Equine Psychotherapy Institute (EPI) Trainer and Supervisor
EPI Model Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Practitioner
BA Hons Psychology and Law
Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education (Science)
Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE Secondary Science)
Full registration with the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT)
Master of Professional Psychology (MProfPsych) (Psychologist, provisional registration)
Heather is a Psychotherapist, Counsellor and Teacher, who is deeply passionate about providing a safe space for people to heal, grow and explore what is important to them while in the powerful presence of horses.
Heather founded Brisbane Equine Assisted Therapy to offer an alternative to room-based counselling, utilising the EPI model work with horses. We work with children, adolescents and adults and offer Psychotherapy and Counselling and Personal Development and a range of school programs. Heather does also offer room based intervention.
Heather is a fully certified Equine Assisted Psychotherapy practitioner, having completed her training with the Equine Psychotherapy Institute in Daylesford, Victoria. Heather is also trained as a counsellor and is a provisional psychologist, currently completing a Masters in Professional Psychology. Heather is an executive member of the International Institution for Complementary Therapies. Heather is also a faculty member and the Queensland trainer for the EPI institute and offers intensive training in the EPI psychotherapy model for mental health professionals and individuals who want to train as Equine-assisted learning practitioners.
Along with this, Heather also has 10 years of experience as a school teacher and leader, mentoring young people from a range of backgrounds and teaching Chemistry and Psychology both in Australia and internationally. Heather is a current member of the Queensland College of Teachers. To read more about Heather’s background in education, head to the Learning at Liberty page. Heather's background has developed skills in working with adolescents to support building emotional awareness, resilience, and personal behaviour management plans.
Heather also has a background in training dogs and horses and is an advocate for relationships based training.
B.App. Sci Psych (Honours)
M. Ed. Psych., MAAPi
EPI Model Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Practitioner
Brodie is a highly experienced psychologist with a passion for working with children, adolescents and their families. She has worked extensively in schools and private settings throughout Victoria, the Northern Territory, and Queensland. Brodie finds working with young people and their families incredibly rewarding, especially witnessing first-hand clients achieving things previously unimaginable, and their self-esteem increasing exponentially.
Brodie possesses a sound theoretical knowledge of many evidenced-based counselling, assessment and intervention approaches. Brodie values an eclectic approach to her clinical work, drawing on approaches that align with her personal values of empathy, honesty, and resilience.
Brodie has a fun and dynamic way of engaging clients with her vivacious and compassionate attitude. Her warm and attentive nature ensures her clients are provided with a safe and supportive environment and strong working relationship.
Brodie grew up surrounded by horses and continues find much pleasure in their company. Brodie is excited by the EPI model as it allows clients to work towards their therapeutic goals utilizing the unique and highly regarded emotional qualities of horses. She is honored to combine her love of horses with her skills and experience in psychology to continue helping others in dynamic ways.
EPI Model Equine Assisted Therapy Practitioner Graduate
Diploma Physiotherapy (Salford University, UK) BSc (Hons) Health Sciences (Coventry University, UK)
Postgraduate Certificate Physiotherapy - Continence & Women’s Health (Melbourne University, AUS).
Australian Physiotherapy Association Titled Member – Continence & Women’s’ Health
AHPRA registered Physiotherapist
Helen’s memberships include:
Equine Psychotherapy Institute
Australian Physiotherapy Association
Continence Foundation Australia
International Institute for Complimentary Therapists
Helen has recently trained as an equine-assisted therapist with the Equine Psychotherapy Institute, and has been working as a physiotherapist for over 30 years. She has a passion for women’s health as well as lifestyle medicine. Lifestyle medicine uses an evidence based approach which considers the wholeperson, and focuses on health rather than disease using a systems based approach. It uses lifestyle changes that consider the effects of nutrition, physical activity, stress management, social support and environmental factors, to prevent, treat and reverse progression of chronic disease by considering their underlying cause. Helen enjoys working with clients and the herd, to support clients learn more about themselves and to achieve the goals that are important to them.
