Enhance Your Well-Being, Build Skills, & Explore Connection With Equines
“Like the sea turtle surviving against the odds and becoming a symbol of fortitude, you, too, can learn how to shift from hard-shelled survival toward skillful navigation of life’s transitions” —Melissa (Dr. Mel) Jenkins-Fernández, Psy.D., Licensed Psychologist in Florida’s Space Coast.
Telepsychology to support emotional growth and skill development for adults and adolescents 11+ experiencing anxiety, stress, and grief in 42+ PSYPACT locations. In-office therapy is in Melbourne, Florida.
Equine Assisted-Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy (EquiLateral®), EQUUSOMA®, and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) are ground-based in Cocoa, Florida.
Adjunct sessions with equines may support the work you’re already doing in therapy. To get started, schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to decide if it’s a good fit. A referral from your current therapist is required.
How?
Not in Florida or near Space Coast?
Looking for a virtual option?
If you are reading this, you are now Within Range of learning something meaningful: an opportunity to build useful coping skills and explore strategies to help achieve your goals. Within Range is a small specialized practice that offers Telepsychology in 42+ PSYPACT locations. Still kicking the can down the road? Let’s talk. —Dr. Mel with Wally Goldendoodle
PROFESSIONAL AND COMPASSIONATE GUIDANCE
Together,
we can co-create a step-by-step plan to support your growth and development
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Short-term integrative psychotherapy utilizes a tailored approach from various modalities for each client based upon specific needs to help reduce distress, build coping skills, and improve outlook.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy and Equine Assisted-EMDR (EquiLateral®), Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP), and EQUUSOMA® are options.
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EMDR is a researched-based 8-phase therapy modality developed by psychologist Dr. Francine Shapiro, Ph.D., that promotes healing from traumatic memories, images, and sensations without re-telling the story or details.
The EMDR Nightmare Protocol can help reduce nightmare intensity and frequency for more restful sleep.
EMDR-Group-Traumatic Episode Protocols (G-TEP) developed by psychologists Drs. Bruit Laub, Ph.D., and Elan Shapiro, Psy.D.
G-TEP: is a small group intervention for people exposed to the same event. The goal is to improve coping skills and help reduce traumatic impact. Includes a 11×17 worksheet with minimal writing/drawing, bilateral stimulation (tapping), and a small physical object for grounding.
Locations of EMDR Delivery
🐴 Equine Assisted-EMDR is ground-based (no riding) in Cocoa, Florida. The EquiLateral® protocol includes the 8-phases of EMDR alongside horses created by Sarah Jenkins, MC, LPC, CPsychol.
In-Office EMDR is in Melbourne, Florida.
Virtual EMDR (Telepsychology) is available in PSYPACT locations.
Dr. Mel is EMDR-International Association (EMDRIA™) Certified. An Equilateral® dual provider in Mental Health and Equine Professional roles.
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Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is a ground-based (no riding) approach that invites equines into sessions within the therapy framework.
For example, in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), developed by psychiatrist Dr. Aaron Beck, M.D., the presence of equines may offer insightful information during an interaction that shifts all-or-nothing thinking.
Horses often show clients, what Dr. Mel likes to call, “neigh-gative” thinking by becoming aware of automatic negative thoughts and challenging unhelpful patterns. Inviting equines into psychotherapy sessions is to inspire and support clients’ goals and growth.
EAP provides opportunities for clients to explore self-awareness, communication, boundaries, grounding, emotional regulation, problem-solving, and distress tolerance.
EQUUSOMA® was founded by Sarah Schlote, MA, RP, CCC, SEP, to help both equines and people heal from trauma. EQUUSOMA® EAP sessions focus on establishing safety and stabilization, trauma processing (without a verbal narrative), and gentle reconnection.
Clients often report there is value in “not doing a lot” other than observing, noticing, and being present with an equine. Matching their breathing patterns and relaxed stature can shift tension into a more calming experience.
Noticing the shift provides evidence of a change that was not forced; it was forged by an unspoken invitation.
While equines’ responses aren’t actually magical, or a mirror of a client’s internal emotional state, their signals and interactions are memorable and meaningful.
Equines are intelligent, sensitive, and attentive to the environment along with aspects of human movement, posture, voice, and behavior. Their responses may provide inspiration or information that a client can explore in the session, which may generate new perspectives or insights.
Professional Equestrians to people without horse experience can equally explore personal growth and goals in EAP because it’s not about the knowledge or past experience with equines.
EAP is about supporting clients to make changes that creates more balanced thinking and a positive outlook for purpose beyond the arena and goal posts.
