Healing Hooves Animal Assisted Therapy

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Canada
Cremona, AB
Healing Hooves Animal Assisted Therapy

Equine therapy counselling, training, children's books, parenting resources & personal growth We have been working in the field for over 25 years!

Healing Hooves is an Equine and Animal Assisted Therapy program, based in Alberta, Canada. We provide trauma informed and attachment based counselling services within a natural setting with the option of incorporating horses, donkeys, dogs, cats, ducks and chickens into sessions. We have a team of four (two legged!) counsellors all of whom are professionally accredited in the mental health field with additional training in equine and animal facilitated work and trauma informed approached including EMDR. Our animal partners are highly respected members of our team who do this work because they want to and are allowed time off and retirement when they ask for this too! Our services are reimburseable under most health plans. We also provide parent consulting, professional training, mentoring/ supervision, personal growth workshops, therapeutic stories and resources for professionals and caregivers. Trainings are available in Alberta, Nova Scotia, Scotland and online and can lead to internationally recognised certification. For Professionals, when you work with Healing Hooves you join a community of professionals dedicated to a journey of ongoing growth in partnership with animals and nature. We meet you where you are now, honouring the unique experiences and skills – with people and with animals – you already possess, and we share a ‘map’ for applying and growing your experiences and skills within the Equine and Animal Assisted Services and Wellness field. Our approach is insight based and adaptable and is firmly grounded in both the discernments of science, research and professionalism AND in the wisdom of nature and our animals. This often means slowing down, looking deeper and allowing more space – all of which we have learned to do best in the company of our animals! Sue McIntosh MA CCC, founder of Healing Hooves and lead counsellor, is a licensed coach with Equestrian Canada, a Certified Canadian Counsellor and is certified through Pro-EFW as a practitioner, mentor and trainer in Equine Facilitated Wellness. Sue also has additional training and credentials in Animal Assisted Therapy, EMDR, Internal Family Systems, Emotionally Focused Therapy and Therapeutic riding. Sue has also worked closely with Gordon Neufeld for close to 20 years and is certified by the Neufeld Institute as a practitioner and facilitator.

03/04/2026

03/02/2026

What is it about horses that draws us in? Calms our nervous system? Fills our soul?

How can we harness this incredible connection into relationships, interactions and careers with horses that honour our equine partners as intelligent sentient beings?

Join us and learn what human and equine neuroscience, attachment theory and - most importantly - the wisdom of the horse have to teach us about connecting more deeply and authentically with equines, people, and ourselves. And put this into practice experientially within a small group of like-minded people, and horses.

By exploring the similarities and differences between the human and equine brain, nervous system and emotional world you will gain valuable skills and insights for emotional well-being, healthier relationships and more effective interactions – with people and horses.

An introduction to attachment theory and the new exciting field of Equine Assisted Services expands this into real life practical applications and opportunities for horse owners, coaches, parents, educators, helping professionals, and anyone interested in healthier relationships.

Take your first steps towards certification and practice development, or simply immerse yourself in a new way of being with horses and people that fills your soul.

Our training is open to all. It is informed by the science and research while remaining grounded in horse sense and practical application.

Comprehensive - Flexible - Horse Centred - and developed and led by pioneers in the field.

Register now – the horses and people in your life will thank you!

Upcoming training options include online, Scotland, Nova Scotia and Alberta.

Explore professional training and resources at Healing Hooves in Canada, the UK, and online. Learn about equine and animal assisted therapy certification, registration details, schedules, and more to enhance your healing journey.

02/20/2026

Huge congratulations to Healing Hooves student, Julie Lalonde, for being the latest certified practitioner with the Professional Association for Equine Facilitated Wellness!

Julie partners with two wonderful equines, Bo and Flicka, in the Ottawa area and as an RSW, MSW specialises in working with individuals who are experiencing grief and loss, anxiety, depression, interpersonal difficulties, life transitions, stress and burnout recovery.

It has been such an honour to work with Julie over the past few years and I am excited for all that she will continue to contribute to this field as she grows her practice!

Congratulations Julie!!!

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/julie-m-lalonde-ottawa-on/1099873

02/11/2026

I'm celebrating being back home with a free draw - for 50% off our online intro training!
Simply share this post and add a comment in below to let me know you've done so, and I'll draw the lucky winner's name on Valentines day!
Multiple entries allowed!

The winner will receive a 50% discount on our online Explorations in Equine and Animal Assisted therapy services training. This course starts February 16th and is fully online within an interactive online platform with zoom support meetings and guided experiential components.

So if you've been considering this training, now's your chance!

*Explore how to incorporate animals into your work safely and ethically
*Practice bringing yourself and your clients to a more regulated state, through and for an animal supported approach
*Explore how to create and work within the triad of the client -animals – counsellor relationship, with the animal recognised and partnered with as a sentient being
*Get hands with your own animals, or with our herd through videos, to personally witness and experience the power of this work
*Gain an understanding of different approaches to working, training and certifying in the field and determine which is the best for you
*Share your questions, reflections and learnings within a supportive small group and directly with Sue
*Develop a plan for what comes next – your mission, vision, scope of practice and next steps, and
Complete your first step towards national certification

You can find a full description on our website here: https://healinghooves.ca/workshops-and-resources/

02/08/2026

Last chance to register for our intro training!!!
After a month of volunteer work in Cambodia I’m on my way home and ready to start our 2026 training courses with you!
Explorations in Equine and Animal Assisted Therapy Services is fully online and open to all
This is your first step towards certification with Pro EFW plus approved for continuing Ed with several professional bodies.
The course is flexible, interactive and horse ( and donkey!) centred!
Starts Feb 16
Register here: https://healinghooves.ca/healing-hooves-2022-training-program-registration-form/
And please ask me any questions you have!

