Strides To Solutions

Caring for animals is deeply meaningful, but it can also take an unseen toll. In this episode of Strides to Solutions, Esther Adams explores compassion fatigue—the emotional exhaustion that affects p…

When life’s most meaningful goals are delayed again and again, the toll runs deeper than missed timelines. The Weight of Waiting dives into the neuroscience, psychology, and everyday reality of defer…

For research buffs and pet grief practitioners.. this specific podcast is for you. Pet-loss grief isn’t a tidy staircase. Emerging research shows it moves in pulses—shaped by attachment, social suppo…

Supporting a rider after losing a horse isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about presence, validation, and timing. In this episode, Esther Adams shares evidence-based ways to help: how to listen without ru…

You still catch yourself glancing at the door. That reflex is data: this bond wasn’t cute; it was consequential. In this episode of Strides To Solutions, Esther Adams explores the human-animal bond t…

Discover the key steps to move from being overwhelmed by equestrian grief to becoming an active participant in your healing. Esther Adams covers emotional engagement, memory work, rituals, restoratio…

Validate your grief and rebuild identity with scripts, rituals, EMDR-informed tips, and step-by-step guides. For owners, trainers, and barn communities. From Esther Adams, author of Horse Shaped Hole…

Straightforward, science-informed resources for equestrian grief—acute and complicated grief, identity shifts, and gentle next steps. By Esther Adams.

Practical guidance on equine bereavement—grief education, identity rebuilding, and barn-tested routines that help. By Esther Adams (Strides To Solutions), author of Horse Shaped Hole. For owners, tra…

This Substack unpacks how horses—through the EquiLateral™ EMDR protocol—help trauma survivors reclaim a sense of safety in their own bodies. Drawing on Polyvagal Theory and insights from 20 participa…

A mindful reflection on choosing clarity over clutter, depth over breadth, and quality over quantity. This intention invites you to strip away the nonessential, make decisions from a place of wisdom,…

People-pleasing, hypersexualization, numbing—your brain’s trying to keep you safe. In this Strides To Solutions episode, learn how trauma responses work and how to swap survival habits for healing on…

Trauma rips up the map. Post-traumatic growth draws a new one. Esther breaks down what PTG is, how it differs from resilience, and the real-world moves that help—finding meaning, building safe suppor…

Bottled emotions don’t disappear—they leak into your body, relationships, and decisions. In this Strides To Solutions episode, Esther Adams explains the real toll of emotional repression and guides y…

Part 2 of the HERO Series

In this segment, we dive into the empirical foundations of Psychological Capital—drawing on positive psychology, organizational behavior, emotional intelligence, and growth-m…

Part 1 of the HERO Series: Introducing Psychological Capital (PsyCap)

In this opening segment, we define Psychological Capital—our mental “wealth” of Hope, Efficacy, Resilience, and Optimism (HERO)—an…

In this episode of Strides To Solutions, Dr. Esther Adams uncovers how animal-assisted psychotherapy builds social skills and deepens relationships. You’ll hear how horses and therapy dogs offer nonj…

In this episode of Strides To Solutions, Dr. Esther Adams dives into how animal-assisted psychotherapy—especially equine interventions—facilitates trauma recovery. Discover why the nonjudgmental bond…

In this episode of Strides To Solutions, Dr. Esther Adams explores how animal-assisted psychotherapy enhances emotional well-being across the lifespan. You’ll learn why horses’ keen sensitivity to ou…

In this episode of Strides To Solutions, Dr. Esther Adams explores the profound psychological benefits of animal-assisted psychotherapy (AAP). Listeners will discover how interactions with horses and…