Experiential Therapy

Our experiential therapy combines the best parts of sanctuary life — nature exploration, engagement with our animal residents and individual expression—with evidence-based therapeutic practices to meet each therapy participant’s unique needs.

What is Experiential Therapy?

Experiential therapy is an active and child-led therapeutic model. Our participants do a variety of activities during their sessions, including exploring the outdoors, creating artwork, writing and journaling, gardening, helping with sanctuary projects, and so much more.

Our participants may also work in partnership with our rescued animal residents: brushing the goats, making salads for the pigs, creating enrichment toys for the emus, learning the body language of our cats Remy and Oliver, and reading to the chickens, as a few examples.

Heartland's Therapeutic Programs

At Heartland, therapy participants each work with a designated therapist– a certified or licensed professional– during their therapy sessions. All activities are done with the guidance of their therapist, and with the intent of helping participants reach their therapeutic goals.

These goals may include increasing coping skills, learning to better regulate and express emotions, practicing self-advocacy, building social and community involvement skills, and setting boundaries.

Experiential Therapy at Heartland is a good fit for children and young people who enjoy being outdoors and around animals, as well as those who may struggle to express themselves verbally. Our sanctuary’s unique environment and therapeutic experience often allow participants to open up and heal in ways that they’ve struggled with elsewhere.

Heartland’s Experiential Therapy Program currently serves ages 2-21. Interested in joining our waitlist? Caregivers can click the button below or case managers can email us directly at [email protected]

Billing and payment

We offer three options for paying for therapy sessions at Heartland:

Private pay (out-of-pocket)
Heartland Farm Sanctuary is a Children’s Long-Term Support (CLTS) approved provider. You can learn more about CLTS here.
If you’re located in Rock County, learn more about possible funding through Comprehensive Community Services (CCS).

Heartland’s Pathways Program

At Heartland, we believe every individual deserves the opportunity to connect, contribute, and thrive in a community that celebrates their unique strengths. Our new Pathways Program was created to expand on this belief — offering inclusive opportunities for children, teens, and young adults to engage meaningfully with Heartland beyond individual therapy sessions or summer camp experiences.

By creating accessible and inclusive opportunities, the Pathways Program allows Heartland to reach a wider range of community members, including those who may not be seeking therapy services but still benefit from supportive relationship-centered environments.

Creating Inclusive Pathways for Growth

The Pathways Program is designed to foster belonging, purpose, and skill-building through a variety of experiential and interest-based opportunities. Participants can join social and recreational groups, art-based programs, and animal care task groups, all structured to promote connection, confidence, and emotional well-being.

Guided by Compassionate Professionals

Each Pathways experience is intentionally designed to meet participants where they are, providing both personal growth opportunities and a sense of community contribution. Our professional team, consisting of coaches, a recreational therapist, and an art therapist, helps participants develop social skills, communication tools, emotional regulation strategies, and self-advocacy skills through creative and hands-on experiences.

Through these opportunities, participants gain more than just new skills; they build confidence, independence, and lasting connections with peers, staff, and animals. The Pathways Program also serves as a bridge between Heartland’s therapeutic programs and broader community involvement, supporting participants as they transition into more independent roles within Heartland and beyond.

Program Goals:

Expand inclusive participation opportunities for children, teens, and young adults.
Provide structured, strengths-based activities that promote social connection, creativity, and life skills.
Offer supported volunteer and employment-style experiences.
Encourage personal growth, self-confidence, and independence in a compassionate, therapeutic setting.
Strengthen community engagement within Heartland by connecting participants, staff, and animals through shared purpose.

Why the Pathways Program Matters

The Pathways Program embodies Heartland’s mission to create a compassionate and inclusive community where people and animals learn, grow, and heal together. For many participants, Pathways provides a bridge between therapeutic support and community involvement—an opportunity to practice real-world skills while contributing to a place that values every person’s role and abilities.

Current Pathways Programs:

Current group offerings are listed below. New groups may be added and existing groups may change as we develop additional Pathways opportunities. Each group has a maximum capacity, and enrollment is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, group placement may take into consideration factors such as group dynamics and participant safety to ensure the best experience for all involved.

Caring For Yourself and Others: An ongoing social group that blends self-care learning with hands-on animal care experiences, participants explore how caring for themselves connects to caring for animals and others around them. The group emphasizes empathy, responsibility, emotional wellness, and social connection in a supportive, inclusive environment.

- Meets Tuesdays from 5:30-7:00 PM on a weekly basis
- Ages: 12-18
- Starts 1/6/25

Teen Art Group: A creative, wellness-focused group where teens and tweens can build social connections and express themselves through a variety of therapeutic art activities. Participants explore different aspects of wellness while connecting with peers in a supportive, strength-based environment. Note: This group centers on art-based activities and includes limited animal interaction.

