Adria Lazur, LMHC

"Every challenge that [we] encounter is nothing but an opportunity that helps [us] unlock the potential that exists inside." -Travis Eliot The mission of my practice is to support children, adolescents, and young adults on their journey towards social, emotional, and mental well-being. Through their relationships with horses during the therapy experience, clients will uncover and build upon personal strengths, call on their courage to overcome life’s challenges, learn how to maintain calmness, and develop interpersonal relationship skills. I believe that everyone is capable of amazing things, has the potential for growth, and is worthy of belonging. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC-Massachusetts) with 15 years experience providing social-emotional support and mental health services to children ages 5-18 within school settings. I have a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology, with concentrations in Child and Family Interventions and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies (CBT) From Assumption College in Worcester, MA. I have over 10 years of experience working with horses and am currently enrolled in an Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) Certification Program through the HERD Institute. When working with clients, whether a session is in the barn or in the office, I employ creative, experiential, strengths-based intervention strategies rooted in cognitive-behavioral and humanistic theory. What is CBT? Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based mental health treatment based on the concept that our thoughts influence our emotions and behaviors, in an interconnected cycle. CBT uses psychoeducation (learning about our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors as well as how they connect), cognitive coping (ways to identify and reframe negative thoughts), mindfulness, behavior activation (for depression), and exposure (for anxiety/facing fears) to help clients identify and change unhelpful thinking in order to feel and do better. Why horses? Horses live in the moment and are naturally very attuned to their environment, including the people within it. They have the ability to reflect and respond to our emotions, fostering the development of self-regulation skills and increased self-awareness. Incorporating horses into the therapeutic process creates an experiential space within which clients tune-in to the present moment, authentically connect with themselves and the horses, and have the opportunity to learn a wide variety of life skills that can be generalized to everyday life. The relationship between an individual and a horse is a powerful agent for change, personal growth, and well-being. Check out horsesformentalhealth.org/how-horses-help/#why for more information about Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP). No horse experience is needed! EFP sessions are conducted on the ground. If you’re interested in more information about CBT and EFP, please feel free to reach out!