OPERATION HOOFPRINTS

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Introducing Lakeland’s Newest Program

  • What is Operation Hoofprints?

    Operation Hoofprints is a program dedicated to providing traditional art therapy and talk therapy in combination with equine assisted psychotherapy (EAGALA) to those in need of mental health counseling.

    EAGALA is the leading international nonprofit association providing professional development education incorporating horses within a mental health and personal development context.

    The Lakeland Center is founded on the EAGALA Model, a distinctive experiential framework designed to provide clients the latitude to discover, learn, and grow from the horse-human relationship.

  • Who Can Participate?

    This program has been carefully designed to serve both adults and youth facing a spectrum of unique challenges. Terms commonly used for the students we serve include words such as “shy”, “troubled”, “at-risk”, “disruptive”, “anxious”, “energetic”, “misunderstood” and many more.

    Adults who benefit from this program often describe themselves as “burnt out”, “down”, “discouraged”, “depressed”, “anxious”, “survivor”, or “traumatized.” Operation Hoofprints is most effective for ages 6+.

  • Where Are Sessions Held?

    The Lakeland Center is a family-owned farm in Coatesville, Indiana dedicated to providing premier equine assisted therapy. Our mission is to improve the lives of people in our community by advancing the adaptive riding industry (sometimes called therapeutic riding) through innovative technology and research.

    Sessions are privately held at the Lakeland Center. We block out windows for these specialized sessions to ensure privacy, peace, and quiet.

The Lakeland Center is able to serve adults + students with challenges and mental health diagnoses including, but not limited to:

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Grief

  • Learning Disabilities and Developmentally Delayed

  • Attention and Focus

  • Social Skills

  • Communication Skills

  • Phobias

  • Emotional and Behavioral

  • Sensory or Sensitivity Issues

  • Suicidal Thoughts or Ideations

  • Tics or Stereotypical Behaviors

  • Psychosomatic Behaviors

  • Issues of runaway, parental or family support

  • Abuse

  • Foster Care

  • Educational Problems

Benefits of Equine Assisted Therapy

  • The rhythmic motion of the horse improves flexibility, balance, muscle strength, posture, coordination, stamina, and motor skills

  • Allows for independence and personal empowerment. Spending time with other youth promotes healing and integration while building relationships with horses, staff and volunteers.

  • Improves concentration, attention span, and social skills; increases self-confidence, patience, and self-esteem as students gain independence in working with horses.

  • Improves emotional wellbeing, mental outlook, and emotional stability; facilitates bonding with horses, facilitates self-growth using the horse’s sensitivity as a prey animal to provide biofeedback on a person’s emotional state in a safe, stable environment.

Request A Consultation

Operation Hoofprints therapy offered in partnership with The Wild Arts Therapy featuring Lacy Hopper, Counselor, LMHC, ATR

Life can get rough, and I’m here to help you through it. I’m a licensed mental health counselor and art therapist with experience supporting people through trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, autism, and ADHD.

I earned my MA in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Indianapolis with a concentration in art therapy. My own struggles as a military spouse showed me first-hand the impact trauma and PTSD can have on individuals and families, and that experience fuels my passion for helping others understand and manage their symptoms and find healing.

As an art therapist, I combine art therapy with person-centered approaches, CBT, DBT, and traditional talk therapy. Art therapy provides a safe outlet for feelings that can be hard to put into words and is especially helpful in processing trauma — no art experience or skill is needed!

I also offer equine-assisted psychotherapy, certified through the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA). This innovative therapy works with horses to help address issues like addiction, domestic abuse, behavioral challenges, depression, anxiety, and trauma in a collaborative and hands-on way.

I’ve worked with individuals facing a wide variety of challenges in many settings — outpatient programs, intensive group settings, and refugee communities. I look forward to supporting you on your own healing journey.