Changing Strides Therapy provides equine assisted psychotherapy.
Services Offered:
• Equine Assisted Therapy
• Group Therapy
• Individual Therapy
• Family Therapy
Office Hours:
Monday through Friday-10:00-6:00 PM
Saturday (By appointment only)-9:00-12:00
Staff:
Stacy Gustafson, MA, LPCC is a licensed clinical counselor. She specializes in children and family therapy. She is also a certified equine assisted therapist. Stacy is joined with her four equine co-therapists: Belle, Kat, Ziggy and Venus. Interns help with co-facilitating in some client’s therapy sessions and help with the daily operations for the therapy business.
The Ideal Meadows Farm:
The farm was designed to provide a tranquil setting for clients and their families to relax and heal. The farm is set on 24 plus acres of serene pastures with forests and lakes adjoining the property. The farm is located a short drive from Brainerd, Pequot Lakes, Breezy Point and Crosslake. There is plenty of parking for clients and equine assisted trainings.
The office portion of the building consists of a large reception area, 3 counseling rooms, handicap accessible bathroom, and a large group room. The indoor riding arena is attached to the counseling building to provide year round use for equine assisted therapy services. The front porch also provides another area for family and individual therapy. Non participating family members can spend time in the outdoor living areas relaxing and working on their therapeutic self-care skills.
The tranquil setting of the outdoor area consists of gardens, outdoor riding arena, variety of animals, fields, forests, large yard, beautiful landscaping, and large parking area.
We have 4 therapy horses that assist with equine therapy services for clients. Bell is a black quarter horse mare. Bell has an inquisitive personality. She is very friendly and likes to help people in any way she can. Kat is a large quarter horse mare that provides a calming atmosphere to the equine therapy sessions. Ziggy is the newest addition to our therapy team. Ziggy is a quarter horse paint gelding. Ziggy is very personable and likes to be involved in all therapy sessions. Venus is a small quarter horse bay mare. She is timid and shy at times. She is the youngest member of my equine therapy team. Venus brings in a certain vulnerability to the therapy sessions with her shy mannerisms.
When clients are introduced to the horses; the horses will choose if they want to participate in that therapy session. Those horses who engage with the client during the beginning of the horse/client meeting, will be the horses chosen for that session.
Ideal Meadows Farm also is home to Ideal Meadows Vizslas. We currently have 5 Vizslas and one black lab. We have at least one litter of purebred Vizslas a year. Along with the dogs, we have 7 chickens and 1 duck (Donald).
We welcome anyone to stop in for a tour of our facilities during non-business hours.
