Director, Senior Counsellor and Clinical Lead
Meredith is a qualified counsellor who specialises in workplace injury, trauma and psychosocial recovery in the Equine Industry, and psychosocial disability. She is a Level 4 ACA registered counsellor, Arts Therapist, Equine Facilitated Learning and Coaching practitioner, and an Equestrian Australia Coach, and her background includes over 20 years' experience counselling, working in disability and teaching at risk youth and young offenders in Community VCAL. Meredith has worked for 40 years professionally in the equine industry, in addition to holding positions in education, training and assessment in vocational and equine industry accredited training. She is also a skilled and empathetic equine assisted therapist who utilises the healing power of horses to facilitate emotional and psychological growth in clients. Her approach focuses on integrating experiential learning with traditional evidence-based therapy. Meredith provides face-to-face and telehealth counselling, clinical equine-assisted mental health services and arts therapy. She works with adults, teens and children impacted by stress; burnout; work, study and performance anxiety; trauma; injury and illness recovery; disability; psychosocial rehabilitation; career transitions; managing high sensitivity; and compassion fatigue recovery. As well as holding counselling, wellbeing and educator roles in diverse sectors including schools, workplaces, and the equine industry, Meredith brings 40 years of professional equine industry experience as a coach, competitor, trainer and assessor. This allows her to offer a unique perspective into the world of competitive and recreational horse sports and the challenges facing those who work and manage enterprises in the equine industry. In addition to providing general counselling services, Meredith supports employees and professionals in various industries including the equine industry, as well as high performance athletes with a disability, Para-equestrian riders and recreational riders. As an Equestrian Australia Coach, as well as a registered counsellor, Meredith is able to assist clients who may be struggling with performance and training issues relating to their mental health, wellbeing and their horses and she can provide valuable tools and interventions specific to their needs in this sector. Meredith's passion is trauma recovery and post-traumatic growth, facilitating change through connecting people with their strengths and values, providing a safe space for exploring options and resources, empowering individuals and communities through journeys of self-discovery, with practical, useful, tried and tested evidence-based interventions. Over her extensive career, Meredith has been fortunate enough to train and work with many incredible people, trailblazers, and visionaries, including Manolo Mendez, Linda Kohanov, Kathy Pike, Barbara Rector, Sandra Wallin, Mary Longden, and Sally Francis OAM, and is engaged in continuous professional development and training to ensure best possible practice and delivery of quality services. In addition to her existing qualifications in Counselling, Arts Therapy, Equine Facilitated Learning and Coaching, Equestrian Australia Coaching, Vocational Education, Training and Assessment, Meredith is currently completing the Master of Rehabilitation, Counselling & Mental Health, specialising in Sports and Athlete Services and Mental Health. Away from the office and equine assisted therapy facilities, Meredith is often found adventuring with her dogs, riding her own horses, beach combing, making art, enjoying sound healing, nature, and quality time with loved ones.
Equine Partner
Razzy is an experienced equine assisted therapy team member with many years of successful outcomes in sessions and continues to support clients with his exceptional ability to make people feel a deep sense of belonging and self-acceptance.
Equine Partner
Iris is gentle and loving and particularly good at nurturing and giving hugs. She grew up in the herd and her mother Allie was also a wonderful equine assisted therapy team member, guiding Iris to develop good boundaries and sensitivity to the needs of their clients.
Equine Partner
Fudge is a miniature pony with a big personality and is very gentle and smoochy. He is able to fill people with confidence and helps clients develop mastery in many areas of horsemanship in addition to developing emotional agility skills. Fudge particularly appreciates it if people remember to make eye contact and connect with him at his level before getting busy with activities.
Equine Partner but really the CEO
Jelly also grew up with the herd and is the calm one in the midst of events that get everyone excited, such as the zoomies. She also likes to conserve her energy. Jelly has the ability to help clients find their inner anchor no matter how difficult life is.
Equine Partner
Raphael is tall and gentle, loves a scratch but will patiently wait until clients are ready to approach. He is polite, very grounded and exceptionally good at helping people regulate their nervous systems. Raph is all about honouring deep feelings, love and connection.
Equine Partner
Oakey is a gentle and quiet guy and has recently discovered humans after living in a bachelor herd for the first 10 years of his life. Although he has had little interaction with people up until the last couple years, and is quite shy, he is particularly interested in those on the autism spectrum and has begun to work in the team at liberty and has the choice to engage or not at all times.