Dr. Mel is certified in several EAP models and considers which framework may best align with each client's goals and needs. Physical and emotional safety, boundaries, autonomy, and participation levels are respected for clients and equines. See FAQ
Is this approach a bunch of horse manure? Nope. EAP is research informed and is an emerging experiential approach with ongoing research for efficacy. Absolute gauntness that there will never be any manure present is not possible given the biology of equines.
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Already in Psychotherapy?
Adjunct (i.e., in addition to your current therapy) Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) or Equine Assisted-EMDR (EquiLateral®) in Cocoa, Florida.
Adjunct EAP sessions are opportunities to further explore areas of growth that clients are addressing in therapy, such as grounding skills or improving balanced thinking and emotional regulation.
Adjunct Equine Assisted-EMDR is provided alongside an equine. Sessions could range from 5 to 12 or more depending upon the complexity of the target(s) the client identifies to process.
Adjunct sessions of EAP and Equine Assisted-EMDR are often memorable because of what transpires for the client in the session with equines that often helps them feel seen, accepted.
How do you know it will be a good fit for you? The free 15-minute consultation call with you can help you decide without any pressure and will not replace your current primary mental health treatment.
Adjunct sessions are provided from the months of September to May.
A referral from your current mental health provider for adjunct services is required to get started. Therapists can complete a confidential inquiry consultation form here
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Reoccurring dreams? Dream themes can be explored for relevance and helpful insights that support emotional growth (e.g., teeth falling out, moving in slow motion, flying, being chased, taking a test over, etc.). Each dreamer has a unique dream symbol vocabulary and specific meaning for individuals can be unpacked.
THE PROCESS
Honoring Your Pathway
1
BEGIN WITH A CONSULTATION
A free 15-minute phone consultation will help you decide if services are a good fit to accomplish your goal(s). Click here for a confidential consultation.
2
CREATE A STRATEGIC PLAN
Your step-by-step plan is unique to you and not a one-size-fits-all approach. Let’s work on what matters to you. Together we create your pathway forward aimed to enhance your well-being.
3
APPLY CHANGES RIGHT AWAY
Change is difficult but
attainable with professional and reliable support. Approach life’s abrupt transitions and challenges with improved clarity, coping skills, and emotional capacity. Gain more confidence to set and obtain your goals.
ABOUT
Hi, I’m Dr. Mel
Welcome. When you're Within Range, you’re seen, heard, and understood. Too much mental static? Let’s reset. How? Psychotherapy is about changing unhelpful patterns in a step-by-step learning process. We explore mental roadblocks and various options that may result in “Aha!” clarity. Curious how I may be an asset, along with equines?
Inviting Equines Into The Therapy Arena
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Clients are invited to explore the possibility of making changes and discovering insights through meaningful interactions with equines.
Here are some examples:
Donkeys communicate contentment, fear, uncertainty, and discomfort through subtle changes in body language, posture, facial expression, vocalizations, and behavior. Their displays of playfulness are not so subtle. Learn to slow down to notice very subtle signs of distress and attune to needs.
Donkeys are intelligent animals who carefully assess unfamiliar situations and environments. They are often mislabeled as “stubborn,” but are actually cautious and intentional to pause until the situation is safe enough to proceed. Learn to pause and assess and not assume.
Horses are sometimes only referenced as “flighty prey” animals but their responses to potential and actual threats are much more than simply “fight or flight.” Depending on the situation, a horse may stop, orient toward a stimulus, move away, seek safety, or proceed with a charge. Learn how some descriptions can limit potential and explore shifting language and understanding for growth.
Dr. Jenkins-Fernández values interactions with equines because both simple and challenging interactions have deepened the value of reflection and intentional responding that gently builds upon a trustworthy, predictable, and consistent connection.
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The intention of ground-based therapy alongside horses and donkeys is to explore personal growth goals and skill-building. Clients often report more self-awareness and grounding after processing concerns and challenges.
Equine-Assisted EMDR (EquiLateral®) helps reprocess traumatic memories into adaptive information, while maintaining awareness of the past and present (dual attention) with an equine whose presence may offer grounding, comfort, and support.
Equines, just like people can be mislabeled and misjudged. Identifying and understanding automatic negative thoughts and how to shift into a balanced perspective without jumping to conclusions and labeling can create a new pathway of understanding and expectations. CBT alongside equines provides opportunities to explore thought distortions and weighing evidence for and against beliefs to support change.
Sometimes even learning about how equines communicate and show signs of contentment and distress in a herd helps clients explore their own displays of emotions and social connections. The framework from EQUUSOMA® in therapy helps clients attune and orient towards safety in session and observe the herd and physiological responses for signals of calm and connection.
