Horses have been in Judith Emond’s life since she was ten years old. She has always experienced the benefits that they provide as sentient beings and has combined this passion with her psychological therapy practice.
Judith has extensive counselling experience working with teens, adults and families within the disability and mental health field and undertakes continual training to remain updated with the latest counselling methods and research. She provides evidence-based treatments to deal with emotional and psychological difficulties drawing on a range of treatment modalities such as animal-assisted therapy, somatic experiencing, behavioural and cognitive interventions, relaxation, grounding and mindfulness strategies, social engagement, family relationship therapies and bereavement interventions. Including horses in her practice has greatly enhanced the outcomes of service users. Judith is extremely passionate about advocating the unconditional support and spiritual healing that horses offer humans.
Judith is a Clinical Family Therapist (AAFT), Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AASW) and Bereavement Counsellor and has worked in the field for more than 25 years. She has trained as an equine experiential learning facilitator with the Centre for Equine Experiential Learning under the Somatic Experiencing Horse model, and completed Equine Interaction Experience Practitioner Training with Sheez Like the Wind. Judith has also undertaken Animal-Assisted Play Therapy Level 1 with the International Institute of Animal-Assisted Play Therapy.
Judith is on the board of directors for the Certification Board for Equine Interaction Professionals (CBEIP) and is a certified Equine Interaction Practitioner – Mental Health with the CBEIP.
She is a member of Animal Therapies Ltd and is a registered NDIS provider.
Judith is compassionate, non-judgemental, friendly and approachable, and her calm demeanour and therapy animals put people at ease. Judith also embraces the richness of her clients’ lived experience, their skills and their own expertise.
Judith has training and experience working with transgender, gender-diverse and non-binary teens, adults and their families.
As well as her ‘paddock therapy’, Judith runs a successful private counselling ‘couch therapy’ practice in Geelong.
