About Our Work
Equine Therapy
At Horses with Halos, equine and animal assisted counselling sessions are grounded in evidence-based practice and thoughtfully tailored to the unique needs of each client. Sessions integrate principles of Gestalt and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) to support emotional wellbeing and personal growth.
Clients may seek support for stress and anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, emotional regulation, behaviour change, or navigating life’s challenges. Each session is collaboratively designed to align with the client’s therapeutic goals and comfort level, while working within the client’s window of tolerance.
Equine-assisted sessions involve experiential, non-riding interactions with horses, such as grooming, leading, or quiet observation. These activities promote mindfulness, emotional regulation, and self-reflection, while fostering trust, confidence, and self-awareness. No prior horse experience is required, and you will be provided with safety guidelines as well as horse behaviour information.
The horses’ natural sensitivity and responsiveness offer valuable insights into our own patterns of behaviour, emotional states, and interpersonal dynamics. With professional guidance, clients are supported to explore and make meaning of their experiences, strengthening emotional awareness, communication skills, and effective coping strategies within a safe, trauma-informed, and natural environment. This is where change happens by being connected to “what is”.
Horses and being in the presence of horses can evoke feelings in clients that may have been unconscious or unaware feelings and needs. These feelings and needs can then be attended to in the EAP session.
Learning from the Horse - Horses teach us to regulate the nervous system through mindful breathing, remain present in the moment, develop intuitive awareness, stay grounded, and show up authentically.
Other Animal
Assisted Therapy
In addition to equine-assisted therapy, non-equine counselling sessions are also available with my sweet Border Collie, Halo. These sessions may include gentle bush walks or relaxed conversations in the garden, providing an alternative therapeutic setting for those who prefer a non-equine approach.
Accredited by:
My Story
My story begins in childhood, long before I had the words to describe what I was experiencing. Back then, I didn’t have language for trauma, or the aching silence that follows abuse. What I did have was a beautiful roan mare, her name was Jennifer.
Through pity my mother bought her with a foal at foot when I was seven years old, she was in poor condition and badly neglected. It didn’t take long for us to realise she had been mistreated and like me, carried trust issues. Perhaps that is what drew us to one another. I was the only person she would allow to catch her, and though she had a reputation for throwing her riders, with me she was bombproof. Together, we navigated the shadows of her past and my own, building a trust that spoke louder than words. She flourished as an extraordinary sporting horse, earning countless ribbons, yet the deepest reward was the bond we shared.
With her, I found safety. Trust. Solace. I felt more secure on her back than I ever did with humans. When I wrapped my small arms around her neck, the world quietened. My nervous system exhaled. I was no longer afraid. It was only in adulthood that I realised she was my therapy horse.
Today, I honour that bond by creating for others what I once longed for myself: a sanctuary of safety, connection, and healing.
My dream of establishing an equine therapy service began twelve years ago, during my time working as a group therapist in prisons. I was supporting individuals navigating complex trauma, mental health challenges, addiction, and behavioural difficulties. Often, I found myself imagining how profoundly my horses could impact lives like theirs—how their quiet strength, patience, and intuitive presence could reach places that words never could.
Over the past twelve years, my journey has been shaped by hard work, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to my dream. During this time, I devoted myself to completing my Counselling Diploma while continuing to work full-time within the prison system. After achieving my qualification, I remained in the Justice system, transitioning to part-time employment to create space for continued growth and new opportunities.
On my non-justice days, I began working as a Youth Counsellor and facilitating Mental Health Masterclasses in local high schools—experiences that allowed me to deepen my therapeutic practice, strengthen my understanding of young people’s needs, and broaden the impact of my work.
During this period, I also undertook therapy dog training with my beloved Border Collie, Halo—who was proudly accredited with Therapy Dogs Australia in 2024.
In February 2025, I attended the internationally acclaimed Equine and Animal Assisted Psychotherapy Institute in Victoria, where I pursued my passion for equine therapy. In November 2025, I proudly achieved my Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Practitioner Accreditation, marking a significant milestone in turning my long-held vision into reality.
As a trauma-informed counsellor, I now walk alongside others—women, men, young people—who are ready to release pain, process the past, and reawaken their own sense of belonging and wholeness. With horses as our co-facilitators, we offer not just therapy, but transformation.