Discover Hope. Write Your Story.

Equine Assisted Therapy for Teen Girls

Proudly offering teen behavioral health treatment for Teen Girls with Equine Assisted Therapy.  

Discover the powerful impact Equine Assisted Therapy can have for adolescent and teen girls as they overcome addiction, behavioral and mental health struggles.

Horses are highly attuned animals and true masters of non-verbal communication and co-regulation. Mingus Mountain Youth Treatment Center's clients find deep healing and recovery as they learn to trust, manage anxiety and to work through traumas in a safe and therapeutic session led by our Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) Certified Equine Director, Mickey Kissell. 

Equine work can be especially meaningful for teens who struggle to feel safe with adults, who feel overwhelmed in talk-based settings, or who have learned to survive by staying guarded. With the right clinical oversight, horses can help create a steady roadmap back to trust, confidence, and resiliency as the girls take ownership of their identities and narrative.

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Committed to trauma-informed care, evidence based treatment, fidelity, and transparency

Transparent Trauma Informed Approaches at Every Step

    • Joint Commission Accredited: Mingus Mountain Youth Treatment Center is a Joint Commission accredited residential treatment center for girls, and we treat that responsibility with seriousness and humility. Accreditation supports consistent standards, clear processes, and accountability—so families and referral partners can trust that care is delivered with fidelity and transparency.
    • Sanctuary Certified: We also operate as a Sanctuary Model certified program, using the Sanctuary Model as an overarching, trauma-responsive framework that shapes the culture of care across the campus—not just what happens in a therapy session. That means shared values, shared language, and shared practices that prioritize emotional safety, healthy relationships, and responsible treatment environments.
    • Equine-Assisted Therapy: is not a “standalone activity” at MMYTC. It is one part of a larger continuum that includes evidence-based clinical services (including trauma-focused therapies) and a therapeutic, supervised residential setting.

It begins with trust

Equine-assisted therapy can be so effective for adolescent mental health because building trust is naturally part of the equine-human connection. For many teens, healing is not only cognitive—it is relational, sensory, and nervous-system based. Equine-assisted therapy is uniquely positioned to support that whole-person work.

Insurances Accepted:

AHCCCS / American Indian Health Plan (AIHP) (Medicaid)

Arizona Complete Health (AZCH) (Medicaid)

Banner (Medicaid)

Health Choice (Medicaid)

Mercy Care (Medicaid)

Molina (Medicaid)

United Healthcare Community Plan (UHC-CP) (Medicaid)

AOC (AZ Admin Office of the Courts)

Cigna (Commercial) *

BCBS AZ (Commercial) *

Ambetter (Commercial/Marketplace) *

Pasqua Yaqui Centered Spirit Program (PY-CSP) (Tribal)

Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community - Social Services Dept. (SRPMIC) (Tribal)

 

There is hope.

Contact our Admissions today to set up an assessment. 

Mingus Mountain Youth Treatment Center

Discover Hope. Write Your Story.

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Healing starts with understanding

At Mingus Mountain Youth Treatment Center, we believe healing starts with understanding. Our Sanctuary Certified programs provide safe spaces where every girl's voice is heard and valued. Trauma-informed care isn't just a philosophy—it's how we foster real, lasting change.


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Hope is a Journey

Mingus Mountain Youth Treatment Center believes Hope is a Journey. Our trauma-informed approach meets girls where they are, honoring their strengths and stories as we walk with them through the Journey to HOPE.
At MMYTC, structured routines and compassionate support foster healing, growth, and empowerment. Your resilience is our inspiration.
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Equine Support

Equine-assisted therapy at MMYTC connects girls with healing partners who help build trust, confidence, and self-esteem. Our healing, equine friends are always up for a walk and provide non-judgmental support, complementing trauma-informed approaches for deep, lasting change.