In-Person in Winchester, VA 22601
Online in
PSYPACT states
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, CNMI, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
I came to this work by two roads that turned out to be one. I trained as a clinical psychologist with a physics degree behind me and a lifelong love of horses beside me and for more than 30 years I've helped people change in ways that last.
When I founded Riding Far, I expected to coach elite competitors chasing a mental edge. Instead, the people who walked through my door were often carrying something heavier: fear after a bad fall, the ache of an injury, the sting of a relationship — human or equine — that had gone wrong. That taught me what my work is really about. Not fixing people, but helping them feel safe enough to be fully themselves again, and to stay connected while they do it.
Whether you sit across from me by video or beside me at the office, my promise is the same: I'll meet you where you are, take your story seriously, and help you find your way forward with honesty, warmth, and courage.
Client Focus
Session Format: Couple, Family, Group, Individual sessions.
Age Specialty: Adult, Children, Teen, Young Adult
Treatment Approach
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) One of the most widely used approaches, CBT helps people identify unhelpful thoughts and replace them with healthier patterns. It is effective for anxiety, depression, and many other concerns.
- Existential / Humanistic Therapy Encourages people to explore meaning, freedom, and authenticity in their lives. It focuses on personal growth and living in alignment with one’s values.
- Hypnotherapy Uses guided relaxation and focus to access the subconscious mind. It is often used for habits, anxiety, and pain management.
- Integrative Therapy Combines techniques from multiple approaches into a customized plan. It adapts to each client’s unique situation and needs.
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Combines mindfulness practices with CBT to prevent depression relapse. It helps people notice thoughts without judgment and respond more calmly.
- Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) Emphasizes empathy, unconditional positive regard, and authenticity. It provides a safe space for self-discovery and growth.
- Psychodynamic Therapy Explores unconscious thoughts and patterns that influence current behavior. It builds insight into how the past impacts the present.
- Psychoeducational Therapy Provides education and coping tools about mental health conditions. It empowers clients with knowledge and practical skills.
- Relational Psychotherapy Emphasizes the healing power of the therapist-client relationship. It uses trust and safety as a foundation for change.
Approach Description: My approach is integrative and relational. I don't believe there's one method for every person. I believe in understanding you first, then drawing on whatever genuinely helps.
That means my work with you might weave together a wide range of clinical tools I have collected over the years in my work as a psychotherapist alongside strategies gained in my work in sport and performance psychology. In practice, we'll work with your thoughts and your nervous system, your history and your goals, your relationships and your sense of self , not just one piece of the picture.
Underneath the methods is one idea I've spent decades refining: people do their best when they feel secure in themselves and safe with the people, and horses, around them. So my job is less about fixing what's wrong and more about helping you build that security, first here with me and then in the rest of your life, until growth stops feeling risky and starts feeling possible.
Fees & Insurance
Fees
- Average Session Fee 215
- Affordable sliding scale therapy: apply if you may be eligible.
- A limited number of sliding-scale openings are available for motivated clients with limited resources — please inquire about current availability.
- Out of Network
Education & Credentials
Paul T. Haefner, PhD PhD
- Male
- License # 0810002093
- Licensed in VA
- PSYPACT Mobility # 16470
- Practicing Since 1991
Education: I hold a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The Catholic University of America with a specialization in Marriage and Family. I have attained post-doctoral certificates in Hypnosis, Neuro-linguistic Programing, Neuropsychological Assessment, and training in numerous additional approaches to therapy.
Paul T. Haefner, PhD Practice Details
Therapy Sessions
- Available In-Person in Winchester, VA 22601
- Available Online for residents of PSYPACT states Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, CNMI, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
- Online Therapy Details: Zoom
Riding Far is a psychology practice built around performance, connection, and lasting change. I work with adults and adolescents — riders, athletes, professionals, and anyone feeling stuck — through secure online sessions and in person in the Northern Virginia.
Much of my practice serves the equestrian world: performance anxiety, fear and confidence after a fall or injury, focus under pressure, and the deeply personal bond riders have with their horses and their sport. But the same tools reach well beyond the arena. I help people quiet anxiety, rebuild self-trust, steady their relationships, and move through hard transitions.
I collaborate closely with my son and business partner, Justin, whose horsemanship expertise lets us support the whole rider-and-horse partnership when that's what a client needs. Wherever we begin, the goal is real, durable growth.