Whether you’re dealing directly with a horse/riding related issue or would just appreciate a therapist who gets what it’s like to be in the horse world, I’m all in! If you are experiencing fear, anxiety, PTSD, self-esteem and confidence issues, there’s so much that can be done to help. I have an effective toolbox and years of experience (as a therapist, coach, rider, trainer, FEI level competitor, and human loving horses her whole life). It’s common for my clients to experience transformative results quickly. These are some of the tools I use.
Brainspotting
This powerful modality is used to enhance athletic performance, remove blocks, and overcome fear, anxiety. Often significant changes can be made in just a session. It can be more effective and quicker than traditional talk therapy and sport psychology. This is because together, we work directly with your nervous system as opposed to you logical/cognitive brain. In other words, we bypass the noise in your head and rewire the brain/ body connection to support ease, competency, confidence, joy. All of this leads to more mental/emotional peace and sustainable peak performance.
Relational Life Therapy
Riding is all about relationships, and ironically, we tend not to tend to relationship in our development as equestrians. There’s so much to be gained by changing this. Relational Life therapy (RLT) is a highly effective form of couple’s therapy that I have adapted to work with riders as well as couples. It’s super for diagnosing problems and providing concrete relationship, communication and conflict management skills for solving them. These skills can be used in all facets of your life to help create more fulfilling and authentic relationships. It can help you better connect with your family, spouse, coach, vet, students, clients, teammates, AND HORSE! Perhaps most importantly, RLT can improve how well you understand and care for yourself and all your loved ones.
My belief is horses can make us better humans if we let them. My job is to help them do theirs.
Holistic Management
This is a systematic approach for gaining agency in your life and helping you define and reach your authentic riding/life dreams. The intent is to help you dig deep and create a values-based road map to get where you want to go. This starts with developing a three-part goal: quality of life, production, and environment. Then the action steps needed to reach these goals are defined. Money, time, and resources spent are always “tested” against the goals to keep you on track. The process is super creative and iterative. This means your holistic plan may change and develop as you do. But your plan is always your north star keeping you on track. This process helps riders streamline efforts and resources to maximize desired results.
And in case you are wondering…..
I work with riders of all disciplines at all levels. I have been involved in the horse community since I was 3 years old. I grew up on the racetrack, rode hunter/jumpers, went to Pony Club, rode polo ponies in South Africa, started colts on a Montana cattle ranch, worked with many of the natural horsemanship folks
before they were really a thing, worked and trained in Germany, am an international level dressage rider, USDF Certified Instructor, trainer, coach and lifelong learner. I have worked with at risk youth and veterans doing equine assisted therapy and more. I have learned that as pure and seemingly magical as horses can be, the horse world is often terribly complicated emotionally. What often starts out as a genuine love for horses and equestrian sports can just get hard. I want to help make it easier for you and your horse. I would be so honored to help you reclaim your joy, competency, and peace and achieve your riding goals.
Please call for a free 30 minute consultation.
“When god created the horse, he said to the magnificent creature: I have made thee as no other. All the treasures of the earth lie between thy eyes. Thy shalt carry my friends upon thy back. Thy saddle shall be the seat of prayers to me. And thou shalt fly without wings, and conquer without sword; oh horse.” ~Anonymous