Equine Therapy Exposed Real life case studies of equine assisted psychotherapy and equine assisted learning with everyday people and horses In this book you will get a sneak peek and deep dive into the emerging professional practice of equine assisted therapy. This unique, beautifully presented and engaging book provides real life case studies with diverse clients, and delivers insight from one of Australia's leading education experts in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Animal Assisted Psychotherapy. Meg Kirby (BA, MASW, DIP. GESTALT THERAPY) is a Mental Health Social Worker of 25 years, and international education expert in equine assisted psychotherapy, author, founder, senior trainer, and supervisor at The Equine Psychotherapy Institute. When Meg is not training students from all across the globe in equine, animal, and nature assisted psychotherapy, she spends her time caring for 12 family herd members, three cats, dog "Bear," and rabbit, Darcy... not forgetting her loving husband and two beautiful daughters, Rose and Jasmine. Meg lives and breathes the wisdom of animals and nature. PRAISE FOR EQUINE THERAPY EXPOSED "Meg Kirby's Equine Therapy Exposed is an outstanding book...the case studies are rich and varied...this text is (also) a fantastic resource for integrating psychotherapy with a range of somatic and nature-based therapies, not just equine therapy." Melissa O'Shea, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, Academic and Yoga Teacher, Master of Clinical Leadership (MCL), Deakin University "A dynamic and valuable book...filled with tremendous insights and practical suggestions...immensely helpful to professionals attempting to work alongside horses to support their clients' wellbeing." Aubrey H. Fine, Ed.D. Professor Emeritus, CA Poly State University, Licensed Psychologist, Editor of The Handbook on Animal Assisted Therapy "Meg Kirby takes a significant and meaningful step in the advancement of the professionalization of the fields of Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy and Equine-Assisted Learning...the case studies splendidly help the reader understand both the depth and the processes that can be achieved in psychotherapy and in learning, with the help of the integration of equines." Nancy Parish-Plass, MA Social Work and Certified in Advanced Psychotherapy Studies, Founding and Current Chairperson of IAAAP Israeli Association of Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy "This book beautifully illustrates the power and effectiveness of the EAP/EAL process." Joan Rieger, MA, LPC Director of the Gestalt Institute of the Rockies & Gestalt Equine Psychotherapist "Thorough elucidation of therapeutic processes when animals are involved remains relatively uncommon in the literature. Brava to Meg Kirby and contributors for creating this most helpful exploration of just that!" Risë VanFleet, PhD, RPT_S, CDBC, CAEBC/I Coauthor with Tracie Faa-Thompson of the award-winning Animal Assisted Play Therapy Principal, International Institute for Animal Assisted Play Therapy "If you are interested in how to work relationally with horses in a psychotherapy and learning context...the AWARE Therapy(TM) model provides a clear framework for practitioners...(and) showcases the adaptability of the approach to a wide range of client populations." Veronica Lac, Ph D Executive Director The HERD Institute(R), USA

The Clinical Practice of Equine-Assisted Therapy bridges theory, research, and practical methods to fill a rapidly developing gap for physical, occupational, speech, and mental health professionals interested in incorporating horses in therapy. Extensively researched and citing over 300 peer-reviewed journal articles, it examines core issues such as terminology, scope of practice, competency recommendations, horse care ethics, and clinical practice considerations. This book is an essential resource for professionals who wish to use a best-practices approach to equine-assisted therapy.

First Published in 2012. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Riding Home:The Power of Horses to Heal, Horse Nation's must read book of 2016, is the first and only book to scientifically and experientially explain why horses have the extraordinary ability to emotionally transform the lives of thousands of men, women and children, whether they are horse lovers, or suffering from deep psychological wounds. It is a book for anyone who wants to experience the joy, wonder, self-awareness and peace of mind that comes from creating a horse/human relationship, and it puts forth and clarifies the principles of today's Natural Horsemanship (or what was once referred to as "Horse Whispering") Everyone knows someone who needs help: a husband, a wife, a partner, a child, a friend, a troubled teenager, a war veteran with PTSD, someone with autism, an addiction, anyone in emotional pain or who has lost their way. Riding Home provides riveting examples of how Equine Therapy has become one of today's most effective cutting-edge methods of healing. Horses help us discover hidden parts of ourselves, whether we're seven or seventy. They model relationships that demonstrate acceptance, kindness, honesty, tolerance, patience, justice, compassion, and forgiveness. Horses cause all of us to become better people, better parents, better partners, and better friends. A horse can be our greatest teacher, for horses have no egos, they never lie, they're never wrong and they manifest unparalleled compassion. It is this amazing power of horses to heal and teach us about ourselves that is accessible to anyone and found in the pages of Tim Hayes's Riding Home. The information and lists of therapeutic and non-therapeutic equine programs, which are contained in the book, are also available at the book's website.

