About Calming Reins Counseling
Frequently Asked:
A natural backdrop for healing
These are not your average therapist office views. Calming Reins is located in the picturesque Snoqualmie Valley, surrounded by lush forests and rolling hills. The valley is known for its tranquil and peaceful atmosphere, making it the perfect setting for those seeking a calming and restorative environment. Just steps away from the pastures, the office itself has large windows that allow natural light to pour in and offer views of the stunning landscape outside. With its tranquil setting and nurturing environment, this is the perfect place to heal, grow, and find peace of mind.
Whether you’re from the big city of Seattle looking to escape the urban environment and find a moment of calm, or you live in the nearby Carnation, Redmond, or Issaquah areas hoping for a short commute, Calming Reins is here for you.
Professional guidance with genuine connection
Hi, I’m JoAnna Frazier McBride, licensed therapist and owner of Calming Reins Counseling. I am a lifelong equestrian, and have always noticed the healing power of horses. An internship in high school with a veteran-serving equine therapy organization in Colorado ignited my passion for this work, and helped me understand the science and research around why horses and humans can connect in such a powerful way.
Throughout my career in school and office-based therapy settings, I have always found myself bringing clients into nature whenever possible. I eventually found that I wanted to find a way to greater incorporate connection with nature and animals into my therapy work. After completing training in Trauma-Focused Equine Assisted Psychotherapy through The Natural Lifemanship Institute, I created Calming Reins Counseling in 2022.
After completing my undergraduate degree at Seattle University, I worked for two years with Catholic Community Services in Tacoma. As a therapeutic clinician, I worked with children in foster care, at-risk of going into foster care, or at-risk of being hospitalized for mental health challenges. This work honed my crisis response skills, as well as taught me the incredible power of a strengths-based approach.
I received my masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Seattle Pacific University in 2020 and hold a marriage and family therapy license in the state of Washington. I have completed Level One training in Lifespan Integration, a trauma processing modality. I also have training and experience with skills from both Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Radically-Open DBT. I have been trained in helping clients create therapeutic poetry through The Pongo Project.
Explore the Benefits of Equine Therapy at Your Own Pace
Equine assisted psychotherapy has been found to have a number of benefits for individuals seeking to improve their mental and emotional health. At Calming Reins, you can choose to combine equine therapy with traditional talk therapy at any level you wish.
This combination of equine assisted and traditional talk therapy can provide a well-rounded approach to mental health and emotional healing. Equine therapy offers a unique and experiential approach, integrating horses as therapeutic partners to help individuals experience connection and explore relationships. When combined with traditional talk therapy, the power of this approach is amplified, as individuals have the opportunity to process and integrate their experiences in a supportive and safe environment.
Nature-Based Healing
Nature-based therapy, also known as eco-therapy or green therapy, incorporates the natural environment into the therapeutic process. This approach recognizes the many benefits that connection with nature can provide, such as reduced stress levels, increased sense of connection with self or others, and improved overall well-being.
At Calming Reins, the focus is on using the natural world to foster a sense of connection, grounding, and healing. This involves activities like mindful walking through the fields, visiting the horses in our pasture, or simply existing in the natural beauty of the surrounding environment during a session.
Nature-based therapy has been found to be effective in treating a wide range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and addiction. It has also been shown to be beneficial for individuals with cognitive and physical disabilities, as well as those with chronic illnesses. By harnessing the power of nature and the outdoors, nature-based therapy can help individuals develop greater self-awareness, resilience, and a stronger connection to the world around them.
Do I have to work with horses to work with you?
No, I also provide traditional office based services. Many of my clients do not include horses in their work, but enjoy the peaceful ranch setting as location for their therapy work.How often is therapy?
The length and frequency vary depending on the individual situation of each client; however, therapy is typically once a week or once every other week for 50 minutes for individual sessions or 80 minutes for family sessions.Can I use insurance to pay for sessions?
Although I am an Out of Network Provider with insurance plans, I am happy to submit claims on behalf of clients who would like to utilize their Out of Network benefits. If preferable, I can provide an invoice that you can submit directly to your insurance company for possible reimbursement of services. If you are interested in using your out of network benefits, I would strongly encourage calling your insurance provider to see more specifically what would be covered.What does it mean to be an Out of Network Provider?
This simply means that I don't contract with any insurance plans directly so clients pay the full session fee to me directly. However, you can still get reimbursement from your plan. After an out of network claim is submitted to your insurance, your insurance will reimburse you directly for any coverage that they provide, typically by mailing a check.
Frequently Asked Questions
When I call my insurance, what should I ask them?
Do I have any Out of Network coverage for outpatient mental health services?
Will my insurance plan reimburse for services by a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)?
What is my Out of Network Deductible?
After the Out of Network Deductible has been met, what percentage would be covered by insurance?
What is the “allowed amount” that is covered by my plan for codes 90837 (individual) or 90847 (family)?
My insurance states that they will pay for 50% of out of network mental health services. Does that mean that I will get reimbursed for half of your session fee?
Unfortunately it's not quite that simple. You may see that your plan provides X% of coverage for out of network, but you need to keep in mind that this will be X% of the allowed amount that your plan dictates for this service, which can vary widely.
Ready to get started?
Ask a question or schedule a consultation and see if Calming Reins is the right fit for you or your family.
Appointments are currently available on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays.