Frequently Asked Questions

Empowering people to be their best self is the mission of this practice. Sometimes horses are used as a a tool to help expedite this process depending on the client’s preference.

Misty Oaks is the name of the farm where the practice is located.  It was the original name of the farm when Dr. James and her husband purchased the property 29 years ago.

In our initial session and throughout our work together we will discuss different modalities that we may find helpful to you. If you are interested in equine assisted therapy, please let me know; however, participation in equine assisted therapy is not a requirement to be a client at our practice. Many of our clients are more familiar with traditional therapy and find it to be very effective. However, some clients prefer to have both during the course of their treatment. I will make recommendations based on my experience, but ultimately you will decide what you think is best for you. 

Prior to arriving at your first session, you will receive a link to your email to complete our required paperwork. If are unable to complete paperwork prior to your appointment please arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment time. Getting your paperwork done ahead of time will allow us to utilize our time more effectively.

During our first session, we will go over the information you have provided and discuss what brought you to Horsepower. Together we will talk though areas of growth and a path towards achieving them.

Call (864)-616-6306 to schedule an appointment or request one here under Contact Us. If you reach our confidential voicemail, please leave a message and someone will return your call within 24 hours. Most of the time your initial appointment can be scheduled within a week of your call. We will provide you with a link via email to complete your initial client paperwork before your appointment. The forms are also available in our office. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment to complete them.

Yes, late appointments and noon appointments are available. 

While our normal hours are Wednesdays from 12-6 and on Thursday from 9-2, other appointment times are available upon request. Our schedule is flexible.

We follow HIPPA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) regulations regarding confidentiality. No records, appointments made or attended, can be given to, or communicated to any other party without your written consent.

The only exceptions to this is if a client indicates doing harm to themselves or others, ethically we must inform the appropriate authorities. 

Equine Assisted Therapy is a form of therapy where clients interact with horses on the ground. 

It is a team approach including a licensed, credentialed Mental Health Professional, a qualified Equine Specialist, and horses all working together with the clients in an arena. Horses are powerful animals that can mirror human emotions providing clients with a unique perspective on their personal issues. 

No client is required to participate in equine assisted therapy. While the EAGALA model is a proven method to help clients gain insight and healing, there are many other therapy modalities we offer. Horsepower at Misty Oaks has an office dedicated to traditional psychotherapy including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Directive Therapy, and many others.

It is important to know that all Equine Assisted Therapy is done on the ground and the horses are never ridden. At the beginning of every session there is instruction on how we will interact with the horses and reinforcement of the team approach. During every session Dr. James and a qualified Equine Specialist will be present at all times to facilitate and ensure client safety.

Although we do not bill insurance, we will provide you with a Superbill which provides the client diagnosis (using DSMV) and all other information necessary for the client to provide to their insurance company.  Reimbursement from insurance companies will come directly to the client. Please call your insurance company to determine your level of coverage and reimbursement amount.

Many people in management within corporations, groups, and organizations find that equine assisted therapy helps their leadership team. It provides direction addressing and improving areas such as communication, problem solving, role definition, conflict resolution, clarification of processes, and team building amongst others.