- Meets Thursdays from 5:30–7:00 PM on a biweekly basis
- Ages: 13-18
- Starts 1/15/25

Child Art Group: A creative, wellness-focused group for children to explore coping with emotions, build social connections, and express themselves through a variety of therapeutic art activities, including painting, drawing, clay, collage, sculpture, and movement. Participants engage in a supportive environment that celebrates their individual strengths. Note: This group focuses on art-based activities and includes limited animal interaction.

- Meets Thursdays from 4:00-5:15 PM on a weekly basis
- Ages: 8-12
- Starts 1/8/25

Social Engagement Group: A teen group focused on social wellness, emotional awareness, and building key social skills such as turn-taking, flexibility, and showing interest in others. Participants engage in creative, collaborative activities (like making group artwork or hands-on projects) that promote connection, teamwork, and a sense of contribution in a supportive, strength-based environment.

- Meets Tuesdays from 3:30-4:30 PM on a biweekly basis
- Ages: 13-18
- Starts 1/9/25

Game-Based Social Group: Designed to help participants build interpersonal skills and develop friendships while engaging in different games, this group will combine board games, “party games”, and role-playing games over the course of six weeks, ending in a one-shot DND or other roleplaying game session to take place during the final week of group. By combining collaborative game play with the practical application of social-skills, participants have an opportunity to develop relationships with peers in a laid-back and inclusive space.

- Meets Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30 PM on a weekly basis
- Ages: 13-18
- Starts 2/18/25

Get Involved

We’d love to help you find your pathway at Heartland! To learn more about the Pathways Program or to explore current opportunities, contact Madison Bohnenkamp at [email protected], or reach out through our Contact Form and specify whether you’re interested in group programs or individual therapy options.

Want to learn more? Check out our Therapy FAQs below...

Where do therapy sessions take place at Heartland?

Our therapy sessions have the ability to be flexible in their nature. We offer both private indoor spaces, and a variety of outdoor spaces shared with animal residents, and other Heartland staff.

Where can I wait while my participant is in session?

You are welcome to wait in our Welcome Center, in your vehicle, or on the benches just outside the Welcome Center during your participant’s session.

Which animals will therapy participants be able to interact with during sessions?

You can view all of our residents’ pictures and bios here.

We work up to animal interactions in therapy sessions, so it may take several sessions before your therapy participant gets one on one interaction with Heartland’s animal residents.

Therapy participants will have the opportunity to engage with most of our animal residents and our therapy dog during their sessions, as long as the environment is safe for both the animal and the therapy participant. Our interactions with the animals in therapy sessions are consent based, and animals may opt out of interactions. We never guarantee any specific animal will want to participate in a therapy session. We always respect the boundaries of our animal residents, just as we do for people. We practice our partnership with animals in this way because of how it benefits both the therapy participant and the animal. By entering into a mutual and reciprocal relationship with the animal residents, we are able to work on important skills such as cognitive flexibility, social-emotional awareness, empathy, and problem solving.

My participant wants to show Heartland to a loved one. Can they join the session?

Because Heartland’s therapy program is a 1:1 service, sessions are limited to the participant and their therapist. However, loved ones are invited to visit during our public tours and annual community events, where participants can proudly show them around the sanctuary.

What are your therapists’ qualifications?

We have a multi-dimensional team of therapists with a variety of backgrounds! We have Recreational Therapists (CTRS), Social Workers (BSW, APSW, or LCSW), Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT-IT), and an Art Therapist (MS-ATR). They each may use the skills and knowledge from their unique backgrounds as a resource during sessions, but they all use our program’s individualized and child-led experiential therapy model while working with participants. All of our therapists are trained in working with our animal residents, and all can incorporate animal interactions and care into sessions as their participants express interest.

You can read the bios of all of our program’s therapists on our Staff page, under the Therapy and Education Staff section.

Can your therapists provide mental health diagnoses? Is your program equipped for managing active mental health crises?

Our therapy is guided by licensed and/or certified professionals and promotes our participants’ mental health, but we do not provide diagnosis or clinical treatment for mental health conditions. Our program is a great option to enhance and complement the benefits of traditional psychotherapy. We recommend pursuing additional therapeutic support for your child if they’re seeking diagnosis or clinical treatment.