FAQS
Answering your questions
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On-line Telepsychology sessions are provided on a secure and confidential HIPAA compliant platform. Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) allows authorized licensed psychologists to practice telepsychology across participating state lines.
PSYPACT:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming
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$250: for 90-minute (Virtual/Office) Psychological Intake
$200: for 60-minute (Virtual/Office) Psychotherapy Sessions
$200: for 60-minute Equine Inspired Psychotherapy (EIP) Sessions
$250: for 60-minute EAGALA MH & ES Team Sessions
$275: for 90-minute EMDR (Virtual/Office) sessions
$275: for 90-minute Equine Assisted-EMDR (EquiLateral®) Sessions
InsuranceOut of Network
A superbill is provided after the session for client to submit to their insurance company for reimbursement options
Accepted payment includes
Credit or Debit cards, Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flex Savings Account (FSA)
“Step Up For Students” (SUFS) for recipients of Florida’s SUFS specialized services scholarships. Schedule a consultation here
If you use your Out-of-Network (OON) insurance benefit, you can request an itemized receipt from Within RANGE (i.e., receipt of payment, diagnosis, and CPT codes), to be provided for you to submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement
Click here for some helpful questions to ask your insurance company.
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HBRD isn’t a diagnosis, but the impact is emotionally, financially, and physically draining. Whether it’s the chronic tension of “what now?” in the barn, continual boundary violations, or isolation in high-pressure performance environments, HBRD can contribute to emotional dysregulation that may affect both you and your horse(s).
In other words, even when the drama ends and the environment shifts from chaotic to peaceful but you still feel stuck carrying the emotional fallout, because it’s not over for your nervous system.
Equines offer a stable therapeutic connection and their sensitivity and responses to human emotions and behavioral shifts can provide meaningful feedback when something feels off with their person.
If HBRD or unresolved distress causes you to instead feel a sense of dread and erodes your ability to feel safe and grounded even around the equines you love the most, you may want to consider short-term psychotherapy for a guided reconnection and recharge.
Psychotherapy for Equestrians 🐎
We often seek out professional guidance when our equines are not acting like their usual selves or if there are problematic behavioral challenges that need to be addressed.But what about the stress and strain on the people who care for equines and invest a lot of themselves, education, time, and money into supporting equines while also encountering HBRD?
Dr. Mel not only understands HBRD but also the unique needs of equestrian clients within the full spectrum of equestrian life, including the joy of connection, accidents and near misses, to the silent stressors behind the scenes to the shock and sorrow of empty spaces after a beloved equine moves onward.
She offers compassionate short-term therapy for equestrians and equine lovers to heal, restore balance, and move forward with greater clarity in and out of the saddle and arena.
Results Beyond the Arena
Whether you're a show rider, professional athlete, trainer, equine professional, or trail rider seeking emotional steadiness, therapy may help you reconnect within yourself, with your horse(s), and loved ones.
Within Range WELCOMES Horse Barn Related Drama (HBRD) because therapy provides a safe way to unpack and explore stressors and build skills to equip you to not only navigate the drama challenges with more confidence but also expand your emotional capacity when under pressure.
What if a person’s experiences in the equine arena are beyond HBRD and feel traumatic? Therapy is a safe place to fully explore and evaluate traumatic experiences and provide opportunities for healing from trauma.
If difficult dynamics are impacting your personal well-being, let’s talk.
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Because you want a plan, a process, and a personalized path to meaningful change. You expect clinical expertise, compassion, appreciation for neurodivergent thinkers, thoughtful integration of the human–animal connection, and respect for the equine-human relationship.
Dr. Melissa (“Dr. Mel”) Jenkins-Fernández, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist in Florida. Her small specialized practice is called Within Range Counseling and Consultation Services, PLLC with a focus on goal-oriented short-term therapy.
Range is her acronym: Reset - Align - Navigate - Gear Up - Emerge, that serves as a reminder to keep learning and refining skill-sets. The “R” is also a reminder to Reassess.
Types of therapy offered include Person Centered, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Existential, Experiential, Somatic Focused, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP), Equine Assisted-EMDR (EquiLateral®), and Adjunct EAP
Her work spans various populations and settings: from adolescents 11+ and military personnel to emergency departments, classrooms, and equine facilities, reflecting professional dedication to helping you flourish
Due to her sensitivity of the human-animal bond, she is often requested to help people heal from: being hurt by an animal (i.e., especially horses), loss of a beloved animal, and various other significant life traumas
Dr. Mel often integrates inspirational knowledge of dogs, birds, animals, reptiles, and of course equines into psychotherapy
The Strategy: create a personalized plan to strengthen well-being, build coping and capacity resources, and help foster connections, so you can move forward with more confidence and understanding of what drives you, what holds you back, and how to gently shift unhelpful thought patterns into more balanced thinking.