I look forward to hopefully getting to start this journey with you and support you as you develop your own practice and work in this exciting field!

01/19/2026

Meet Nina, Jordan and Greg, three of the herorats working with APOPO in Cambodia to detect land mines and other explosives.

I always say animal assisted services is a wide and varied field where we need to be cognizant of our scope of practice in terms of both the species we work with and the work we do. This program is very definitely outside my scope of practice but was incredible to visit!

These African giant pouch rats are saving thousands of lives around the world

01/09/2026

Daisy helping out with chores!

01/06/2026

Don't miss out!

January 8th is your last chance for the early bird discount on our Exploration Training in Equine and Animal Assisted Therapy Services

This fully online flexible and interactive training is your first step towards certification and starting your own work in this field

I hope you can join us!

01/02/2026

Happy New Year, and thank you for a wonderful 2025 from all of us at Healing Hooves!

2025 was a busy year with onsite trainings in Equine Assisted Services in Alberta, Nova Scotia and Scotland as well as online and onsite trainings in Equine Neuroscience. Plus we added ducks to the team! Thank you to all our dedicated students for the passion and commitment you bring to this work, to our couragous clients for allowing us to be a part of your healing journey and to my amazing team - Carolyn, Jen, Charlotte, Meghan and Madison - for your hard work and ongoing support. And of course a huge thank you to our wonderful four legged team!

We have lots planned for 2026 including trips to Scotland in March and Nova Scotia in May and online trainings starting in February. This is a great time to sign up for a workshop and secure your spot with an early bird discounted rate!

12/24/2025

Happy Holidays and all the best for 2026 from all of us at Healing Hooves!

It's been an honour to work with you during 2025 and we are looking forward to connecting again in 2026 - online, in Alberta, Nova Scotia and Scotland!

If you're thinking about starting or continuing training with us, now is a great time to sign up as all of our trainings currently have early bird rates on them.

We also have space for a few new counselling clients starting in January!

Merry Christmas!

Address

Cremona, AB
T0M0R0

Website

http://www.healinghooves.ca/

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Our Story

Healing Hooves is an Equine and Animal Assisted Therapy program, and Professional Training centre, based on a tranquil farm in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada.

We offer counselling, parenting support, equine therapy, children's stories and professional training services and resources to families, parents, children, teens and professionals. Our counsellors and trainers are trained in counselling, social work, equine therapy, animal assisted therapy (AAT), Equine Facilitated Wellness (EFW), attachment, developmental psychology and trauma therapy, including EMDR. We are associated with a wide range of professional bodies including EFW-Canada, the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), the Neufeld Institute, CanTRA and PATH.

Our Professional Training Workshops explore a wide range of approaches to working in the Equine and Animal Assisted Therapy fields and meet all of the training requirements of Equine Facilitated Wellness Canada.

Our Parenting Support sessions and resources are grounded in the approach taught by Dr. Gordon Neufeld of the Neufeld Institute.

Our Counselling Services specialise in working with people with struggles in the areas of anxiety, depression, trauma, parent child conflict, ADHD, attachment struggles and disorders, self esteem struggles, stress, behavioural problems and more.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

We offer nationally recognised training in equine facilitated wellness and animal assisted therapy leading to national certification with Equine Facilitated Wellness-Canada. Check out our Events Page for current training dates and details.

THERAPEUTIC CHILDREN’S STORIES AND OTHER RESOURCES

We have published a number of therapeutic stories for children aged five to twelve. Grounded in attachment theory and developmental science, each story covers a different therapeutic theme including emotional expression, resilience, recovery from loss, trauma, forgiveness, and relationship conflict. They are also simply fun, engaging and amusing stories holding universal applicability to all children and their parents. Check out our store for the books available for purchase and our posts for free downloads of selected titles.

OUR COUNSELLING APPROACH

The counselling approach followed at Healing Hooves is firmly grounded in attachment theory, developmental psychology and neuroscience; an insight approach, rather than a behavioural approach. Specifically, it is grounded in the approach developed and taught by Dr. Gordon Neufeld with whom all Healing Hooves counsellors and trainers have extensive training. As such the focus is upon the relationship between a client and the key positive adults in his/her life, upon the client’s longer term development, and upon the needs and emotions underlying their behavior.

This is approached through facilitating a process and creating an environment within which the client develops a positive relationship with the horses and other animals at Healing Hooves. This is then used as a bridge to develop a positive relationship with the counsellor, and with other key healthy caretaking adults in the client’s life. The interactions and interventions facilitated with and through the therapy animals, and all other therapeutic approaches and interventions followed by Healing Hooves Counsellors, are grounded in her understanding of both child development and attachment, and the interplay between these two aspects.

This includes consideration of attachment depth, security and health; the health and maturity level of the developmental processes of emergence, adaptation and integration; the level of emotional defenses and the impact of this upon both attachment and the developmental processes; and the interplay between all of the above and a child’s ability to feel and express emotions (including frustration and alarm) in a healthy and vulnerable manner.

Funding is often available for our services through Children’s Services (CS), Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) and through private health insurance.

Sue McIntosh, MA, CCC the founder and lead counsellor at Healing Hooves is triple certified with EFW Canada as a trainer, mentor and practitioner and is certified with the Neufeld Institute as a practitioner, facilitator and parent consultant.