will be joining our herd at the end of October, 2024.

Equine Therapy at Mustang Magic
What is it about horses that draws people to them?
 
Perhaps it is their honesty, their overarching acceptance, their ability to feel into us, their open hearts, or their all-knowing eyes. Whatever the pull is for you, we are grateful for that pull and would like to help you experience an honest, accepting, authentic, open, and truly felt relationship with your equine partner. And learn how to transfer that connection over to your human relationships. 

Horses are animals of prey, which leads them to be fully present and sensitive to the world in which they live. Due to their sensitivity and ability to be fully present, they are highly intuitive and are able to feel deeply with others. They have a natural ability to sense others' emotions and energy which allows them to guide us into a place of learning more about ourselves. Horses help us learn about our strengths, our resliency, and our areas of needed growth. 

We practice trauma-informed care with our horses and clients, which rests on the principle that healthy relationships are the agent of change. Through creating an emotionally and physically safe environment, transparency and trust, inclusivity, collaboration, and personal empowerment to all participants (both humans and equines), we allow for individuals to show up with vulnerability and openness to move toward healing. 





Adventure Therapy at Mustang Magic
All too often we forget our origins and our deep connection to the natural world in which we live. Spending time outside and in nature allows us to reconnect with a greater part of ourselves and others. This is in part what makes adventure therapy so special. 

Adventure therapy is facilitated by a licensed mental health professional and most often takes place in a natural outdoor setting. Unlike traditional talk therapy, adventure therapy provides an opportunity for you to actively participate in and experience your therapeutic process. During a session you are invited to engage in novel experiences that are likely to elicit automatic and genuine responses from you. This provides you the opportunity to more easily recognize unhealthy or unhelpful responses and learn how to modify these responses in real time with the guidance of your therapist, and to later translate the changes into your daily life. 


Gallery

Testimonials

 I have been in a battle with PTSD/CPTSD that has been going on since my childhood. Over the many years I have been declining with this and have tried many different things and road to recovery. None that have ever been more helpful than the road I traveled with the help and direction of Annette, which included both equine and nature therapy. Both of which have been more helpful than any kind of medicine or other treatment I have tried along this road. There is power of the relatiojship with a horse, being out in nature, and just the care and genuine goodnessif Annette Pelletier. My time of healing with her, with her direction, with her horses and out in nature have given me more healing in the few years we worked together than the decades of other therapy I have been through. I whole heartedly recommend anyone who gets the opportunity to work with Annette and her horses, or any other services she offers to you. It has been the best road to my recovery and I will forever be grateful for the help she has given. 

R.W.

 When I started therapy with Annette I was very shy and reserved. I've been to so many therapists before, so I thought I knew the whole song and dance. Annette introduced me to a more physical way of approaching my trauma through hiking, geocaching, and equine therapy. I had fun and slowly came out of my shell as theconfidence in myself grew. The most difficult for me was equine because I have a fear of horses. Annette helped me assuage my fears through brushing, leading, and doing trust exercises. I'm still afraid of horses, but those specific ones with Annette are alright. I miss her and am grateful for my time with her. I'd encourage anyone who needs a different way to experience therapy to get a session with Annette. 

C.S.

 I started seeing Annette right after a car crash, but we worked on all sorts of traumas. Over the years seeing her, she has helped me grow through my past as well as handle my present. Through art therapy, adventure therapy, equine therapy, and EMDR I learned so many important lessons and healthy coping mechanisms that I didn't even realize I was developing at the time. She taught me how to accept myself and value myself, empowering me to be the independent woman that I am today. 

S.M.

 I can legitimately say that Annette changed my life. Through her counsel and EMDR therapy I feel like my true authentic self for the first time in years. I would recommend her to anyone. She is amazing. 

D.J.

 I loved every moment in session with Annette and am so grateful for the work we did together. Doing equine sessions with her helped me overcome so many emotional barriers and build confidence within myself. Annette is caring, loving, and will always be on your team. Equine with Annette helped me learn how to trust, not only the animal, but myself and others as well. Throughout our sessions I was able to build and use my voice to assert my needs, boundaries, and ideas. Annette approaches equine therapy in a compassionate and client centered way. She listens and acts with empathy throughout the session. I have been able to use skills I learned from Annette and it has improved my relationships and communication so much. 

S.S.
  

Contact

  • Bend, Oregon, United States