Integrating compassionate equine interaction to support regulation, connection, and meaningful change.
About Shauna
Shauna Dowden, PhD is a licensed psychologist specializing in embodied approaches to healing. She blends traditional talk therapy with carefully facilitated experiences alongside horses at Moonlight Ranch. Her work honors nervous system regulation, relational safety, and clients’ strengths.
Approach & Philosophy
Sessions are trauma-informed, client-centered, and tailored to each person’s pace. Working with horses is never about riding — it’s about presence, attunement, and nonverbal communication. Horses offer honest social feedback that can help people notice patterns in how they show up with others and with themselves.
Who benefits
- Adults working with anxiety, depression, or relational challenges
- People seeking somatic / body-centered psychotherapy
- Those wanting to build emotional regulation, confidence, and interpersonal awareness
What a session looks like
Typical sessions begin with a brief check-in in the indoor or outdoor space, followed by an optional, guided equine interaction on the ranch grounds. Interactions are experiential and always consent-based — you remain in control and choose whether to be at a distance, touch, or simply observe. All work is processed verbally and somatically with Shauna to integrate learning into daily life.
Contact & Bookings
Email: shauna@moonlightranch.org
(617) 855-2560
Practical Info
Sessions at Moonlight Ranch are held outdoors when weather permits. Please wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes and dress for the pasture. Parking is available on-site.
Credentials
Shauna Dowden, PhD — Licensed Psychologist
