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Caroline M. Roy MSW, LCSW

Caroline M. Roy has worked with children, adolescents and adults in Boulder County for thirty-five years. For 15 years, Caroline served as a Boulder County Probation Officer, which provided her with opportunities to work with adolescents and adults from a variety of backgrounds who were experiencing numerous challenges.

Clients: Children (elementary school), Adolescents (middle & high school), Older Adolescents (College Age), Adults

Treatment Issues: Adjustment, Anger Management, Anxiety, Attachment, Cultural Issues, Depression, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Grief/Loss, Trauma, Oppositional Defiant, Parenting Challenges, Physical and Sexual Abuse, PTSD, Relationship Problems, School Issues, Self-Harm, Social Isolation, Spiritual Emergence, Blended Family, Stress Management, Substance Abuse/Recovery, Life Transition Issues, Women’s Issues

Treatment Modalities: Cognitive-Behavioral, DBT, Equine Assisted, Psychodynamic, Transpersonal, Walk and Talk, Family Therapy, Individual Therapy, Mentoring, Mindfulness, Group Therapy, EMDR, Internal Family Systems, Body Centered (Yoga)

About

In 1999, Caroline created Rocky Mountain Equi-Rhythm (RMER), a non-profit organization. As RMER’s Director, Caroline developed programs using the healing relationship of the horse as the therapeutic method. She has worked with individuals from diverse backgrounds and provides therapy and skill building to help manage life challenges. Caroline combines equine therapy with Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to address an individual’s life challenges; and teach skills of mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness.

She completed a post Master’s Degree fellowship at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Wardenburg Health Center in 2011, working in the Psychological Health and Psychiatry unit with individuals and facilitating DBT groups.

Caroline has a private practice in Boulder and Longmont, Colorado. In her private practice, Caroline works with children, adolescents, families and adults. Her therapeutic approach is eclectic and combines equine and classic psychodynamic therapy with a family systems therapy approach; and incorporates her training in attachment theory, relational trauma, neuroscience, mindfulness and experiential learning.

Caroline earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW) from the University of Denver, holds a state of Colorado licensure as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and has certificates in farrier science; equine therapy; mind, body and energy therapy; and holds a yoga instructor certification. Caroline also works with horses and children in the capacity of a riding instructor and served as a 4-H leader for thirty years.

Why Horses?

Why Horses?

Equine Therapy: Why Horses?

  • Horses provide the opportunity to have a relationship with another living creature. 
  • Horses require being “in the moment,” hard work, responsibility, communication skills, and assertiveness.
  • Horses are honest. Their reactions provide a powerful evaluative and intervention tool. Individuals seem to be better able to “hear” a message and apply it to other life situations if it is in the context of their interaction with the horse.
  • Horses have the ability to mirror human body language. Statements such as “the horse doesn’t like me” provide opportunity for individuals to discover that if they change how they interact with the horse, the horse will respond differently towards them.
  • Like humans, horses are social animals. Horses have defined roles/jobs in their herd and have individual characteristics. Horses, like humans, do not all respond the same way to a situation. Horses provide countless opportunities to use metaphors with youth and often parallel what is going on with that individual. 
  • Horses create a learning environment that allows direct interaction between adults and youth, where the horse is the teacher and humans are students.
  • Horses are awesome creatures both in size and power. From the first interaction, two components are set in place: the youths are removed from a comfortable setting where their problem behavior works for them. They are in a highly structured setting where their safety depends on listening and following rules. This sets the stage for effecting change. 
  • Horses, like many other animals, have telepathic abilities based on the bond they have with other horses and humans. They are powerful spiritual creatures.