Laura Sanders, LMSW, LLC
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Laura Sanders, LMSW, LLC is the private therapy practice of Laura Sanders, a clinical social worker with an office in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Her website lists individual, couples, family and group therapy along with animal-assisted therapy using farm animals. This is mixed-species animal-assisted therapy rather than a dedicated equine program: according to a University of Michigan Record article, sessions take place at Lovingway Farm in Dexter, where the animals include horses and miniature horses.
- Individual, couples, family and group therapy
- Animal-assisted therapy with farm animals, including horses
- Clinical consultation and supervision
- Training for professionals
- Children and teens affected by trauma
- Adults affected by trauma
- Children and families with attachment or adoption concerns
- Children and teens with autism (per the U-M Record)
- Therapists and helping professionals who work with abuse survivors
More about this center
About the Practice
Laura Sanders lists the credentials LMSW and ACSW and a master's degree in social work from the University of Michigan, where she also teaches. Her website describes her approach as victim- and survivor-centered and eclectic.
The U-M Record reports that she began adding animal-assisted therapy to her private practice by 2014. Sanders told the Record that animal-assisted therapy "is not a standalone practice" but is combined with evidence-based methods toward mental health goals. For horse-focused counseling, see our equine-assisted psychotherapy guide.
The Farm and the Animals
According to the U-M Record, Lovingway Farm is a 9-acre property in Dexter that Sanders and her spouse, Ramiro Martinez, bought in 2013. The article lists three full-sized horses and miniature horses, plus a donkey, goats, pigs, rabbits, chickens, geese and barn cats. It says Sanders and Martinez are each certified by the Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship as equine specialists in mental health and learning. This is an individual certification, not center accreditation.
The article says new clients start with a farm tour and are invited to find the animals they feel drawn to, so not every client works with horses. Sessions are individualized.
Location
The practice office is at 1935 Pauline Blvd., Suite 200, Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Animal-assisted sessions take place at Lovingway Farm in Dexter, Michigan, according to the U-M Record. Ask the practice for farm directions.
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.
Where do the horse sessions take place?
Not at the Ann Arbor office. The U-M Record says animal-assisted sessions happen at Lovingway Farm, Sanders' farm in Dexter, Michigan.
How do I get started?
Call (734) 662-3509 or use the contact form on laura-sanders.com. According to the U-M Record, new clients begin with a tour of the farm.
How much does it cost?
Fees and insurance information are not published. Call (734) 662-3509 to ask, and see our guide to equine therapy costs.
Location
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103
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.