Hiring a psychologist is a significant personal decision and investment in your well-being. Psychotherapy is about transformation.
You decide.
"Adapt, Endure. Like the donkey in pursuit, safeguard in uncertainty, move with intentionality” —Dr. Mel
Learn more from a 15-minute free consultation call: Schedule here.
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Psychotherapy and Personal Growth for Anxiety and Distress, Life’s Transitions, Grief and Loss, Post-Traumatic Stress, Equine and Animal Incident & Traumatic Event(s), and Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)
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Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and Equine Assisted-EMDR (EquiLateral®) in Cocoa, Florida provides ground-based (no riding) interactions with equines while honoring each person's and equine's nervous systems, connections, and participation levels. Provided from the months of September to May.
If a person is already in psychotherapy and is curious about adding Adjunct sessions of EAP or Equine Assisted-EMDR to current therapy, a referral from the current mental health provider is required to get started along with a brief screening call to ensure a good fit for services.
EMDR Group-Traumatic Episode Protocol (G-TEP): a trauma-processing method based on EMDR to safely reduce distress without verbally sharing traumatic experiences, using guided worksheets, bilateral stimulation, and resource-building techniques.
📲 Request a free consultation to explore next steps to get started.
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Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy-International Association (EMDRIA™) Certified Clinician
EMDR Group-Traumatic Episode Protocol (G-TEP): a small group trauma processing method based on EMDR to safely reduce distress without verbally sharing traumatic experiences, using guided worksheets, bilateral stimulation, and resource-building techniques.
EquiLateral® Equine Assisted-Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy (EA-EMDR) provider in dual Mental Health and Equine Professional roles.
Equine Assisted Growth & Learning Association (EAGALA) Military Provider Designation with dual Certification: Mental Health (MH) Professional and Equine Specialist (ES). MH & ES Team that is solution oriented and evidence driven.
EQUUSOMA® Level 1: “Time to feel felt and get gotten™” integrates polyvagal theory, attachment theory, trauma neuroscience, ethology, and Somatic Experiencing® modalities that supports horse-human trauma recovery.
Ethical equine welfare is a fundamental part of responsible EAP practice. All Within Range EAP programs are ground-based. An equine may be present and free to decline participation, disengage, move away, or take a break at any time.
At the heart of each EAP modality offered is respect and ethical care for clients, equines, and their autonomy.
In Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, “assisted” doesn’t mean that equines are required to actively assist, perform, or complete a task. They are not “used” as tools, therapists, or as responsible for creating a change. Dr. Mel often uses the word “inspired” to describe the direct and indirect presence of equines in the psychotherapy sessions.
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Short-term Psychotherapy for traumatic incident(s), anxiety and distress, grief and loss, post-traumatic growth, and life’s transitions is provided in Melbourne, FL. Limited time-slots due to small specialized practice size. Inquire for specific time and day on the Request A Consultation form.
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Within Range Counseling and Consultation Services, PLLC
Licensed in Florida #PY12372
PSYPACT Mobility #4660
Practicing Since 2006
EMDR-International Association (EMDRIA™) Certified Clinician
Education:
Psycho-Oncology Postdoctoral Fellowship (2007) in the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center: Washington University School of Medicine & Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO
APA Pre-Doctoral Clinical Psychology Internship (2006) in the Vanderbilt Consortium in VAMCs in Nashville and Murfreesboro, TN
Psy.D. & M.A. in Clinical Psychology (2006) in an APA accredited program from Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA with Christian integration, with honors and as an Outstanding Graduate
Served honorably in the U.S. Air Force. She is a third generation Veteran from a family line of U.S. Army Combat Veterans and Clergy
Work Experience: Equine assisted program development and services, Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMC), U.S. Army Civilian Embedded Psychologist, private practice, and nursing home consultation
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If after the consultation call, we agree to be a good fit to work together: Within Range sets an appointment with straight forward instructions to review and sign documentation (e.g., HIPAA and Privacy Practices, Informed Consent, Release of Information, a Good Faith Estimate under the “No Surprise Act” and brief assessments)
RESET AND RECALIBRATE
Psychotherapy for Equestrians & Horse Lovers
If your horse(s) could make a phone call, do you think they would schedule a free 15-minute consultation for you because they wonder if you may need some human support?
🥕 Or would they just call for carrots?
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Resources
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