Hello, I am Stephanie Smith, LMHCA. I have always had a passion for helping others, and in working with horses. Throughout my life, my personal experiences with horses shaped my own outlook on life, and I continue to do so every day. My jobs and careers have always toed a line between both people and horses. After years of work in academia and research related to horses and humans, I started shifting back to direct delivery through offering a small number of riding lessons and equine assisted learning. But after a few months I had to really stop and think… or rather listen. I realized that people really are going through so much hurt, pain, and confusion. And the demand for mental health services was outweighing the resources available.
As a mental health counselor, and as someone with my own lived experience with depression, anxiety, loss, and trauma, I feel that I am equipped in my soul to sit with others through the rollercoaster of emotions and challenges that others might be facing.
In my own journey I have realized that I also need variety. So I offer both equine (e.g., horses) assisted psychotherapy (EAP) for shorter supplementary treatment and intensives, as well as traditional office and telehealth based services for ongoing treatment.
In equine sessions, participation of the horses is voluntary with horses being turned out loose in an arena or pasture. They then have the autonomy to join us, or may choose to help clients by staying further away. In sessions we slow down, learn the language of the horses, build trust, and then engage in play and challenges that foster healing and growth.
I studied both humans and horses through undergraduate and graduate studies at Washington State University (Human Development and Prevention Science, respectively), and recently completed a second Masters degree through the CACREP accredited University of the Cumberlands in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I have had the honor of assisting on some of the most ground-breaking research in human and animal interaction interventions with a prevention focus, and has designed each retreat to reflect current best practices in the field. I have co-authored multiple refereed academic journal articles, and presented at International Conferences to share findings of clinical studies on the effects of animal-assisted interventions on physiological stress function via outcomes of salivary cortisol sampling, and other wellness-based mental health and behavioral outcomes. I was previously certified as a Therapeutic Horseback Riding Instructor, and Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning through PATH Intl. and also taught University courses in Human Development, as well as private horsemanship lessons on and off throughout the years.
I am a full-time stepmom, mom, wife, Christian, and avid equestrian. I also enjoys hiking the local trails, pack trips, swimming, the occasional craft project, and most recently I learned how to sail!
If you are ready to get started, email me at equineinteractionretreats@gmail.com.
I look forward to working with you!
Stephanie Smith, LMHCA
M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling
M.S. Prevention Science
Equine Interaction Retreats, LLC 