Diverse Supplier Spotlight: Courageous Hearts LLC

BY AMANDA SCHIMMEL

The concept of Courageous Hearts LLC originated when Co-Founder Rosemary Baughman was first introduced to horses during her daughter’s equestrian training. Trading chores in the barn for extra riding time seemed like a simple thing at the time, yet her proximity to the horses inspired a business idea that quickly evolved into an established mental health practice. “It was very obvious just how in-tune horses are with people and we thought ‘there has got to be a way to marry this clinically,’” recounts Baughman.

In 2012, Baughman and other Co-Founder Linda Muncy accomplished exactly that. Now with three locations in Lincoln, Bridgeville, and Townsend, Delaware, Courageous Hearts combines the healing power of horses with high-quality psychotherapy, providing an alternative therapy option to anyone interested.

Baughman explains, “If someone is dealing with anxiety, depression, PTSD—essentially all typical reasons you would see any therapist—you would come see us. The difference is, our office is not in a room. It’s out in the field with the horses.” 100% women-owned and operated with a unique business plan, Courageous Hearts stands apart from its competitors as an exceptional diverse supplier.

For every session, a mental health clinician and an equine professional are present to help guide the client through their treatment plan. “The beauty of this method is that it doesn’t come off as clinical, so it can feel a little safer to talk about trauma. If we can reduce some of that anxiety just by changing the atmosphere, we find that helps a lot,” says Baughman.

In addition to one-on-one sessions, Courageous Hearts also partners with private organizations and state departments to provide leadership workshops and rehabilitation support. Baughman adds, “We also provide workshops for the military base for things like compassion fatigue, especially for the military sexual assault unit up there. It’s important to teach these skills because they’re experiencing tremendous stressors every day.”

Committed to sharing the power of psychotherapy, Courageous Hearts regularly provides free demonstrations; training and workshops are also available for the public. Family Fun Days and Meditations with the Herd further strengthen their community ties. “Our Reins of Honor fundraiser in April is specifically meant for raising funds so that our military families never have to pay for services,” Baughman explains.

With the team continuously giving back to the community and participating in events like Veterans Stand Down, Mental Health Summit, and Delaware Joining Forces, it is no surprise that Courageous Hearts’ incredible work has not gone unnoticed. The organization was not only honored as a 2023 Compassionate Champion by Governor Carney but is also one of this year’s Warrior Friendly Business Awardees.

The work that Courageous Hearts accomplishes is championed by a passionate team of equine specialists, licensed social workers and, above all else, people who care. “The one thing I really want to let people know is that it’s okay to ask for help,” finishes Baughman.