About

Michelle has enjoyed a life journey with horses.  Her parents bred and raised quarter horses.  Michelle rode Western Pleasure as a child and later progressed onto English Pleasure and competed in this discipline.  Her dream was to eventually have her own farm where she could see her horses from her living room window, a pleasure she now enjoys daily with her family.  Michelle shares her property with her herd of 7 horses, two dogs and a cat.
 

In 2009 Michelle qualified as an Equine Assisted Psychotherapist (EAP) through the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA), and in 2011 she has and completed further EAP training with the Equine Institute of The Rockies.  This has enabled her to combine her passion for working with people and horses and to achieve powerful and effective therapeutic outcomes for individuals, young people, families and groups. EAP addresses a variety of mental health and human development needs including behavioural issues, school refusal, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, relationship problems and communication needs. EAP also provides an alternative for people who do not want to participate in traditional room-based counselling. 
 

Michelle’s professional life has included working as a Physical Education Teacher, Gym Instructor and Disability worker. She has worked in Children’s Camps in America and worked in London in the Health Industry and with people with disabilities. Michelle taught in TAFE for a number of years, teaching disability studies and youth work. She later had a change of career, completing studies in Psychology. Michelle has worked in Early Intervention with children with disabilities and their family members, including conducting sibling programs. She also spent a number of years working in the Aged and Disability sector, facilitating support groups for carers, and training staff in group work. Michelle also has facilitated community consultations for a number of government organisations through out her career.
 

Michelle was a committed member and president of a local Adult Riding Club for 15 years and she continues to enjoy the pleasure of riding her horses through the beautiful Dandenong Ranges where she lives, as well as just spending time out in the paddock interacting with her beautiful herd of horses.  She is continually intrigued and delighted by their capacity to provide insight, healing and powerful lessons to people.  She is now able to share those unique and compelling experiences with others through Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Equine Assisted Learning.