TESTIMONIALS
Hear what our clients have to say about their experiences at Healing Hooves
“Through Horses we are Granted The Grace to Be …. and The Space to Become ….”
Sue McIntosh, Healing Hooves founder and counsellor
A Full Circle Story…
In 2001 my 6 year old son felt lost, unheard and bereft at school. It is thanks to Sue McIntosh and her Healing Hooves team releasing him from his fears and sorrow that I am aware of the depth, beauty and source of renewal that is the provision of Equine Facilitated Wellness.
My son connected with Sue’s horse, Dubh, because previous owners had not paid attention to his needs or hurts. It is infinitely beautiful to watch one’s shy, lonely and troubled boy become whole, happy and excited. A transformation occurred because of all Sue taught him about horses and the space she allowed him to explore, encouraging him to see himself as capable, smart, lovable and a horse lover. I am forever grateful for the sense of joy she and her horses instilled in my little boy to dig deep and look for who he really is beyond any suffering he once thought defined him.
In 2015 Sue invited us to reconnect with Dubh and be part of a documentary about equine therapy at her farm on the show ‘Wild About Animals’. It has been an honour and privilege to learn and grow with Healing Hooves as a mother and as a trainee. Sue’s therapeutic skills, human and horse wisdom and the support she provides to clients and EFW recruits is remarkable.
Thank you Sue for making our story one of hope, strength and renewal.
Lynne Empey, BSW, RSW
Lisa Loewen
LL Equine, Prince George, BC
www.facebook.com/llequine/
When I walked through the doors at Healing Hooves, something magical happened …
In 2013 I began my EFW training Journey with Healing Hooves. I really didn’t know what to expect, only that I had a 10 hour drive through the mountains to get to a place I loved (Southern Alberta). I already had a background in psychology, facilitation and trauma informed practice and when I walked through the doors at Healing Hooves, something magical happened. I knew I was in the right place and the teaching and learning fit perfectly for what I had as a vision for my work. The Neufeld Attachment work has enriched not only my EFW practice but also my work as an Anger Management/Family Violence Facilitator at the Northern John Howard Society here in Prince George, BC. I’ve been going back every year to continue my EFW education and to assist with facilitating workshops. Sue’s place has felt like home right from the beginning, this is of course supported by her homemade baking… I have appreciated the opportunity to be part of the Healing Hooves family and would highly recommend any of the workshops and seminars that they offer. It’s not just the power of horses you feel at Healing Hooves but the power of friendship, of family and of nature.
Kayleigh
a place where I could be myself …
I came to healing hooves in a very telling time in my life after going to a handful of therapists, counsellors etc. Family friends of ours suggested making the drive out to healing hooves facility. Normally hesitant and annoyed with such a suggestion I was excited to see the horses, at least I could gain something from their friendship if nothing else. As soon as we arrived I was instantly comforted by all the furry faces and Sue was patient with me in the sessions that followed. We worked through a lot of my issues and she helped me with my confidence in building my relationships with the horses, we visited regularly and it didn’t feel like therapy; it became something I could look forward to, something constant, safe, a place where I could be myself. Sue and the animals at healing hooves helped me to become the person I am today and for that I am forever thankful.
Wendy and her son
Reaching out to Sue has turned out to be the best parenting decision I’ve ever made!
Jane Everitt Walker
Clinical Social Worker
Heart of the Horse
Ontario
Kathy
truly a place of healing …
Rhonda Pickles
RPC, MPCC, CCPCPR
www.theequineedge.ca
I enrolled in Sue’s EFW training stream in the spring of 2017. It was the wisest and best decision I made …
I first came across Sue McIntosh and her EFW training program at Healing Hooves late in 2016. I was extremely frustrated as I had been searching long and hard to find a training program in ‘Equine-Facilitated -Something’ that aligned with my values and personal and professional ethics as a practicing mental health professional as I wanted to introduce an Animal Assisted/Equine Facilitated component to my practice, and had not found a program that came close to what I was looking for.
