Currently Dr. Foynes partners with an equine specialist, Allie Pappas, in offering equine-facilitated therapy at ClearWind Farm in Chapel Hill, NC.
As someone who is highly sensitive and has learned how to both navigate the challenges of sensitivity and embrace its gifts, Dr. Foynes has a particular passion for assisting parents, helping professionals and other sensitive souls who deeply feel the weight of the world, find ways to live with more vitality and less anxiety and burnout. One of the reasons she was first drawn to partnering with horses in equine-facilitated therapy is because horses share this gift of sensitivity. While Melissa grew up in the city without much proximity to horses, she has always felt a deep connection with them given her Chinese lineage, as horses have been an important aspect of Chinese culture and mythology for thousands of years.
One of Dr. Foynes’ passions is integrating principles from evidence-based psychology and a variety of ancient wisdom traditions since these healing modalities can have a powerfully synergistic effect when used together. For Melissa, equine-assisted psychotherapy offers a uniquely experiential way to develop insight and work toward change, in a truly holistic way that involves body, mind, heart, and spirit.
Please contact us if you are interested in learning more.