The Equine Healing Collaborative
The Equine Healing Collaborative, expanding to a second location at Divine Equine, was created to provide a path to recovery, self-discovery and personal growth through the use of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. We are a not for profit organization that offers our services on a sliding scale. We turn no one away based on ability to pay and all our clinicians volunteer their time to help others tap into the healing power of equines. Contact
Supporting Mental Health with Equus Coaching
Julie Smiley assists people who are ready to take a look at their lives from a new perspective. Equus Coaching is an experiential process of self-discovery through partnering with a horse. No previous riding or horse experience is required.
The horse reflects our way of showing up in the moment, as well as in life. She then translates the non-verbal language through inquiries, which will assist us in connecting to our own answers. Her coaching skills, grief support certification, intuitive abilities and lifelong learnings all come together to assist caretakers in the process of self-awareness, transformation and healing. Some of the many benefits of Equus Coaching are trusting oneself, confidence building, boundary setting, leadership and mindfulness. Each experience is as unique as the individual client.
Community Partners
SPIN (Special Parents Information Network)
Parents of children with special needs may feel isolated and overwhelmed with the medical, emotional, financial, educational and social issues they face as they raise their child. SPIN is a non-profit parent-to-parent support and information network serving parents, guardians and families in Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties who have a child or children with special needs of any age. SPIN is a Family Empowerment Center on Disabilities. SPIN is also a Family Resource Center serving special needs families with babies 0-3 years old through Special Connections.
Shared Adventures
Shared Adventures gets people outdoors and moving beyond limitation. A non-profit organization dedicated to improving quality of life for those with disabilities, we believe that recreation, fun, challenge, and access to the outdoors are essential to health and fulfillment.
Shared Adventures offers discounted group experiences every month at Divine Equine. Check their site for the next event date.
Autism Family Network Santa Cruz
Autism Family Network (AFN) Santa Cruz is dedicated and committed to Bridging the Gap within our communities for those individuals on the Autism Spectrum and those with Special Needs by providing education, resources, special events, public awareness and acceptance for all.
We strive to assist our community for the supporting of Autism Awareness, Acceptance and Activities while empowering individuals to embrace our differences and motivate inclusiveness for all.
Common Roots Farm
At Common Roots Farm, people with and without disabilities can participate on our urban farm, taking care of plants and animals, and creating friendships with one another that sustain everyone. We grow a variety of vegetables, herbs, fruit and flowers while providing farm skills training, internships, environmental and gardening education and micro-enterprise opportunities on approximately four acres right in the heart of Santa Cruz, CA.