I knew horses were going to be part of my life forever. In saying that, I didn’t know in what context until many years later.

I began my counselling training with the University of Ulster, initially completing a one-year counselling certificate before moving onto the foundation degree for a further three years.

After qualifying as an Integrative Counsellor in 2021 I continued my education by enrolling with Festina Lente in Bray, Co Dublin to study equine assisted learning.

Festina was amazing, such an eye-opener and completely different to what I had imagined.

I qualified as an equine assisted learning (EAL) facilitator and life and workplace coach in June 2022, and from then I’ve been eager to get going.

Face-to-face

I have my counselling room based at Enniskillen but my EAL has not been so simple. Presently I am hiring local facilities at Castle Irvine to facilitate sessions and commuting my ponies there.

Through Thyolo Therapy I offer several services from face-to-face counselling, equine assisted learning and equine assisted counselling (EAC).

It’s vital that people understand the difference between the two equine services. EAC works around someone’s history, while EAL works in the present and future.

As horses are non-verbal and rely solely on body language and energies, EAL enhances self-awareness, increases self-confidence, and boosts self-esteem. It aids people with trust issues, and relationship/friendship problems.

It helps with planning, determination, goal setting and much more. Going a bit deeper, EAC is proven to help with PTSD, trauma, abuse/neglect, anxiety and depression, to name a few.

Generational trauma

Self-care and the phrase ‘it’s okay to not be okay’ is everywhere at the minute, and it’s unfortunate that it wasn’t always a ‘thing’. But for decades mental health was something that wasn’t spoken about; it was brushed under the carpet.

Unfortunately, society is now paying for its previous mistakes, as generational trauma has been surfacing for some time.

I would love to be able to have an in-house place where people could come and stay for personal restoration; like they have in America on a ranch, where all the city folks with the ‘fast lane’ life go to reassess their decisions and lifestyle choices.

Educational programme

I aim to have my own secure base where, in the future, I could offer further services, like the BHS Changing Lives Through Horses educational programme.

I would also like to grow my business enough to allow me to employ other counsellors and equine assisted facilitators and yard staff.

Co Fermanagh is rural, there are not as many mental health services available in comparison to more populated areas of Northern Ireland. Therefore, I would like to be able to provide the best service I can to increase services.

I would like our government to back our schools and charities with additional funding to be able to avail of these services. Mental health services need to be made accessible to everyone when they need it.