Stirrup Hope
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Stirrup Hope is a counseling practice in Colorado Springs, Colorado, that has offered Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy since 2007, according to its website. Sessions can move counseling out of the office and into a barn setting with horses, goats and llamas. The website names children, teens and families, and its Psychology Today profile also lists adults and older adults.
- Equine facilitated psychotherapy
- Individual and family counseling
- Optional sessions in a barn setting
- Trauma-focused therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and cognitive processing therapy (CPT)
- In-person and online sessions
- Free 15-minute consultation
- Children
- Teens
- Families
- Adults
- Older adults
- Veterans
More about this center
About the Program
Stirrup Hope describes its work as equine-assisted psychotherapy in a short-term, experiential format. Its website says counseling can take place in an office or in a barn setting with horses, goats and llamas. The stated aims are healing from the past, empowerment in the present and hope for the future, including spotting long-standing patterns that may hold a person back.
Its Psychology Today profile adds that CBT and CPT are built into equine sessions, that grooming, bathing and caring for the horses is part of the work, and that the barn setting engages the senses to encourage mindfulness.
The Horses and Staff
The practice is listed on Psychology Today as Stirrup Hope, LLC, with Gretchen G. Crites, a Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado. The profile lists trauma and PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief, family conflict, parenting and school issues among her specialties, and notes Christian counseling as one approach offered.
Location
Stirrup Hope is at 17530 Bar X Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80908, according to its website. Psychology Today notes that online sessions are also available.
From public records, not yet reviewed by the center · Last updated Oct 2026 Suggest an edit
Common Questions
Answered from the center’s own website and public records.
How do I get started at Stirrup Hope?
Call (719) 377-1138 or email the practice. Its Psychology Today profile lists a free 15-minute consultation.
What does a session cost?
Psychology Today lists $150 per individual session, as listed. The profile says the practice accepts BlueCross BlueShield, Medicaid and TRICARE, so confirm coverage when you call. See our guide to equine therapy costs.
What ages does Stirrup Hope work with?
The website names children, teens and families. Its Psychology Today profile also lists adults and older adults, and says clients have ranged from age 3 to people in their 80s.
Location
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80908
Questions to Ask When You Call
The center is the best source for these answers.
- Are you running now, and taking new riders?Start here. We couldn’t confirm a current schedule.
- Which ages and needs do you work with?Ask about experience with your rider’s specific condition.
- Is a licensed PT, OT or speech therapist involved?Therapist-led hippotherapy is usually the only kind insurance may cover.
- What does a session cost, and are there scholarships?Many nonprofit programs offer sliding scales or sponsored spots.
- Do you have a mounting ramp or lift?Important for riders who use a wheelchair or need help mounting.