Since 2014, I had been building towards adding horses assisted activities to my work as a counsellor with some of my clients where traditional office sessions weren’t working for them. In 2015 I enrolled in a training program for Equine Assisted Learning, which was run in a 1-week training with ongoing support to assist in building the business portion of my practice. Although I took away many skills and specific goal oriented exercises for life skills development from the earlier training in EAL, I was wanting and needing more in depth training and skill building that encouraged me to grow and develop a practice that was unique to my skills and vision as a helping professional.
I enrolled in Sue’s EFW training stream in the spring of 2017. It was the wisest and best decision I made for my development and growth as a provider of Equine Facilitated Wellness (EFW) programs and services. Sue is a highly skilled, professional, knowledgeable teacher, and an industry leader on the cutting edge of the development and evolution of EFW in Canada and beyond. Personally, Sue is kind, empathetic, humorous, and a patient teacher and mentor. At her EFW training sessions, Sue creates a dynamic space for learning, allowing time for questions and concerns to be explored and answered.
If you are considering Sue’s training at Healing Hooves, I highly recommend attending the Exploration Workshop to help you in your decision making process. This is a journey you must experience first hand to really feel the full impact and depth of Sue’s training, skills and the wonderful field of EFW.
Sandra J. Kerns
MEd., MSW, LCSW
Winter’s Grace Guidance Center
Soldotna, Alaska USA
Sue McIntosh, MA, CCC the founder, lead counselor, trainer, practitioner and author of Children’s Therapeutic Stories from Healing Hooves became my role model for best practice standards in the field of equine facilitated wellness (EFW) specializing in attachment and developmental psychology in 2010. After thoroughly researching educational programs and training facilities across the US and Canada, I found my fit and niche with Sue and her healing support team, both 2 legged and 4 legged.
For 8 years now and counting, Sue as a mentor has guided, encouraged, challenged, advocated and believed in me as her student. There has been more than one occasion when I felt I had lost my way, that if it wasn’t for Sue’s support, I might have truly stumbled and fallen. EFW training and professional development is a rigorous undertaking. One needs the experience of a dedicated esteemed teacher in the field to help navigate the way. Sue’s willingness to share carefully researched resources, provide both printed and online manuals, deliver in-person instruction in various teaching styles, arrange for hands on practice, supplement her own teaching with guest teachers in coursework, and continue her own training set a gold standard for program development.
The animals on the welcoming, organized, peaceful yet fun farm that Sue and her team oversee in Alberta, CA provide numerous diverse opportunities for engagement, training practice, reflection and bonding. A mini pony, Teddy, became my muse for moving forward in the EFW field and framing my own mission for providing attachment based EFW programming. Structure, safety (emotional and physical), soundness (animals and people), sensibility and fostering secure attachment are principles that I experienced first hand in Healing Hooves and now incorporate into my own practice along with resources from Sue’s program such as her Children’s Therapeutic Stories.
If you desire to learn and grow, both for personal and professional development, then I encourage you to connect with Sue McIntosh at Healing Hooves and explore the potential for your best fit!
Hillary Sharpe
R. Psych, PhD counselling psychology
Angela Miller
Certified Canadian Counsellor
Registered Provisional Psychologist.
I am thankful to be working with such a kind, compassionate and knowledgeable therapist …
My name is Angela Miller and I am Certified Canadian Counsellor as well as a Registered Provisional Psychologist. Around two years ago I began the process of certifying as an Animal Assisted Therapist with my canine co-therapist Rossi. As part of this process I was required to find a mentor/supervisor to help in this process. Sue McIntosh from Healing Hooves was recommended to me as a potential supervisor and one of the forerunners in Animal Assisted Therapy, specifically Equine Assisted Therapy.
Sue agreed to be my supervisor and we have been communicating through phone once a month for about a year around the ethics of Animal Assisted Therapy, specific intervention strategies when working with animals in therapy, particularly when it comes to working with my canine partner Rossi. Sue has been instrumental in providing me resources, validating and providing feedback around my private practice and in general been supportive in the journey of pairing my canine partner Rossi with my counselling practice. Through supervision with Sue, her passion in working with animals, clients and other professionals comes shining through. She is always willing to share her knowledge and recommend resources to help me become a well-rounded Animal Assisted Therapist and I am thankful to be working with such a kind, compassionate and knowledgeable therapist such as Sue McIntosh.
