From Stuck to Freedom: Finding Your True Path in the Arena
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Who I Help
Are you feeling stuck in a difficult decision, facing discord in your relationships, or struggling to find teamwork in your career? I’m Tonya Marie, and I understand the weight of wearing too many masks. I am a licensed massage therapist and a certified equine gestaltist dedicated to helping you unpack the burdens that no longer serve you.
The Gentling The Giants Approach
I partner with my intuitive horses to create a coaching experience tailored specifically to your needs. Equine Gestalt Coaching allows you to process deep emotional states in a safe environment. Working with the herd to help you become attune to your inner truths that traditional settings often miss. This work does as my teacher, Melisa Pierce says” leaving what does not serve you in the sand” allowing you to find who you were meant to be before life muddied the waters.
My Journey from Survival to Presence
My passion for this work is rooted in my own life’s challenges. Having survived a childhood marked by my mother’s permanent disability on my 10th birthday, abuse, time in foster care, and later navigating the complexities of domestic violence, divorce, custody, and single parenthood, I know what it feels like to fail while trying to be everything for everyone.
For years, I lived like Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire—frantically switching roles and dropping the mask until chaos ensued. Completing the two-year Touched By A Horse Equine Gestalt certification program changed everything. It allowed me to finally unpack my own burdens, leaving me freer, lighter, and fully present for my family, friends, and clients.
Because I’ve walked through these challenges myself, I understand what it feels like when life becomes overwhelming and you lose sight of who you are beneath the responsibilities, pain, and expectations.
My Invitation To You:
I invite you to step into the arena with my horses and me to see what unfolds. Together we can release the weight of burdens you have been carrying inside, clearing the way for you to move forward with confidence, clarity and focus into the life, relationships and career path you desire and deserve.
Ready to find a new perspective?
Ready to Move Forward?
You don’t have to keep carrying what’s been weighing on you.
If you’re ready to understand what’s really going on—and begin moving forward with clarity and confidence—
Are You a Good Fit for Equite Gestalt Coaching?
The people I work with come from many different backgrounds, but they often share a common feeling—something isn’t quite right, and they’re ready for it to change.
Here are some of the most common situations and life experiences I help clients navigate:
Divorced
Navigate the emotional weight of divorce and begin to rediscover who you are—so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.
Divorced Parents
Work through the challenges of co-parenting, communication, and emotional strain—so you can create a healthier path forward for both you and your children.
Single Parents
Release the pressure, overwhelm, and isolation that can come with doing it all—so you can feel more grounded, supported, and in control.
Parent-Child Relationships
Strengthen connection, improve communication, and work through tension—so your relationship can feel more open, understanding, and supportive.
Stepping Into a Blended Family
Navigate the complexities of blending families, roles, and expectations—so you can build stronger, more connected relationships at home.
Caregivers
Let go of the emotional weight and burnout that often comes with caring for others—so you can reconnect with yourself and find balance again.
EMS & First Responders
Process the stress and experiences that come with high-pressure, front-line roles—so what you’ve carried on the job doesn’t continue to impact your life, relationships, and well-being.
Healthcare Workers & Grief Work
Work through the emotional weight of caring for others and experiencing loss—so you can find understanding, release, and a path forward that feels grounded and manageable.
Trauma Survivors
Explore and release what’s been held beneath the surface—so you can move from surviving to truly living again.
Frequently Asked Questions/Answers About Equine Gestalt Coaching
No, not at all. You don’t need to have any experience with horses to benefit from this work. There is no riding involved, and you’ll never be asked to do anything you’re not comfortable with. Most of the work happens through simple presence and interaction at your own pace. The horse responds naturally to energy and emotion, helping bring awareness to what’s happening beneath the surface—without requiring any special skills or experience from you.
Each session is a guided, two-hour experience designed to help you work through something meaningful in your life. We begin with a conversation to explore what you’re facing—whether it’s a decision, a relationship challenge, or something that feels unresolved. From there, we go deeper into the process. When you’re ready, we may move into the arena with the horse. You can engage in whatever way feels comfortable—standing nearby, connecting, or simply observing. Many clients experience a moment of clarity or emotional release during the session, and leave feeling like they’ve been able to “let go” of something they’ve been carrying.
No—this is not therapy, and it does not replace therapy or medical care. Equine Gestalt Coaching is a form of coaching that focuses on awareness, personal insight, and emotional release in the present moment. I do not diagnose or treat mental health conditions. Instead, this work creates a safe, supportive space where you can better understand yourself, process what you’ve been carrying, and find your own path forward.
Learn More About the Equine Gestalt Coaching Method® (EGCM)
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