Struggling to Stay Calm as a Parent? How Equine-Assisted Therapy in Maryland Can Help You Regulate
If you’re a parent struggling to stay calm during tantrums, transitions, or just everyday stress, you’re not broken—you’re overwhelmed. This blog explains how self-regulation impacts parenting, how the nervous system works under pressure, and how equine-assisted therapy in Maryland can help you feel more grounded and connected.
If you’ve ever snapped at your child and felt terrible afterward (also known as being any parent anywhere)—or found yourself completely shut down and overwhelmed—you’re not alone. Parenting is full of moments that test your patience, your nervous system, and your ability to stay grounded.
There’s a reason so many people come to see me asking themselves, “Am I a bad mom?”
Spoiler alert: NOPE.
You might be wondering:
Why is it so hard to stay calm with my kids?
And more importantly:
Is there a way to parent differently—without feeling like I’m failing all the time?
The answer lies in self-regulation—and therapy can help. In this blog, we’ll break down what self-regulation really means, why it’s so hard in parenting, what brain science has to say—and how you can build skills that actually help.
In fact, equine-assisted therapy offers a powerful, experiential way to build emotional awareness, nervous system skills, and relational safety. And no, you don’t need any experience with horses.
I offer this unique form of equine-assisted parenting therapy in Maryland—right here at a quiet, nature-based setting in Bel Air.
What Is Self-Regulation, and Why Does It Matter in Parenting?
Self-regulation is your ability to recognize when you're overwhelmed and bring yourself back to a place of calm. It’s not about being chill 24/7 or never losing your cool—it’s about noticing your internal state and knowing what to do when you're dysregulated.
Here’s the thing: kids borrow our nervous systems. Their sense of safety is co-regulated through ours. So when we’re stressed, overstimulated, or checked out, they feel it—even if we’re trying our best to hold it all together.
If the thought of that makes you feel more panicked or guilty, pause and take a deep breath. Absolutely no parent in the world is regulated all the time. This isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being authentic.
From a brain development perspective (thanks to the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics), we know that the brain processes safety and threat from the bottom-up. That means your body needs to feel safe before your brain can think clearly, problem-solve, or respond with empathy. This is especially true in high-stress parenting moments.
Why It’s So Hard to Stay Regulated as a Parent
The parents I work with in therapy aren’t “angry” parents or “bad” parents. They’re tired, overloaded, and often carrying unprocessed stress from their own childhood or life transitions.
Common signs of dysregulation in parents include:
Yelling or snapping at your kids, even when you don’t want to
Shutting down emotionally or feeling frozen
Constant irritability or exhaustion
Feeling like your reactions are bigger than the moment calls for
(Like that time I told my kid I was going to melt his toys and bury them in the backyard after a chaotic Easter egg hunt. Yep, that happened.)
And when you’re trying to parent with intention, this can lead to guilt and shame.
That’s where therapy comes in—not to judge you, but to help you understand why these patterns happen and how to build something different.
How Equine-Assisted Therapy Supports Parents
So why horses?
Equine-assisted therapy involves partnering with horses in a therapeutic setting to support healing, nervous system regulation, and relational growth. Horses are incredibly attuned to nonverbal cues and respond to your internal state—not just what you say or how you act.
When you step into a session with horses:
You’ll get immediate, nonjudgmental feedback from the horse based on how your nervous system is showing up
You’ll have the chance to notice your own patterns in a safe, supportive environment
You’ll practice new ways of being—without pressure, shame, or needing to talk your way through it
No riding is involved. No horse experience required. You set the pace.
This work is especially effective for parents dealing with stress, burnout, anxiety, grief, or the invisible weight of trying to hold it all together.
Equine Therapy in Maryland: A Different Way to Heal
Located in Bel Air, Maryland, I offer equine-assisted therapy for parents who are looking for something deeper than traditional talk therapy. These sessions take place outdoors at a quiet farm surrounded by nature and supported by gentle, intuitive horses.
This is a space to:
Breathe
Connect with your body
Rebuild trust in your nervous system
Practice co-regulation in real time
Whether you’re navigating postpartum overwhelm, parenting neurodivergent kids, or just trying to break the cycle of generational stress—you deserve support.
Ready to Parent with More Confidence and Calm?
If you're feeling stuck in survival mode, you don’t have to do it alone. Therapy can help you feel more grounded, more present, and more connected with your kids—and yourself.
Equine-assisted therapy sessions are available in Harford County, Maryland, just a short drive from Bel Air, Fallston, and Aberdeen. I also offer virtual therapy for those who prefer a traditional format.
Let’s talk about what support could look like for you.
👉 Schedule a free phone consult today.
