Information for Referring Professionals

Could Equine-Assisted Therapy Benefit Your Clients?

Do you have clients who:

• Feel “stuck” and are no longer making meaningful progress?
• Find it difficult or uncomfortable to talk about their experiences?
• Become withdrawn or disengaged in a traditional office setting?
• Are reluctant to participate in counselling but would benefit from developing more adaptive coping strategies and behaviours?

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) may offer the catalyst for change you have been seeking.

EAP is an experiential, evidence-informed approach that complements traditional counselling by providing clients with a unique, hands-on therapeutic experience alongside gentle and intuitive horses. Through carefully facilitated, ground-based interactions with horses, clients are encouraged to develop emotional awareness, confidence, resilience, and healthier ways of relating to themselves and others within a safe and supportive outdoor environment.

No prior horse experience is required. Clients simply need a willingness to engage, reflect, and explore new perspectives.

Why Horses?

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy is a professional therapeutic approach that supports emotional, psychological, and personal wellbeing. Horses naturally respond to human behaviour and emotions, providing immediate and non-judgemental feedback that can promote self-awareness, insight, and meaningful change.

The experiential nature of EAP can be particularly valuable for clients who struggle with traditional talk-based therapies, enabling them to explore challenges, patterns, and strengths in a practical and engaging way.

Collaborative Support for Your Clients

All equine-assisted sessions are facilitated by Candesa Scarff, who holds a Bachelor of Social Science and a Master of Counselling, and is a Level 4 Member of the Australian Counselling Association, representing the highest level of practising membership.

Specialising in Equine-Assisted Therapy, Candesa has undertaken extensive training and ongoing professional development through a variety of organisations and institutes. She combines her counselling and human services expertise with the unique therapeutic opportunities offered by working alongside horses, helping clients develop greater self-awareness, resilience, and emotional wellbeing.

Candesa values collaborative practice and can work alongside psychologists, counsellors, social workers, educators, support coordinators, and other allied health professionals. Referring practitioners are welcome to participate in sessions when appropriate and beneficial for their client’s therapeutic goals.

Referrals and Further Information

If you would like to discuss whether Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy may benefit one of your clients, or explore opportunities for collaborative care, please contact Candesa via our “Contact Us” page and we will be sure to contact you. We welcome the opportunity to discuss individual client needs and how equine-assisted services may complement existing supports.