A first responder rests his head against a horse at sunset
Equine-Assisted Recovery · Ottawa, ON

Real connection.
Healing.
Support.

Equine-assisted therapy built by first responders, for first responders and veterans. Structured for real recovery.

Nature-Based Resilience•Confidential Support•Professional Mental Health•Connection & Growth•Operational Resilience• Nature-Based Resilience•Confidential Support•Professional Mental Health•Connection & Growth•Operational Resilience•
About
“Our mission is to provide evidence-informed mental health care designed specifically for the operational realities of first responders and veterans.”

We combine traditional psychotherapy with experiential approaches — including equine-assisted therapy, group programming, retreats and nervous system regulation — to create recovery that feels relevant to those who serve.

Who we serve

For the people who answer the call — and carry it home.

01

Firefighters

Structure fire, rescue, and the cumulative load that doesn't clear at end of shift.

02

Paramedics & Dispatch

The calls that stay with you — and the ones you only heard over the radio.

03

Police & OPP

Operational stress carried home, shift after shift, for years.

04

Military & Veterans

Service-related trauma and the long work of reintegration.

05

Correctional Services

Sustained vigilance in high-tension environments most never see.

06

Families

Because recovery holds when the people around you heal too.

The outcome

What participants report.

01

Reduced hypervigilance

02

Improved sleep patterns

03

Increased emotional regulation

04

Greater clarity in decision-making

05

Reduced isolation

06

Confidence during reintegration

Pre/post symptom tracking tools are used in structured cohort models.

Begin your reset

Begin your
reset.

Operational inquiries and clinical referrals are handled with strict confidentiality. We support firefighters, paramedics, police, dispatch, and veterans navigating operational stress injuries — in a secure, trauma-informed environment focused on individual recovery and family resilience.

Confidential · Trauma-Informed By Referral · Direct Booking Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Get in touch

Location
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
A horse at a paddock fence in evening light
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A horse standing at a wooden paddock fence
Services

Three pillars
of care.

Individual therapy, equine-assisted recovery programs, and retreats — structured, confidential, and trauma-informed. Enter wherever you are, and build from there.

What we offer

Traditional therapy, experiential recovery.

01

Individual Therapy

Evidence-informed psychotherapy, one-on-one, for the operational realities of service.

  • —PTSD
  • —Operational stress injuries
  • —Anxiety
  • —Depression
  • —Burnout
  • —Moral injury
  • —Relationship challenges
  • —Return-to-work support
In PersonVirtualInsurance Direct Billing
02

Equine-Assisted Therapy & Recovery Programs

Experiential, ground-based work with horses — building nervous system regulation, emotional awareness, and resilience alongside a peer cohort.

  • —Individual sessions
  • —8-week First Responder & Veterans cohort
  • —Spouses & Partners program
  • —One- and two-day intensive programs
Ground Work OnlyNo Riding
03

Retreats

Immersive, time-away programming for recovery, peer connection, and the people who stand beside those who serve.

  • —Weekend Recovery Retreats
  • —Peer Support Retreats
  • —Spouse Retreats
Ground work only All equine programming is conducted entirely on the ground. No mounting or riding of horses is permitted or required at any point — no prior horse experience is needed, and none is expected.
How it works

Three steps, structured around your recovery.

01

Initial Contact & Screening

Your journey begins with a confidential inquiry. We conduct a trauma-informed screening to ensure the environment is safe and appropriate for your current needs and recovery goals.

02

Weekly Sessions

Programs run as structured weekly sessions — individual therapy, or equine-assisted work with a peer cohort focused on emotional regulation, nervous system reset, and ground-based partnership with horses.

03

Follow-Up & Support

Healing extends beyond the program. We provide structured follow-up check-ins and connect participants to resources for ongoing resilience and community integration.

Begin your reset

Confidential. Structured.
Built for the work.

Book a Session
A horse and handler at sunset
8-Week Equine Program

Spouses & Partners
Support Group.

A dedicated mental health and support program exclusively for the spouses and partners of first responders and veterans. Supporting someone who serves comes with unique challenges — but you don't have to face them alone.

Please note This program is for spouses and partners only. It is not a couples counselling or couples therapy program. Participants attend independently to focus on their own well-being while connecting with others who share similar experiences.
The program

You stand beside them. This is for you.

The Operational Reset Spouses & Partners Support Group is an 8-week, trauma-informed program designed specifically for spouses and partners. It is a separate group created to support the well-being of those who stand beside first responders and veterans every day.

Living with someone affected by operational stress, PTSD, shift work, or the demands of service can be isolating. Many spouses find themselves carrying responsibilities, adapting to changing family dynamics, and trying to support their loved one while putting their own needs aside.

This program provides a safe, confidential space where you can connect with others who truly understand your experience, learn practical strategies, and focus on your own mental health and resilience.

What we cover

Topics we explore together.

  • —Understanding operational stress injuries, PTSD, and trauma
  • —Recognizing common stress responses and behavioural changes
  • —Healthy communication strategies
  • —Setting boundaries while maintaining connection
  • —Managing caregiver fatigue and compassion fatigue
  • —Prioritizing your own mental health and self-care
  • —Supporting a loved one without losing yourself
  • —Building confidence, resilience, and a supportive peer network

Sessions are facilitated by a Registered Social Worker and combine psychoeducation, guided discussion, and experiential activities in a welcoming, supportive environment.

Program details

What to expect.

  • —8 weekly sessions
  • —2-hour sessions
  • —Small group format
  • —Exclusively for spouses and partners
  • —Not a couples therapy program
  • —Trauma-informed and confidential
  • —Ground work only — no riding or mounting of horses
  • —Insurance receipts available where applicable

Because those who support others deserve support too.

Register or enquire

Join the next cohort

Location
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
A horse at a paddock fence in evening light
Book a Session
Begin your reset

Confidential. Structured.
Built for the work.

Book a Session
A first responder with a horse at sunset
Our Team

Built by first responders. Structured for real recovery.

At Operational Reset Equine, we understand that trauma isn't just a story — it's a physiological state. Our team provides specialized, trauma-informed equine-assisted recovery for first responders and veterans, focused on nervous system regulation and resilience built through clear, experiential programming.

Our approach

Meeting you where you are.

Our team supports first responders and veterans through specialized equine-assisted trauma recovery. We provide a professional, peer-led environment where the horse acts as a mirror for regulation and resilience — fostering sustainable growth in a confidential setting.

Together. Stronger. For our community — Ottawa's first responders
Lisa-Marie Loeffen standing with a horse
Lead Clinician

Lisa-Marie Loeffen

Lead Clinician & Equine-Assisted Trauma Recovery Specialist

With over 25 years of experience supporting individuals and families across the lifespan, Lisa-Marie specializes in trauma, PTSD, operational stress injuries, and complex mental health challenges. Her background spans mental health, child welfare, rehabilitation, education, and community-based care — a grounded, practical, and holistic approach to recovery.

As a certified Equine-Assisted Therapy practitioner and owner of an equine-facilitated therapy practice, she integrates trauma-informed psychotherapy with experiential, ground-based work to support nervous system regulation, emotional awareness, and meaningful behavioural change. Her clinical work draws on trauma-informed, solution-focused, mindfulness-based, and strengths-oriented practices within a collaborative, person-centred, anti-oppressive space where clients engage in recovery at their own pace.

Registered member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, with certifications in Coaching and Leadership Development. Services available in English and French.
Begin your reset

Confidential. Structured.
Built for the work.

Book a Session