Our Programs
At Brumby Counselling & Wellbeing, we offer a range of programs support emotional wellbeing, social connection, and self-awareness through respectful and meaningful interactions with horses.
Our current offerings include:
6-Week Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Program – building confidence, boundaries, and relationship skills through safe groundwork
Spring Camp 2026: Finding your brave.
13-Week Equine-Assisted Wellbeing Program – a structured, trauma-informed series based on the EATA model
To learn more about each program, please scroll down and read the full descriptions below.
If any of these offerings feel like the right fit for you or someone you support, we’d love to hear from you. Simply get in touch using the contact options at the bottom of this page.
13 Week Equine-Assisted Wellbeing Program
13-Week Equine-Assisted Wellbeing Program
This 13-week program formulated by Equine Assisted Therapy Australia (EATA) and draws on the EATA model, an experiential and somatic framework designed to support emotional regulation, personal growth, and relational wellbeing through the partnership of humans and horses.
The program provides a structured and trauma-informed approach to emotional and psychological support. While the original study focuses on adults, the program’s core themes can be adapted across ages and contexts.
Program Overview
Participants attend one session per week over 13 weeks. Each session is facilitated by a qualified practitioner and supported by carefully selected horses. Sessions are experiential, held in natural outdoor environments, and involve a mix of observation, gentle interaction, reflective practices, and grounding tools. No previous horse experience is required, and all activities are unmounted (non-riding). The focus is on presence, awareness, and co-regulation — not performance.
What Participants Will Explore
Each weekly session builds on the last, supporting participants to:
Develop awareness of their nervous system and emotional states
Build trust and safety in relational spaces
Strengthen their capacity for connection and self-reflection
Explore personal patterns and gain insight through experiential learning
Connect with the natural world as a co-regulator
Experience non-judgmental feedback from horses, guided by attuned facilitation
Who This Program Is For
This program may be suitable for:
Adults, teens, or children needing support with emotional regulation or relational difficulties
Individuals experiencing stress, burnout, or nervous system overwhelm
People who find talk-based therapy challenging or have not responded well to traditional approaches
Neurodivergent individuals seeking sensory-informed and body-based support
NDIS participants with goals around emotional wellbeing, social participation, or self-awareness
Anyone seeking a slower, more grounded way to explore their internal world in connection with animals and nature
The program is grounded in trauma-informed principles of safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment. Sessions are designed to be accessible, respectful, and responsive to each participant’s needs and pace. Horses are valued as co-facilitators, and their wellbeing is central to every interaction.
This series offers a gentle, yet powerful alternative to talk-based therapy and can also complement existing mental health supports.
Spring Camp 2026: Finding Your Brave
Reconnect, explore and grow—alongside horses, nature and new friends
Spring Camp is a welcoming two-day, one-night experience for teens aged 12–17.
This year’s theme, Finding Your Brave, invites campers to reconnect with themselves, recognise their strengths and explore courage in ways that feel right for them. Being brave doesn’t have to mean being fearless or doing something big. It might mean trying something new, expressing a need, taking a break, connecting with someone or simply showing up as yourself.
Through fun, experiential activities with horses and nature, campers will be supported to build confidence, strengthen their self-esteem and enjoy connecting with other young people.
What campers can expect
Campers will have opportunities to:
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Spend time with horses and connect with nature
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Explore their individual strengths and interests
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Discover what bravery and courage mean to them
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Build confidence and positive self-esteem
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Practise recognising and communicating their needs
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Explore supportive emotional-regulation strategies
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Meet new people and develop social connections
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Enjoy creative, practical and nature-based activities
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Have fun in a small and welcoming group
There is no pressure to participate in every activity or to participate in the same way as others. Campers are welcome to observe, take their time, ask for changes and engage at a level that feels comfortable.
A welcoming, person-centred approach
Everyone is welcome at Spring Camp.
Our programs are guided by neuro-affirming and person-centred principles. We recognise that every camper has their own strengths, preferences, communication style, sensory needs and ways of participating. The program remains flexible and responsive throughout the camp. Activities can be adjusted to support each camper’s comfort, choice and meaningful participation.
We aim to create an environment where campers feel:
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Accepted as they are
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Respected and listened to
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Safe to communicate their needs
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Free to participate in their own way
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Welcome to take breaks or change their minds
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Supported to try new things without pressure
Before camp, we will connect with each family to learn more about the camper’s interests, strengths, preferences and individual support needs.