Equine assisted psychotherapy is a professional, innovative, and experiential approach to counseling, psychotherapy, and mental health that supports clients of all ages with horses as assistants and co-facilitators in the process. Meg Kirby’s book has made a significant contribution to the field of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP), in articulating a Model of EAP that has foundation in psychological theory, therapeutic technique, accountable professional integrity, and utmost respect for our animal counterparts. A much needed contribution for the field, globally. Melissa Johnstone, Psychologist Meg Kirby’s insight and ability to integrate psychotherapy theory and practice closes ‘the gap’ (the fields’ current deficit or ‘gap’ in rigorous theoretical underpinnings), and provides a comprehensive relational psychotherapy model for working with horses to support clients. In line with best practice therapy, this book offers an introduction to an ethical equine assisted psychotherapy model, and is an ‘appetiser’ for curious mental health practitioners, students and the global community interested in professional animal assisted practice.Naomi Rossthorn, Counsellor and Researcher The Equine Assisted Therapy movement we’re all so passionate about will benefit from Meg Kirby’s strong theoretical approach that is firmly grounded in psychotherapy practice, and has a uniquely Australian modelling and voice.Dr Anna Cohen, Clinical Psychologist and Author

In Nourished, international educational experts and mental health professionals across a wide range of disciplines share how horses, animals and nature can be incorporated in counselling, psychotherapy, mental health treatment and personal development. Nourished features: Meg Kirby Nancy Parish-Plass Dr Aubrey Fine Dr Veronica Lac Linda Chassman Craddock Tanya Bailey Bettina Shultz-Jobe Dr Risë VanFleet Kimberly Rose Tracie Faa-Thompson Noel Haarburger Blair McKissock Michael Kauffman Mikayo Kinoshita Kate Naylor Katie Asmus Samantha Arevalo Nourished Editor & Internationally renowned educational expert, Meg Kirby (BA, MASW, DIP. Gestalt Therapy), is a Mental Health Social Worker and Psychotherapist of 25 years. She is the founder The Equine Psychotherapy Institute, developer of the EPI model of equine assisted psychotherapy and AWARE Therapy(TM) model of animal assisted psychotherapy and nature assisted psychotherapy, thought leader, professional supervisor, leadership coach, author and master trainer and founder of the first Australian model of equine assisted psychotherapy, I-Thou horse-person-ship TM and I-Thou Inter-Species Relating.

Excerpts from Beyond Words: The Healing Power of Horses The space between words is where we live with horses. In the silence we are truly heard. ******* So much of our sadness, our discontent, our addictions and compulsions are driven by the emptiness we experience when, without being aware of it, we detach from our emotional selves. We often mistake this emptiness as boredom, anxiety, hunger, and/or loneliness. Horses, in their honesty and compassion, help us to reconnect to ourselves, to our humanness. ******* What I have come to believe is that no matter what orientation you bring to psychotherapy, or what equine certification you achieve, the one variable that has been shown to be critically important is the trusting, respectful, and compassionate relationship that develops between therapist and client; whether the therapist has two or four legs is irrelevant! ********** The goal of Beyond Words: The Healing Power of Horses is to connect the advances made in the treatment and understanding of mental health issues with the knowledge we have accrued through the years about the nature of horses. The key is to integrate the two professional worlds of equine specialists and psychotherapists, so that each can appreciate, communicate, and work together to further enhance the practice of Equine Experiential Psychotherapy.