A young girl wearing a blue jacket, pink pants, a black helmet, and a pink scarf standing by a wooden fence, watching several horses behind the fence in a foggy outdoor setting.

Nicholas
Dockery
Foundation

223.4 million adults in the US have experienced a traumatic event at least once in their lives.

70%

Americans Affected

Experience trauma across all communities

66%

Children by Age 16

Nearly two-thirds experience a traumatic event before adulthood

29%

Veterans

Report experiencing symptoms of PTSD after service

Traditional therapy is powerful…

But some people who have suffered trauma need more…

connection,

creativity,

…and trust.

Alternative therapies like art and equine programs spark transformative recovery…

A young girl shaping clay at a pottery wheel in a ceramics studio.

…because we’ve seen it.

Experienced it.

And benefited from it.

Young man gently holding a chestnut horse's head outdoors at sunset.

The Nicholas Dockery Foundation Approach

We expand access to nontraditional, evidence-based therapies — including art and equine-assisted programs — that help children and adults rebuild confidence, find calm, and reconnect.

Anxiety Reduction

Art therapy decreases anxiety symptoms in adults with diagnosed anxiety disorders

Emotional Control

Of anxiety improvement attributed to strengthened emotion regulation through art therapy

Youth Well-Being

Increase in emotional wellness for at-risk youth through equine-assisted therapy programs

Hi! My name is Nick Dockery. I am someone who spent years searching for real healing after trauma. I made a lot of mistakes along the way. I denied that anything was wrong and turned to the worst ways to cope. I saw too many friends take their own lives for me to keep pretending everything was fine. When I finally stopped looking for a quick fix, took a hard look in the mirror, and accepted that I was responsible for my own mental health, I began to take therapy seriously.

Along that rocky road, I discovered that alternative therapies helped me far more than the traditional sit-in-a-room-and-talk approach. I’ve learned that needing help doesn’t mean you’re broken—it means you’re human!

I started this foundation to help give others the same chance —to make alternative forms of therapy available to people who need a new type of help.

Healing takes time, connection, and courage. Our mission is to make sure no one has to face it alone!

Nicholas Dockery, Founder

Join our mission to make alternative therapies accessible for all seeking holistic healing!

Learn More
About Us ▸

FAQs

You’ve got questions…

  • We aren’t interested in simply a “feel-good experience.”

    NDF supports equine and art therapy nonprofits who have proven, evidence-based programs that show measurable results. We carefully vet and hand select each program alongside behavioral health experts to make sure the programs we back are safe and effective.

    From our founder’s personal experience, equine and art therapies are especially beneficial for building trust, reconstructing confidence, and improving connection.

    For us, this is personal. We've seen how, through equine and art therapies, trust is rebuilt, confidence is restored, and connections are enriched.

  • Donate to NDF because we are committed to making real change for those in need.

    NDF works hand in hand with program experts to ensure the programs we support deliver tangible results that change lives. The benefit of donating to NDF is that you leverage a team of committed experts who ensure your donations matter, and you see the impact you are having on the world.

  • Your donation matters, and we are committed to keeping you informed with regular, personalized updates on your impact. You will have the opportunity for exclusive, in-person events to connect you with other donors, program participants, our team, and some of the people whose lives you changed.

  • Because it works and we have seen it personally.

    Our founder, Nicholas Dockery, found relief from childhood and combat trauma through equine therapy’s non-judgmental trust and art therapy’s self-expression. These experiences inspired him to launch NDF, helping others access these transformative therapies.

  • Yes! The Nicholas Dockery Foundation is a 501c3 and all donations are tax-deductible. You will receive a receipt for your contribution that serves for your tax records.

  • We are working on opportunities for our supporters to volunteer! Contact us at info@dockeryfoundation.org to get on our communication list.