Inside Jaycee Lee Dugard's Photo Shoot

(CBS)  It's been two months since Jaycee Lee Dugard was rescued from a backyard prison in northern California, where she had been held captive there for 18 years.

And for the first time, new photos of her appear in the issue of People magazine, which comes out on Friday.

Peter Castro, People's deputy managing editor, stopped by The Early Show to talk about what that photo shoot with Jaycee was like.

"This is a story that is really about redemption - and it's not a surprise to me that in the People magazine layout she is so happy, beaming with happiness," Castro told co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez. "She's just so happy to be with her family, she's just moving forward."

Behind The Smile of Jaycee Lee Dugard

Asked what she was like during the shoot, Castro said someone described her as "giddy."

"I don't think she's masking any kind of deep-seeded depression or anything," he said, noting that she was happy to be with her mom.

Castro pointed out that Jaycee had missed 18 Christmases, Thanksgivings and birthdays and that she is happy to be reunited with her family.

Jaycee would only let the back of her daughters' heads be photographed. Castro told Rodriguez Jaycee is "very protective and very private right now" when it comes to Starlit and Angel.

While it may seem like a contradiction to want privacy but appear on the cover of People, Castro said, "She wants to lift the veil on this situation, she wants the world to know she's doing okay and that she's in a very good place right now."

During the shoot, the editor said the girls were pleased to be with their grandmother and that major bonding is going on. He said the family is getting help from a therapist and is using doing horse therapy as one method to grow and build trust.

Watch more of Peter Castro's interview, plus hear from a clinical psychologist:


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[lvbarnmom]

Yesterday on The Early Show, the editor of People Magazine reported that Jaycee Dugard, her daughters and family were using horseback riding therapy to get through this mental and physical rehabilitation. Horses as therapy, called Hippo Therapy, has a successful history for those with developmental disabilities, injuries and illnesses. Horses can also help heal the parts of your body that don?t show physical damage, your mental state! Here in Las Vegas, Horses4Heroes, Inc., is using horses as a form of therapy for military families whose loved ones are serving us overseas. Being separated from your mom or dad and knowing that he or she is in a dangerous place is very stressful for young children. And this stress is well documented, too!

Recently I asked some of our members to share with me their thoughts about our program, created in 2006. Here is an observation from Barbara Dorl, mother of two, wife of an airman!

Horses 4 Heroes is a place where military children can really be involved and find a family. Moving every couple of years is hard on the kids, but when we go to the ranch, they can become a part of something, they can belong to something. And the best part is that it's because of what their parent does that this takes place. The children can really be proud of the sacrifices their parent makes for our country. And it really blesses them to know that those involved in this organization are thankful and proud of their parent too. What child doesn't want to consider their mom or dad a hero? They can discover a love for animals, perhaps find a new talent or a love for horses they never knew before. And during a deployment, the children can have a safe and loving place to go and great memories and achievements to share when their parent returns. The members are treated like family, and when your own is hundreds of miles away, that means alot.

Thanks for your time. We would welcome the opportunity to invite you to meet with the families. We have a Wednesday morning play group, mostly kids under 5, from 9 to 11 and an open riding Play Day every Thursday from 4 to 6. Dave Price needs to ride a horse!

Sydney Knott
Horses4Heroes