Our program is not equipped for managing active mental health crises. If your child is experiencing a mental health crisis, we recommend you contact the following services:

Journey’s 24-hour Mental Health Crisis Line: Call 608-280-2600 for immediate crisis support
Dane County’s Behavioral Health Resource Center: Visit danebhrc.org, call 608-267-2244, or email [email protected] to learn about mental health resources available in Dane County

These needs do not exclude your child from participating in our therapy program and you’re welcome to continue the intake process with us!

How do your therapists identify?

Our current therapists all identify as white, female, and either as members of the LGBTQ+ community or as LGBTQ-allied. Our program is committed to lifelong learning and work when it comes to providing inclusive, anti-racist, and welcoming spaces and relationships.

What is your rate for therapy sessions? What payment options do you accept?

We currently accept the following options for paying for therapy sessions: private pay (all costs billed directly to the participant’s guardian), funding through the Children’s Long-Term Support (CLTS) Waiver Program, IRIS, and funding through Rock County Community Comprehensive Services.

Our out-of-pocket rate for therapy is $180 per 50-minute session. We’re currently providers for children receiving support through the CLTS Waiver Program of Dane, Rock, Green, Columbia, Dunn, Iowa, Jefferson, and Walworth Counties. We are always open to adding more neighboring counties to our provider registry. Our therapy sessions are billed under “Counseling and Therapeutic Services” for our CLTS participants.

For more information about billing, please contact our Program Intake Coordinator directly.

Do you accept health insurance? Do you have financial assistance available?

At this time, Heartland Farm Sanctuary’s Experiential Therapy Program does not work with health insurance.

At Heartland, we value building lasting relationships and creating meaningful connections. Insurance companies often dictate the type and frequency of care that can be provided, and typically require a diagnosis that stays on a person’s medical file for life. They also often do not recognize many of the important things we work on in experiential therapy, such as personal development, life skills, and self improvement, as reimbursable necessities. We believe all beings who walk through the gates of our sanctuary are complex, resilient, and worthy of creative, ongoing support as they maneuver life’s challenges; they’re so much more than a diagnosable “illness”. By working outside of insurance based care, we’re better able to take time to build genuine relationships, cultivate community, and provide a safe space for people to experience growth, healing, and connection.

In an effort to provide accessibility and affordable rates, we reserve a portion of appointments for those who need sliding scale rates.

Are there other ways to be involved in Heartland’s community and work with the animal residents?

Yes! In addition to our individual therapy services, Heartland offers several ways for participants to get and stay engaged:

Pathways Program: Group-based and experiential opportunities for kids, teens, and young adults to build social skills, confidence, creativity, and a sense of belonging within the Heartland community. Learn more about our Pathways Program by contacting our Pathways Program Manager via email at [email protected].

Humane Education Program: Year-round camps and classes for a variety of ages. Learn more about our Humane Education Program here.

Volunteer Opportunities: Open to youth ages 16 and older. You can complete our volunteer application here.

Please contact our Program Intake Coordinator at [email protected] if you have more questions about our Experiential Therapy Program and its intake process.

What we're hearing...

For the first time in her life, Charlotte belonged somewhere and was shown deep compassion and empathy despite some of the ways she needed special accommodations. And, because she had the opportunity to work with peers in an environment she felt included and safe in, she developed incredible skills in communication and leadership. Charlotte is not only more aware of her own needs, but is also better able to advocate for herself and others thanks to her experience at Heartland.

— Mom of HFS therapy participant and summer camper

Cancellation Policy:

We ask that participants give their therapists at least 24 hours advance notice if they need to cancel a therapy session. Participants who cancel a session with less than 24 hours notice given to their therapist will be charged a $25.00 cancellation fee (except in cases of illness, inclement weather, and emergencies). We always prefer sessions be rescheduled, rather than canceled, as schedules allow. Participants will never be charged a cancellation or no-show fee for a session which they successfully reschedule. Please contact your therapist directly to cancel or reschedule. In the event of an emergency, please call Heartland at 608-440-1118 and one of our staff will follow up with you.

Heartland's Covid Policy:

Heartland’s COVID-19 policies have been updated in alignment with Public Health Madison & Dane County. You can find our most updated Covid policies here.

Heartland's address is 424 US 51, Stoughton, WI 53589

Our Rescued Residents

Heartland has been recognized as one of the nation’s premier farm animal sanctuaries. We provide high-quality, specialized care, hope and healing for animals who have suffered abuse, neglect, and have nowhere else to go. Many of our rescued residents experience safety and compassion for the very first time after walking through our sanctuary doors.

The vast majority of rescued animals who find hope at Heartland will remain at the sanctuary for their entire lives. When possible, we place animals in safe and loving homes. And we serve as a resource for shelters and county agencies around the state who request our assistance with farm animal abandonment and cruelty cases.