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How Equine Therapy Unlocks Trauma And Transforms Recovery with Mike Delaney
Voices in Health and Wellness
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A 50-year career doesn’t just tell stories; it reveals patterns we can finally change. Mike Delaney joins us to trace his path from overcrowded NHS wards and pub-based “supervision” to designing trauma-informed, somatic programmes that work when words fail. After confronting his own addiction in the 90s, Mike returned with a clear insight: most substance use sits on unprocessed trauma. That belief led him to pioneer equine-facilitated psychotherapy in UK rehabs, build LEAP’s training pathway, and help design Delamere’s Stop-Start-Grow model—where safety, environment, breathwork, yoga, and horse work drive transformation.
We explore what makes somatic therapy different: the body speaks first under threat, and horses mirror states we struggle to name. Mike shares outcomes from his work with London Underground after 7/7, where non-verbal approaches supported staff back to work and life. He also explains why purpose-built spaces and well-supported teams improve engagement and results.
Post-COVID shifts shape the conversation. Mike has seen a sharp rise in ADHD and autism diagnoses, believing lockdowns stripped away masking. That demands flexible formats and careful thinking around stimulant use for clients with addiction risk. We also confront the ketamine surge among young people—rapid bladder damage, dissociation, isolation—and the limits of traditional recovery models. Mike argues for honest education, tailored harm-reduction without abandoning abstinence, and funding systems that recognise treatment’s true return.
We close on running a clinic that works: time-bound therapy blocks, clear homework, respectful challenge, strategic use of Zoom, and equine-led retreats on the horizon. His guiding principle remains simple—create safety, meet people where they are, and let the body lead lasting recovery.
Guest Biography
Mike Delaney is a veteran mental health professional with over 50 years of experience spanning psychiatric nursing, addiction recovery, trauma therapy, and holistic care. A former NHS nurse turned clinical innovator, Mike introduced equine-assisted psychotherapy and somatic breathwork into UK recovery programmes—long before they were mainstream.
He currently serves as Clinical Director at Delamere rehab in Cheshire and is a co-founder of multiple therapeutic centres and training programs, including LEAP and EquiScotia. Mike is also a published author and a passionate advocate for trauma-informed, person-centred care that meets clients where they are.
Social Media
- Website: www.mikedelaneytherapy.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-delaney-reg-mbacp-senior-fellow-accph-cctp-5124645/
About Dr Andrew Greenland
Dr Andrew Greenland is a UK-based medical doctor and founder of Greenland Medical, specialising in Integrative and Functional Medicine. With dual training in conventional and root-cause approaches, he helps individuals optimise health, performance, and longevity — with a focus on cognitive resilience and healthy ageing.
Voices in Health and Wellness features meaningful conversations at the intersection of medicine, lifestyle, and human potential — with clinicians, scientists, and thinkers shaping the future of care.
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