08/28/2026
This weekend, I’m completing a three-day intensive Brainspotting Phase 1 training as part of my continued education and development as a counselor-in-training.
During the training, I was especially interested to learn about a 2016 community survey conducted by the Newtown-Sandy Hook Community Foundation following the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The survey examined the experiences of individuals who had utilized a wide range of therapeutic interventions.
Among respondents who had received Brainspotting, 59% rated it “Very Effective” - the highest percentage of any modality included in the survey. Equine therapy was also among the highest-rated approaches, with nearly 39% rating it “Very Effective.” When “Very Effective” and “Effective” responses were combined, nearly 78% of respondents who participated in equine therapy reported a positive experience.
Seeing Brainspotting and equine therapy both represented so strongly was particularly meaningful to me.
Major’s Place was founded around the belief that healing doesn’t always happen by simply sitting in a room and talking. Horses can create opportunities for connection, regulation, awareness, and experiential learning - and Brainspotting offers another way of working with experiences that may be difficult to access through words alone.
As I continue my clinical education, I’m incredibly excited about what these approaches could eventually look like together and the possibilities they may create for the future of Major’s Place.
We’re always learning. Always growing. And always looking for thoughtful ways to better serve our community.
If you are interested in learning more about Brainspotting or Equine Assisted Therapy, please reach out and let's chat.
We're here to learn, share and grow together. 💚🐴
https://brainspotting.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2016-NSHCF-Community-Assessment-Report.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Anne-Marie
Trainee, under the supervision of Christina Whitney, LMFT
License number: 111050