Other Feedback From Clients ….
“Thank you for letting me see what it feels like to cry happy tears for once”.
“I had the best four days of my life. Thank you!”
“You have opened a whole new door in my mind”.
“I went there with the expectation to meet and interact with horses and came out with so much more. Learning so much about horses, just LEARNING”.
“It was the best experience of my life”.
Other Feedback From Students ….
“Fantastic training that really boosted my confidence. Amazing horses, perfect for their role and so loved and well looked after. The hands on experience and balance with theory was perfect and gave great opportunity for growth.” – Ella, July 2022
“Very supportive facilitators who helped us explore our strategies and approaches in an individual way.” – Jill, July 2022
“Sue is so clear and accessible when explaining things. I love how she gives real examples.” – Julie, May 2022
“I loved the theory and integration of theory through case studies experiential exercises and debrief. I was grateful for the opportunities to ask questions. The environment felt very safe and supportive.” JC, May 2022
“The combination of theory and practical was very well balanced. The session planning and practice sessions were meaningful. I am leaving inspired for the work.” – Anon, Aug 2022
“I really benefitted from the different learning styles – reading, videos, discussion, hands on and interactive.” Jen, 2022
“Very practical application of the high level thinking behind EFW. Excellent takeaways in session planning and horsemanship. Very good pace. Excellent takeaways in session planning and horsemanship. It’s a joy to work and learn with Sue.” Jason, Oct 2022
“This was a lovely demonstration of respect for the horses and how it is an essential part of EFW.” – Lisa, July 2021
“Excellent models of ethics, safety and well being for all.” – Tonia July 2022
“Sue has the unique ability to manage the group and the pace so well.” – Teri, Aug 2022
“Very relevant with time for questions and exploration. Hand on. Freedom to try new things, comfort with having a trainer who is receptive to questions, mistakes, ideas, etc.” – Anon, Oct 2022
“Really really appreciate the authenticity of Sue’s demeanour and she is so knowledgeable.” – Anon, June 2021
“So much love here. A great model of humane care of all animals.” – Carol, June 2021
What Clients Have Said about the Healing Hooves Horses…
” …never in my life has it been so hard to leave something behind. And I didn’t think I could ever connect so much mentally with something”
“we shared so much in common. She was kind and affectionate. I felt I could honestly trust Mocha with my life. She’s got a great personality and I could not have asked for a better horse/therapy horse. I believe fate brought Mocha to that camp when it did in order for her to change our lives so much. I am so grateful for every moment with her.”
“She was quiet and showed she cared about me”
“He has his own attitude towards people and he really cared for me. He gave me a lot of hugs”.
“They were loving and trusting to me” .
“He and I have a certain understanding for our pasts”
“My favourite horse is Skye because he was ‘soft’, he made me feel happy …. I learned that I can make friends and that it is fun to be with other people.” – from a 7 year old boy
What clients have said they have learned about themselves through coming to Healing Hooves…
“Help is good for me”.
“I’ve learned that I am a gentle person yearning for someone’s respect and affection. I’ve learned that I have things to offer others”.
“I grew a bond with people who don’t judge me or expect things of me. I have a good bond with myself”.
“I learned that all animals and people have stories of their past time they went through. I need to be patient, trust myself “
“I learned many things. I didn’t want to trust and I was scared of being happy again. There is a lot more to life than the bad times”.
“Horses accept me”.
“I learned that I can be good around horses. That animals like me”.
“I learned that I need to take time to get to know people before I get close to them”
“I learned that people like me’
What Clients Have Said about Healing Hooves Counsellors (two legged)…
“You have helped me so much on my path to happiness. Counselling is rewarding and fun!”
“They were more than just group leaders. They were our friends”.
“They were so fun I just enjoyed myself”.
“They were very friendly and down to earth. They never made us feel like ‘clients'”.
“All the volunteers and associates were amazing & friendly”