About Equine Assisted Therapy and Cara Wilkerson

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Cara Wilkerson is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist licensed to practice in California, Florida, and Texas, with over 19 years of experience in providing therapy. Graduating Suma Cum Laude from California State University San Marcos, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Criminology. Cara completed her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at California Baptist University, specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy. She focuses on treating complex PTSD, trauma, dissociation, and anxiety, establishing herself as a trauma expert. Additionally, Cara is a Consultant for both Brainspotting and EMDRIA and is Certified in Brainspotting therapy, EMDR, and the Eagala model of equine-assisted psychotherapy and learning. She developed EquiAttune, which integrates the Neuroexperiential Model of Brainspotting into equine-assisted psychotherapy and learning sessions. For the past 10 years, Cara has owned and operated her private practice, bringing valuable experience from group practice settings, schools, non-profits, and her work with the San Bernardino Drug Court. Furthermore, she serves as a Clinical Supervisor for associates pursuing their licensure.

Brainspotting therapy is a treatment method that falls under the Neuroexperiential Model (NEM), providing a safe relational environment for clients to heal. This relationship-focused, developmental approach allows clients to access various areas of the brain and nervous system responsible for regulation, facilitating the processing and release of previously stored trauma while enhancing resilience. It identifies, processes, and releases core neurophysiological sources of emotional and somatic pain, trauma, dissociation, anxiety, depression, phobias, and addictions. By working deep within the brain and body, Brainspotting therapy directly engages the autonomic and limbic systems of the central nervous system through the angle of the eye. This mindfulness and physiological approach aids in processing and releasing current dysregulation stemming from past trauma. As a neurobiological approach supported by the clinical healing relationship, the client leads the focused mindful processing. Discovered by David Grand, Ph.D. in 2003, Brainspotting has evolved into a comprehensive therapeutic process that can be integrated with other healing modalities in individual, group, or couples therapy. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists utilize Brainspotting with athletes, actors, writers, musicians, and public speakers to enhance performance. Notably, trauma can be released from either an activated or resourced place within the body, allowing individuals to resolve their trauma without reliving the event at the same intensity as the original experience. This compassionate method helps clients discharge trauma and regulate their nervous system with the support of their therapist. For more information, visit: https://brainspotting.com/about-brainspotting/what-is-brainspotting/

Therapeutically equines have been shown to assist people in developing healthy relationships, establishing healthy boundaries, increasing self-confidence, and enhancing empathy towards others. They are often described as providing nonjudgmental therapeutic relationships where individuals feel loved, protected, and able to express their true selves. Being in the presence of equines has been demonstrated to decrease cortisol levels, increase oxytocin, and positively affect heart rate variability, thereby enhancing access to regulatory areas of the nervous system. This aligns with concepts in Brainspotting therapy, particularly within the Neuroexperiential Model, where equines contribute to both Neurobiological and Relational Frames. Furthermore, they support the practice of the Uncertainty Principle and facilitate focused mindful processing of the client's chosen issues, making them a valuable tool for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists.