Experiential Therapy

Equine

Art

Music

Yoga

Experiential therapy is a hands-on approach to mental health and addiction treatment. Through equine therapy, art therapy, music therapy, yoga, drama, and supervised outings, you practice coping skills in active, real-world settings. Therapy can be interactive, even fun, and still very effective.

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What Is Experiential Therapy?

Experiential therapy is an active form of treatment. Instead of only talking about stress, trauma, or addiction, you practice new ways of responding through structured activities.

For example, you might work with a horse and notice that when you become tense or frustrated, the horse pulls away. You might role-play a difficult conversation and realize you tend to shut down or become defensive. You might go on a supervised outing and practice managing anxiety in a social setting.

These experiences give you a safe place to see how you react in real time and try something different. According to the National Institutes of Health, body-based and expressive therapies can help reduce symptoms of PTSD and other mental health conditions.

Experiential therapy can help you:

Recognize stress and emotional triggers earlier
Build confidence through action
Stay grounded instead of shutting down or escalating
Communicate more clearly

Practice coping skills before using them in daily life

This is structured therapy, not entertainment. Each session has a clear purpose and is followed by discussion, so you can apply what you practiced outside of treatment.

Hands-On Therapy That Helps You Learn by Doing

At Indiana Center for Recovery, experiential therapy is built into your personalized treatment plan. It works alongside individual therapy, group therapy, and other evidence-based approaches. Experiential therapy allows you to practice emotional regulation and communication skills in real-world scenarios.

Skills You Practice in Experiential Therapy

Grooming and leading a horse while learning how your body language affects others
Using painting or drawing to express emotions that feel hard to verbalize
Participating in structured drumming exercises to regulate breathing and stress
Following a trauma-informed yoga session with a certified instructor to calm the stress response

Practicing boundary-setting through guided role-play

Each activity is held in small groups and led by licensed clinicians and certified instructors. You complete the exercise, then process what it revealed about patterns, triggers, and coping strategies.

What Can Experiential Therapy Help With?

Hands-on therapy can be especially helpful when emotions feel overwhelming, having trouble opening up, or hard to explain. Experiential therapy can help with:

PTSD & Trauma-Related Conditions
Emotional Dysregulation
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
Boundary & Communication Issues
Depression & Mood Disorders
Many Other Mental Health & Addiction-Related Conditions

Substance Use & Relapse Triggers

Examples of Experiential Therapies Offered at ICFR

These hands-on therapies give you space to open up in a way traditional talk therapy hasn’t.

Equine Therapy

In partnership with Peaceful Alternatives to Safe Haven (PALS) in Indiana, equine therapy involves ground work with horses every Tuesday and Thursday. For many people, connecting with an animal feels less intimidating than opening up to another person. Horses respond quickly to changes in posture, tone, & behavior, which helps you notice patterns like body language and tone.

Adventure-Based Therapy

Supervised outings such as hiking, going to the lake, or bowling give you the chance to practice coping skills outside of a treatment setting. You may work on managing frustration, handling social anxiety, following through on plans, or responding calmly when things do not go as expected.

Drama & Role-Playing Therapy

Structured role-play allows you to rehearse difficult conversations, practice saying no, or respond differently in high-stress situations. Instead of imagining how you would handle something, you practice it out loud and receive feedback.

Art Therapy

Drawing, painting, and other creative exercises help you express emotions that may be hard to explain. The focus is not on artistic skill. It is on identifying themes, triggers, and emotional reactions that come up during the process.

Music Therapy

Drumming circles, piano, and guitar sessions help with focus, impulse control, and emotional expression. Group rhythm exercises can also improve teamwork and communication.

Trauma-Informed Yoga

Led by a certified instructor, trauma-informed yoga focuses on gentle breathing and guided movement that help you tune in to what your body needs. These sessions allow you to practice coping tools from therapy in a physical way—slowing down, noticing tension, and learning to respond to stress rather than react automatically. This practice helps you stay present with discomfort and understand that difficult feelings and cravings do not last forever.

Therapists Specialized in Experiential Therapies

Experiential therapies are facilitated by licensed clinicians and certified instructors who understand how trauma, stress, and addiction affect the mind and body. Their role is to guide each session, help you process what comes up, and support you as you practice new ways of responding to difficult emotions.

It Starts With A Simple Call

You don’t have to figure everything out before you reach out. Speak with someone who has been through it and can guide you to the other side.

Just talking to someone who actually understands usually brings relief — and that’s a good place to start.

100% Confidential

No judgment

No commitment

Call (844) 650-0064

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THERAPIST

Albin Ashley

Art Therapist

Ashley is a registered art therapist and licensed mental health counselor with over four years of experience. She works with adults facing substance use and mental health challenges and uses art therapy to support healing, self-expression, and growth.

INSTRUCTOR

Kelly Nelson

Yoga Instructor

Kelly discovered yoga in early recovery and found it to be a powerful path to healing and self-compassion. Grounded in her 12-step foundation, she now serves others in recovery by creating supportive, trauma-informed spaces that nurture the mind-body-spirit connection. She believes yoga helps uncover the strength and wholeness already within.

Lily Fishleder, LSW

Therapist

Lily is a therapist and group facilitator at Indiana Center for Recovery who incorporates ukulele and song into her groups. She uses music to foster connection, reflection, and emotional expression. Lily believes music reminds us that it’s okay to ask for help — and just as meaningful to offer it — completing the circle of support.

Hundreds of 5-Star Reviews

I have nothing but good things to say about ICFR. The staff was caring and empathetic.
I truly felt they cared about me as an individual and the struggles I had leading up to my stay.
I was at ICFR for 7 weeks. I really enjoyed learning meditation skills (led by Colin). He was able to teach the class in a way where I learned to be present in the moment and practice mindfulness skills. The food was also great. There were activities such as volleyball, corn hole, basketball, bowling and hiking. I got my life back and don’t EVER plan on going back to the place I was before going to ICFR.

Michelle Brandes

It’s hard to put into words how grateful I am for this place. I was able to do a full three months and I can honestly say I experienced more growth and healing in that 3 months than I have in all the time since I first sought out help 8 years ago. ICFR provided me with a holistic recovery environment – but the setting and tools provided were only effective because they are facilitated by SO MANY people who care; many of whom had their own personal experience in recovery from mental illness and/or addiction. The things I benefited from at ICFR were: group therapy, group outings, individual therapy, art therapy, Yoga Nidra, Kaiut Yoga, meditation, music therapy, living with and connecting to other clients, conversations with staff, decent food, a nice gym, bowling, ping pong, frisbee, and group walks. Everyone from Operations staff, clinical staff, medical staff, group facilitators, therapists, techs, and housekeeping had a part in my experience at ICFR. There is so much passion, empathy, knowledge, support, and love that exudes from each of these individuals, and that is what makes ICFR so great.

Kai Venis

This is an excellent facility that focuses on getting your addiction and mental health back on track. The staff is very friendly and helpful. You will feel truly welcomed, and cared for. You get 2 tv’s per bedroom. They have yoga, a great gym, you get smoke breaks every hour. Overall if I ever had to come back or refer someone to treatment I’d recommend this one!

Miguel Espana

Insurance & Getting Started

Most major insurance plans are accepted. Experiential therapies are typically included as part of a comprehensive treatment program, and many are offered at no additional cost to your or your insurance.

A confidential assessment can help determine the right level of care and verify your insurance benefits. The admissions team can walk you through coverage and next steps so you know exactly what to expect.

Experiential Therapy