Behind the Scenes
About Us
Our world is ever-changing. While it’s healthier to focus on all of the good around us, media constantly reminds us of the bad; blurring our vision. Creating anxiety, hopelessness, and negativity.
As adults it can sometimes be draining and stressful to navigate through day-to-day life and as parents, we are constantly second-guessing ourselves and if we are doing everything in the best ways for our families. The world can be so scary and confusing to children and though we may try to shelter them from as much as possible, it’s getting harder and harder to sustain.
As a mother, childcare provider, and youth program leader, I have been experiencing a slow heartbreak watching how the pandemic, our combative society and uncertain world have been impacting our youth. I have been trying to develop something special, that can bring comfort, joy and a little bit of magic into our community, particularly for our kids.
My name is Danielle Todd and I created PNW Unicorn Therapy in the spring of 2022 with the mission of providing life-enhancing experiences through animal-based wellness opportunities and innovative forms of therapy. Having always been passionate about animal welfare, education, and wellness, when the opportunity arose to add a miniature horse named Dewdrop (who was already trained in equine therapy) to our family, the stars aligned.
I truly feel that connecting children with the healing energy of animal interactions while also helping them to experience genuine compassion will help to create a better world.
Studies throughout the past nearly 100 years have proven the positive impact that equine-assisted therapy (EAT) can have on an individual’s physical and mental health. EAT encompasses a range of treatments that involve equine-assisted psychotherapy, Equine-assisted learning, and equine-assisted activities, all to promote individual growth and wellness.
Equine-assisted therapy should not replace or divert resources from traditional mental health treatment prescribed by your physician, but it can offer a very valuable opportunity to compliment the treatment you may already be receiving. PNW Unicorn Therapy provides the space and animal companionship for truly rewarding and engaging sessions – we do not have medical or mental health professionals on-site or on-staff. However, we do welcome your personal therapist to join you during your sessions and love to partner with local healthcare providers. Equine-assisted therapy has been used by medical professionals such as occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech language pathologists, psychologists, social workers, and recreational therapists. Unless accompanied by one of these professionals, your session with PNW Unicorn Therapy will focus on the therapeutic qualities one can experience through Equine-assisted learning and activities.
During a typical visit an individual will gain confidence and social understanding while taking a walk with one of our animals. They will experience compassion and focus while grooming or simply petting the animals. The calm and friendly presence of our therapy unicorns can help alleviate insecurity and loneliness while also reducing stress and even blood pressure. While riding can sometimes be a part of equine therapy, important work happens during even the simplest horse-client interactions with feet safely on the ground. Activities as simple as haltering, leading, and grooming teach a child to approach others with respect and awareness. Without any words at all, horses make it clear when someone has crossed their boundaries. This can help strengthen awareness to social cues and recognize the value of boundary setting.
Horses are soothing, gentle animals. They are straight-forward in their interactions, without lying or manipulating. They do not judge or blame. Their presence alone can be healing. They have a unique ability to sense our emotions and react accordingly. Witnessing the horse’s response promotes self-awareness and can help people to see themselves in the most realistic way. Learning to understand horse behavior can help someone learn how their behaviors impact others.
Equine-assisted therapy offers an opportunity to experience change in a hands-on way and prompts people to see themselves and the world in a new light. This even leads some who have struggled to make progress or achieve treatment goals in more traditional forms of therapy to make significant breakthroughs with the aid of equine therapy. Furthermore, equine-assisted therapy has proven to help alleviate stress, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and even lower blood pressure of participants.
Our family feels blessed to be the guardians of these special animals and are privileged to create happiness through unique and magical experiences with PNW Unicorn Therapy. We encourage and appreciate any ideas, questions, or input. Thank you for your interest and support in our program, we look forward to meeting you!