Clinical Equine Assisted Therapy, Mental Health, Rehabilitation, and Counselling: why is our model 'clinical'?
Because our qualified, registered, highly trained and experienced practitioners are using evidence-based, proven clinical counselling interventions during sessions with the horses, with regular ongoing clinical supervision, training and professional development.
Equine Assisted Therapy is known to effectively address Trauma, C-PTSD and other types of psychosocial conditions, disabilities and challenges, using evidence-based interventions, with statistically shown improvements on clinical outcome measures, and significant positive changes in physiological responses including heart rate variability, lower cortisol levels, and increases in oxytocin.
Equine Assisted Therapy is also useful for people to combat stress and to explore life path decisions. In addition, it used by elite athletes to enhance performance, and for those seeking professional and personal development, as the sessions also focus on tools for empowerment such as body awareness, emotional agility, safety, boundary setting, relationship building and restoration, and accessing personal strengths. The experience is often accelerated by the facilitation of the horses, bringing people into harmony in mind, body and soul.
The providers at RHEST Counselling and Equine Assisted Therapy are experienced and certified Mental Health and Equine Industry Professionals and deliver client-centred interventions and ongoing assessments.
What is provided: Short, medium, and long-term Counselling, Clinical Equine Assisted Therapy and Telehealth sessions.
What sessions can include: Counselling for trauma and injury related issues; motivation and self-esteem; crisis management; grief and loss; mental health issues including anxiety and depression; emotional regulation; personal, team and workplace relationships; building resilience; work, study, competition and training performance optimization; dealing with difficult relationships; difficulty in adjusting to change and disappointment; difficulty in balancing personal, relationship and work/study/health commitments; distressing life events and grief; pain and chronic condition management; vocational education and career planning; competition preparation, confidence building for nervous riders; capacity building and community engagement assistance, social skills development and training, and referrals to additional support services.
When: Weekdays 9-5, by appointment only. Waiting lists apply at times. The sessions are 1 hour and are non-riding. Additional Therapeutic Riding sessions are available. No horse experience is necessary.
Fees: Private billing, private health fund, NDIS, subsidised billing, funded, and annual tithe applications welcome. Contact RHEST Counselling and Equine Assisted Therapy for fee information and referral information. Payment required prior to/ upon confirmation of appointment. Cancellation fees apply with full fee charged if less than 24 hrs.
Your Provider: Meredith Torpey MACA Level 4, EFLC L2, EA/NCAS L1.G, Cert IV TAE
Meredith specialises in Equine Assisted Mental Health, Therapy, Rehabilitation, Counselling and Trauma Recovery, and Equestrian Coaching in the Cardinia Shire and South Gippsland regions, and she provides programs and sessions for individuals, groups, and the Equine Industry and Community Services sectors. Meredith has over 40 years of professional equine industry experience, is the founder of The Horses For Life™ secondary school program, and founder of Sanctuary Equus Inc. an Equine Assisted Trauma Recovery charity, is a trainer and assessor for accredited equine industry and vocational certifications, and previously held the position of Counsellor, Wellbeing and Performance Planner for Equine Pathways Australia Ltd in its early years, supporting Para-Olympic equestrians and recreational riders with a disability. Meredith runs a busy private practice at RHEST Counselling and Equine Assisted Therapy based at Tooradin Estate, and also provides consultation to business owners, employees and professionals in both the equine industry and human services sectors.