We are contacted frequently by other mental health and equestrian professionals asking, "How do I become an equine assisted counselor?" It is exciting to hear from so many people who are interested in joining the field. However, the question isn't simple to answer. There are many different avenues one can take to becoming an equine assisted counselor. But there are a few qualities a practitioner must possess in order to be successful in EAC!

1. A collaborative spirit.
EAC is a team effort. Unlike traditional office counseling where it is just the counselor and client, EAC incorporates at least one other participant: the horse. Sometimes, that means a whole herd of colleagues in a session. The EAC counselor has to be able to pay attention to what the horse is doing because the horse is providing valuable feedback to the client. An EAC counselor also must respect the horse's authenticity and autonomy. By becoming a team with your equine therapy partners (and any human therapy partners like a certified equine specialist), EAC counselors will be able to enhance the session for their clients. 

2. Flexibility.
Flexibility is important when working with horses because they often don't feel the need to comply with your agenda. Did you or your client have a plan for how to spend your session? Chances are, your equine therapy partner will have a different idea. EAC counselors have to be willing to sacrifice the original plan in order to attend the client's needs in the here-and-now. Getting caught up what the client is "supposed" to be working on also discounts the horse's agency and can cause you to miss out on some valuable reflective opportunities for the client.

3. An open mind.
EAC is unlike any other type of mental health therapy. We don't talk the whole time, we brave the bugs and the elements, and we consider these huge, four-legged critters to have almost as much input about the process as the two-legged critters do. Sometimes your team's interpretation of what happens in session will be different. The client's perception of the horse's behavior may not align with yours. In those moments, it is imperative to keep an open mind and be willing to let the horses and your clients affect you as much as you might be affecting them.

Think you have what it takes to become an equine assisted counselor? ECC plans to offer training in REPC in the future--keep your eye out for more information when it becomes available!

There are many different models for practicing equine assisted counseling (EAC) out there--different practitioners working with different types of clients tend to have their favorites based on their individual beliefs of how counseling works. It's probably no surprise that the ECC counselors are partial to practicing Relational Equine Partnered Counseling (REPC), the model of equine assisted counseling developed by Dr. Sheade. We've discussed the benefits of EAC and REPC for our human clients many times (here, here, and here) but the animal lovers in us also enjoy seeing the positive impact this mode of therapy can have on our equine therapy partners, as well. Here are a few of the key elements of REPC and how they benefit the horses we work with:

1. Horses have the capacity to be self-directed.  There are models of EAC that encourage the client to establish dominance over the horse as a way to practice assertiveness, leadership, or communication (think the horse scene in the movie 28 Days). In REPC, we view the horse not as a thing to be controlled or influenced, but rather as a sentient participant whose actions, reactions, and experiences are just as valuable to the therapeutic process as the client's and counselor's are. Most of the time our horses are at liberty in their own pastures and can choose what they do or do not want to participate in during session. If a horse chooses to follow a client around the pasture, they do. If a horse wants to walk away from a client, they do. If multiple horses want to approach a client during an emotionally charged moment (it's happened!), they do. The horse has the opportunity to freely express his or her reactions to clients genuinely and authentically. REPC respects the horse's autonomy in terms of behavior and feeling. This can be very different from other equestrian activities in which horses are trained to do as a human asks and act according to human expectations. REPC gives horses the opportunity to have a say (and be in heard) in communicating what they want (or don't want) from their interaction with clients. Clients are encouraged to approach the horse as someone they are in a relationship with (much like our spouses, children, coworkers, teachers, etc). This approach enables both the horse and client to strive towards collaboration, compromise, and mutual understanding - all the ingredients of a healthy relationship.

2. Structured activities are de-emphasized and session content is allowed to develop organically. Some forms of EAC rely on specifically structured exercises that work with the horse as a metaphor for life's challenges. Others have a step-by-step course of activities designed to encourage the client's assertiveness and problem solving skills. Because REPC is relationship-focused, clients may develop skills in all the things listed above, but ​the goal is to develop insight and emotional regulation as opposed to completing an activity. For therapy horses, this can make every day new and different. Horses that work mostly in an arena with riders on their backs can become bored and irritated with their job just like people do (imagine going to work to perform the same exact tasks over and over every day). The organic, adaptable nature of REPC can provide mental stimulation and keep horses from getting bored. The certified equine specialists that co-facilitate EAC sessions with the ECC counselors also work with our partner Wings of Hope's riding program. Many of them have shared seeing positive changes in horses' stress levels and behaviors in riding lessons since they began partnering with ECC.

3. All sessions are conducted on the ground. With riding and other strenuous physical activity off the table, there are many horses that might otherwise be simply "put out to pasture" that can continue to work and be interactive. For example, ECC works with horses owned by our partner organization, Wings of Hope, which offers therapeutic riding lessons. Horses that work in their riding program must be calm, physically sound, and difficult to scare or upset. Our partnership has given new purpose to horses that have become unsuitable for that work--for example, older horses with physical problems that make riding them unsafe. By partnering with ECC for the counseling program, the horses can remain at their caring home and Wings of Hope can be confident that these special horses continue to do what they do best: support the growth and healing of those working to overcome life's challenges.

*The world of equine assisted counseling is growing and developing quickly. The variety of methods and modalities gives practitioners a lot of control over their practice and clients a lot of choice in how to approach the healing process. While those of us at ECC are a little biased--alright, a lot biased--towards REPC, we always encourage therapists and equine professionals interested in getting involved with EAC to find the approach that fits for them. We are always excited to offer consultation and training to professionals seeking to enter the industry.*

What other benefits do you think EAC/REPC might have for horses? If you are already involved in the EAC field, what changes have you noticed in the horses you work with since beginning your practice?