Helen has been successful in achieving a research grant with the Health Practitioner Research Scheme – Novice researcher, for her work on Gynaecology Physiotherapy Screening Clinics within Queensland Health. She has presented her research nationally in Brisbane and Sydney as well as internationally (Florence, Italy).
In her spare time Helen enjoys walking and running and is a keen advocate for Parkrun. Locally she is a member of a community choir and volunteers at a horse and bird rescue centre.
Equine Psychotherapy Institute (EPI) Equine Assisted Psychotherapy/Learning Practitioner
Post Graduate Certificate in Human Behaviour (Counselling) CCPT -
BED – Primary (P-10) Teacher & Specialist in Learning Difficulties and Special Needs
Certificate in Child Centred Play Therapy Affiliate Member of Australian Play Therapists Association- APTA
Full registration with the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT)
International Institute for Complimentary Therapies (IICT)
Katrina has worked with children, young people and adults with neuro-diverse and neuro-typical backgrounds, in both school, college and community settings in teaching, specialist and leadership roles for over 25 years. Katrina is engaging, creative, relational, well equipped, gentle and fun. She is motivated by a desire and deep conviction to help others and provide a safe, welcoming and nurturing space for children, youth, women and families to connect, grow and heal their inner world, with the support and company of animals.
Katrina is a certified Equine Assisted Psychotherapy practitioner, having completed her training with the Equine Psychotherapy Institute (EPI) in Moorina, Queensland, in 2021. She is committed to ongoing clinical training to further develop her skills and expertise so she can deliver professional services in ways that are relational and sensitive to the human story.
Katrina incorporates play-based, experiential learning opportunities, where participants are able to develop new skills and ‘ways of being’ with the support of a safe other – a horse or dog. Her sessions are room based or nature based, client centred and welcoming, with an unbiased and flexible approach that brings kindness and compassion to the individual story, celebrating the uniqueness. Katrina believes in and supports others to find the strength and courage to grow and develop new ways of being. Katrina enjoys the Arts, the beach and hiking in the beautiful Sunshine Coast Hinterland, home to her family and their horses, dog and birds.
Equine Psychotherapy Institute (EPI) Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Practitioner
Counsellor, (Dip Couns)
Wendy is a registered Counsellor and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Practitioner who is passionate about working with Women and Children and giving them a safe space to be supported through their life events. Wendy’s main philosophy, regardless of the presenting issues of the client, is to provide a supportive environment where clients feel safe and can address any issues they may have, in their own way.
Her main focus of work is in the space of Women and Children’s therapies. She is a trauma-informed counsellor working with adults and children who may have anxiety, issues within the home, trauma and PTSD, and dealing with separation and divorce.
Wendy also supports children and young people in out-of-home care, which includes being a foster carer since 2016. This experience has given her great insight into the daily challenges for people dealing with trauma and is what inspired her to become a counsellor. Wendy is constantly expanding her knowledge in trauma informed practices.
Wendy has had a love of horses since she was young, and now is lucky enough to have 5 horses of her own. She can appreciate how soothing and supportive it can be to be near horses when life gets tough, and enjoys being able to offer that in her work.
Set in an idyllic location within the small suburb of Moorina QLD, we are able to provide quiet and private surroundings whilst remaining accessible. From rolling 10-acre property, we offer our Equine Assisted Therapy and also room based sessions from our purpose-built conference centre. Just 10 minutes from the Bruce Highway, close to Morayfield and Caboolture and 1 hour from the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane CBD.
Brisbane Equine Assisted Therapy
Moorina ( close to Upper Caboolture) QLd 4506
Brisbane Equine Assisted Therapy would like to acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Australia’s first people and traditional custodians of the land on which we meet and work. We value their cultures, identities, and continuing connection to country, waters, kin and community. We pay our respects to elders past and present and are committed to making a positive contribution to the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, by providing services that are welcoming, safe, culturally appropriate and inclusive.
Brisbane Equine Assisted Therapy is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating discrimination. We welcome all people irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.
COPYRIGHT © 2021 BRISBANE EQUINE ASSISTED THERAPY - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.