ABOUT TONI
Toni has always loved horses: living with horses, working with horses, and understanding horses. It has been a lifelong love affair.
She has also been motivated to understand and help people both professionally and personally for over 25 years. Epona Enterprises allows Toni to bring together her two great passions: people and horses, in one immersive experience.
Toni has had a lengthy career working in human resources, health and safety, and professional development. She has coached senior executives and supported a diverse range of employees to understand themselves, their impact on others, and to navigate the psychological complexities of the workplace. Her approach has helped many leaders to develop a more empathic and effective style of leadership based on clear and kind conversations and personal accountability.
Toni has an honours degree in psychology, with a special interest in attachment theory and practice, and additional qualifications in professional coaching, counselling, and equine assisted mental health. These, combined with her extensive experience in human resource management and training, and practical work with horses – riding, training, and caring for horses – allows her to offer a unique and sympathetic insight into the human-horse relationship, and how we can partner with our equine friends to learn more about ourselves and others.
Epona Enterprises offers a holistic experience in a beautiful setting with excellent equine facilities and calm and well-trained horses. Toni is able to explain horse behaviour, and how it often resonates with our human nervous system and psychological need for safety and connection. The horses create the moments of connection, but Toni is an insightful and supportive translator of both horse and human communication and behaviour.
Toni is registered with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and has regular professional supervision with an accredited clinical supervisor to ensure her clients’ needs are first and foremost. As a member of the ACA, Toni is required to undertake ongoing professional development and adhere to the ACA’s Code of Ethics, and as such confidentiality is guaranteed in all circumstances, except where there are legal reporting obligations.
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WHY HORSES
Equine-assisted therapy is an approach that involves interactions between people and horses to promote emotional growth & healing. Horses and humans have long and shared history and recently, have formed partnerships in the therapeutic context. So, how does this work, why does this work, and what does the research say?
Studies have found that equine-assisted therapy and learning can also help improve self-esteem, reduce anxiety and depression, enhance social skills and increase emotional regulation. Many therapists and clients have reported positive experience and benefits from incorporating horses into their therapeutic interventions.
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Counselling, therapist, mental health Coffs Harbour
Counsellor Deer Vale (Dorrigo) + Equine Counselling
