Healing with Mental Health Treatment Integrating Equines

The University of Denver’s Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC) hosts multiple professional development certificates and courses centered on human-animal interactions. IHAC’s Equine Interactions in Mental Health (EIMH) practitioner certificate is designed for mental health practitioners who would like to enhance their psychotherapy practice by integrating equine interactions. This fall marks the start of the 18th cohort of the EIMH program since its inception in 2015. One of our EIMH alumni, Lori Seeds Payne, LCSW-S, recently shared with us how her experience throughout the program has positively impacted her practice.

Lori is the founder of Seeds of Hope Clinical Services, PLLC and co-founder of SeedWell™. Her work is centered on helping children, families, and communities experience lasting healing by addressing the patterns that shape generations. Lori intentionally includes horses within mental health treatment when clinically appropriate. She has seen how interactions with horses can enhance opportunities for emotional regulation, self-awareness, and relational growth within the psychotherapy approaches she employs in her practice.

Consisting of advanced coursework, in-person workshops in Denver, CO, and supervised client work, the EIMH program is an in-depth practitioner certificate for licensed mental health professionals across the United States and internationally. Lori shared that one of the main reasons she chose the EIMH program was due to its “depth of educational content and its strong foundation in science, ethics, and clinical practice.” Additionally, Lori stated, “The EIMH program strengthened both my confidence and my clinical framework for incorporating horses into mental health services ethically and intentionally. The program reinforced that experiential interactions with horses are far more than just engaging activities; they can serve as a meaningful therapeutic technique to support emotional regulation, relationship building, experiential learning, self-awareness, and resilience when integrated within your broader clinical treatment approach.”

In addition to high-quality curriculum, the EIMH program and IHAC’s other certificates are known for our instructor-led, interactive cohorts and our alumni network. Looking back on her program, Lori shared that one of the most valuable parts of her learning experience was to learn alongside a dedicated group of clinicians representing several mental health professions. When looking forward in how she will continue to apply what she learned in the program, Lori writes, “I am grateful for the role IHAC and the EIMH post-master program has played in helping me thoughtfully integrate the inclusion of horses into my professional practice. The program has strengthened my commitment to expanding access to innovative, ethical, and relationship-centered mental health care for my clients. I look forward to continuing this work and creating opportunities for individuals, families, and communities to heal, grow, and thrive.”

Thank you, Lori, for sharing your experience with the EIMH program. If Lori’s positive experience and growth sounds like the professional development you’ve been searching for, we encourage you to learn more and apply.

Lori and Gideon working with clients.