Certify in

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy • Animal Assisted Psychotherapy

PACFA Accredited
Love.Science.Ethics.Trauma-first
Specialist Nature-Wisdom Training

equine and animal assisted psychotherapy institute logo

The First Australian Specialist Education and Training Institute integrating Horses, Animal & Nature into Psychotherapy, Learning and Support Services

 

Since 2011 the Institute has been Australia’s Leading, Internationally inclusive Training Organisation and Supervision-provider for Counsellors, Therapists, Teachers, Coaches and Support workers looking to combine their passion for helping people, with their love of horses, animals or nature.

Specialising in comprehensive educational and professional development courses in equine-assisted services, animal-assisted services and nature-based therapy designed so you can help more clients and grow yourself as a masterful professional. The Institute teaches deep-change work that is beautiful, ethical, sustainable and most importantly, effective. This is our sweet-spot and our promise to you.

WE HELP YOU

Help More People & Diverse Clients

Get your Certificate, Insurance & New Career

Get out of the Clinic, Classroom or Office

Avoid the Limitations of Talk Therapy

Be Truly Trauma-informed

Be a Better Therapist

Change the Way You Work

Get New Knowledge & Inspiration

Certify with Us

Equine Therapy Video
horse with equine therapist

Integrating horse wisdom with clinical excellence

animal assisted psychotherapy dog

Experiential psychotherapy powered by human-animal connection

equine psychotherapist meg kirby with horse

Healing relationships through connection with animals

meggin kirby and therapy kangaroo

Building psychoeducational skills like regulation, empathy, and self-awareness with animal allies

ecotherapy

Restoring wholeness and inter-connection through the wisdom of nature

OUR TRAINING PROGRAMS

Empowering practitioners with knowledge, compassion, and science.

Recognised worldwide for our expertise, we offer comprehensive trainings that bridge academic knowledge with practical application. Our professional development certificate courses encompass 200 hours of focused education and training, including 126 hours of live instruction, supervision, and support, alongside 74 hours of independent (accrued) study.

meggin and therapist training dog

WORLD RENOWNED PROGRAMS

Our institute is motivated by animal advocacy and dedicated to training practitioners with an approach that combines psychotherapy expertise, experiential learning and neuroscience with nature’s wisdom. We support brain-body-based learning and healing, cultivating well-being for individuals, communities, and animals worldwide.

1000+

STUDENTS

20+

COUNTRIES

60+

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

A FULLY IMMERSIVE & EXPERIENTIAL CURRICULUM

YOUR JOURNEY TO LIFE-CHANGING EDUCATION AND PSYCHOTHERAPY STARTS HERE

equine therapist training tools

“My overall experience with The Institute and their model is one of utmost satisfaction and fulfilment both personally and professionally. From an administrative point of view, their staff are friendly, skilled and efficient professionals who promptly attend to all technical and administrative matters. They are dedicated to resolve any issues, present or arising, to everyone’s satisfaction in a professional and ethical manner.

From an educational point of view, the institute offers a high quality of education that encompasses personal and professional development and growth. Theory and practice are well balanced allowing for learning to be both an informative and experiential process. Trainers are person/horse-attuned, grounded professionals highly experienced in their respective fields. Meg’s genuine interest into understanding the inner world of another and their experiences of themself, others and their immediate and distant environment which she carries out with an attuned attention and respect to one’s needs, their boundaries and tolerance to psychological discomfort creates safe and trusting conditions for personal and professional exploration of oneself and one’s interpersonal relationships. It also provides a fertile space for psychological roadblocks to emerge and be safely held and contained.

The institute’s geographic location within a natural environment reflects their commitment to restoring natural ways of relating to oneself and another. Overall, it is a place of nourishment and nurturance personally and professionally.”

Ivana

equine assisted horse with laughing therapist
equine therapy horse head

“The 3 week Institute Training program is wonderful, but it’s only the beginning. The new learnings, concepts and experiences changes your life. The way I view things, my reactions to things, my understanding of myself will enable me to grow as a person and as a practitioner. My relationship with horses now grows as a partnership, as colleagues on a journey together, I’m excited!”

Genevieve

YOU BELONG HERE

You are Deeply Connected to Horses, Animals and Nature

You want to Change Lives in meaningful and lasting ways

You know that Horses and all Animals are Sentient beings, not tools

You are Committed to ongoing Personal and Professional Growth

You Believe ethical, kind, and heart-led practice is essential

You Value high-quality education and flexible, affordable options

You feel a Calling to share the Joy, Wisdom and Healing of Horses, Animals, and Nature

You want to Learn from Experienced professionals who live the work

OUR MISSION

Empowering Professionals to take Therapy, Education and Support Services out of the Clinic, stepping into Relationship with Horses, Animals and Nature to Transform Client’s Lives with a new Calm, Connection and Change. Bringing Beauty back into Work-Life Balance.

OUR VISION

Rewilding psychotherapy and education as a global standard in mental health care, personal & professional development, & social-emotional learning using the integration of the human-animal connection & nature immersion.

proud supporters of

animals australia for a kinder world
world animal protection
little urchins wildlife sanctuary

members of

IAHAIO logo
IICT Approved training provider
Welcome to the Equine Psychotherapy Institute

Welcome to the Equine Psychotherapy Institute

What is equine therapy?

What is Equine Therapy?

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