Who is Spring Camp for?
Spring Camp welcomes teens aged 12–17 who would enjoy spending time with horses and nature in a supportive, small-group setting.
It may be a great fit for teens who would like to:
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Meet new people in a welcoming environment
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Develop confidence and a stronger sense of self
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Explore new experiences at their own pace
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Enjoy practical and experiential activities
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Spend time outdoors and connect with animals
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Have fun and make new friends
Every young person is different. Families are encouraged to contact us before registering so we can answer questions, discuss individual needs and help ensure the camp will be a comfortable and positive experience.
Practical details
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Dates: Wednesday 7 October to Thursday 8 October 2026
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Duration: Two days and one night
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Age group: 12–17 years
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Group size: Maximum of six campers
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Cost: $550 plus GST ($605 including GST)
What to bring
To help campers feel comfortable and prepared, please bring:
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A tent that the camper feels comfortable sleeping in
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A warm sleeping bag
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A sleeping mat or camp mattress
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A pillow and an extra blanket
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Comfortable clothing suitable for outdoor activities
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Warm clothes for the evening and early morning
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Extra clothing in case anything becomes wet or dirty
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Enclosed, comfortable shoes
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A hat and sunscreen
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Toiletries and a towel
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A reusable water bottle
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Any personal items that may support comfort, regulation or sleep
We will also have a three-room tent set up, with two private sleeping rooms available for campers who are unable to bring their own tent. Please let us know before camp if your young person will need to use one of these rooms, as availability is limited.
Spring nights in the Blue Mountains can be cold. Please make sure your camper has a warm sleeping bag, sleeping mat, extra blanket and warm layers so they can sleep comfortably.
All personal belongings should be clearly labelled with the camper’s name. A complete packing list will be provided to families before camp.
Professional support
Spring Camp is delivered by appropriately qualified and experienced professionals.
Brumby Counselling & Wellbeing is:
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A registered NDIS therapeutic support provider
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Led by a registered counsellor
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Certified in Equine Assisted Mental Health Practice (EAMHP)
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Fully insured
Enquiries and registration
To express your interest, ask about the program or begin the registration process, please contact us through via email:
You are welcome to get in touch even if you’re unsure whether Spring Camp is the right fit. We’re always happy to have a conversation.
Come as you are, connect in your own way and discover what being brave means to you.
6 Week Equine Assisted Learning (EAL)
For children Age 5-13
6 Week Equine Assisted Learning Program
For children aged 5–13
Building confidence, connection, and calm regulation — one hoofbeat at a time
Program Overview
This 6-week Equine Assisted Learning program is designed to support children in developing foundational skills for safely and respectfully interacting with horses and with each other.
Over six weekly sessions, children explore emotional awareness, body boundaries, gentle leadership and communication, while building confidence through real, hands-on experiences with our herd.
This is not a riding program. It focuses on groundwork and relational learning in a calm, structured environment where children can grow at their own pace.
Each session is facilitated by a Registered Counsellor and Certified Equine Assisted Mental Health Practitioner and blends safety, skill building and curiosity.
Program Aims
Introduce children to horse safety, body language, and respectful interaction
Encourage emotional regulation, self-awareness, and gentle leadership
Explore boundaries, consent, and safe touch — in both human and horse relationships
Promote confidence, patience, and social-emotional learning
Foster a sense of calm connection with animals and nature
Who This Program Is For
This program is ideal for:
Children who love animals and want to learn more about horses
Building the Foundation for future horse work (riding or non-riding)
Young people needing support with emotional regulation, boundaries, or confidence
Families seeking a calm, supportive activity outside of mainstream sports
Anyone wanting to build skills that can support future horse riding or animal care
No prior horse experience is needed — just curiosity and a willingness to try
What Children Will Learn
Each week introduces a new theme, including:
Understanding horse body language and space
Approaching, haltering, and leading with care
Learning where and how horses like to be touched
Listening to cues from both the horse and their own body
Practicing presence, patience, and working as a team
Program Details
Length: 6 weekly sessions
• 1 hour for individual sessions
• 2 hours for groups of 3
• 3 hours for groups of 4
Group size: Small, supportive group to allow individual attention
Location: The Blue Mountains, NSW 2790
Investment: $450pp + GST
Facilitator: Registered Counsellor and Certified Equine Assisted Mental Health Practitioner
Note: This is a non-therapeutic program but offers many emotional and social benefits
