About Us:
Daurio Counselling is a dedicated mental health practice committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based assessment and treatment for children, youth, individuals, couples, and families.
We are expanding our services to include equine-assisted psychotherapy and wellness programming at our onsite location in Kawartha Lakes, Ontario. This unique approach integrates the therapeutic relationship, evidence-informed counselling practices, and the healing connection between humans and horses to support emotional regulation, self-awareness, confidence, communication, personal growth, and more.
We are seeking a compassionate and experienced Equine Assisted Therapist (Mental Health) to join our growing team. The successful candidate will provide individual and group equine-assisted therapy programming for children, youth, adults, and families while maintaining a trauma-informed, client-centred, and strengths-based approach.
Job Description:
The Equine Assisted Therapist will provide onsite counselling and equine-assisted therapy services at our partnering Kawartha Lakes location. This role includes facilitating individual and group programming, completing assessments, developing treatment plans, providing psychoeducation, and supporting clients through therapeutic interventions involving equine-assisted therapy and care.
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong clinical skills, confidence working independently, and extensive experience handling and caring for horses. They will be responsible for creating a safe, welcoming, and therapeutic environment for clients while maintaining professional standards of practice.
Responsibilities include:
- Completing comprehensive intake assessments with clients, families, and referring professionals.
- Developing individualized treatment plans based on client needs, goals, and presenting concerns.
- Providing evidence-informed counselling interventions in individual and group settings.
- Facilitating equine-assisted therapy and psychoeducational programs for children, youth, adults, and families.
- Establishing trusting therapeutic relationships with clients and engaging them based on their individual readiness and strengths.
- Supporting emotional regulation, communication skills, self-esteem, confidence, and interpersonal development through equine-assisted interventions.
- Collaborating with families, community partners, and other professionals as required.
- Completing clinical documentation, progress notes, treatment summaries, and reports as needed.
- Providing consultation and psychoeducation to clients, families, and community supports.
- Participating in quality improvement initiatives and ongoing professional development.
- Supporting the care and wellbeing of equine partners
- Independently managing scheduling, client caseload, and session preparation.
Benefits of the Position Include:
- Opportunity to develop and grow an innovative equine-assisted therapy program within a supportive private practice.
- Flexible scheduling based on client needs and programming availability.
- Competitive compensation based on clinical experience and qualifications.
- Supportive and collaborative clinical team environment.
- Access to consultation and professional collaboration.
- Administrative support with scheduling, documentation systems, and practice operations.
- Opportunity to provide meaningful, experiential mental health care in a unique therapeutic setting.
Qualifications:Education & Professional Registration:
- Master’s level training in Social Work, Counselling, Psychotherapy, Psychology, or a related mental health discipline.
- Registration with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO), or equivalent professional regulatory body.
- Minimum three (3) years of recent clinical experience providing counselling or psychotherapy services to children, youth, adults, and/or families.
- Minimum five (5) years of recent experience with horse handling, care, and direct interaction with equine partners.
- Current Vulnerable Sector Screening Check.
- Valid Ontario Driver’s License and reliable transportation.
- Professional liability insurance.
Clinical Knowledge & Experience:
- Strong knowledge and experience working with trauma, mental health concerns, anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, attachment, and relational challenges.
- Experience supporting children, youth, families, and/or individuals with diverse needs, including neurodivergence and Autism Spectrum Disorder.
- Strong understanding of child and adolescent development.
- Knowledge of evidence-based therapeutic approaches including CBT, DBT, ACT, mindfulness-based approaches, trauma-informed practices, or related modalities.
- Strong understanding of emotional intelligence, communication skills, conflict resolution, and relationship-building.
- Experience facilitating psychoeducational groups and therapeutic programming.
- Excellent clinical assessment, treatment planning, documentation, and case conceptualization skills.
- Knowledge of equine behaviour, handling, safety, and care practices.
Skills & Abilities:
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
- Ability to create a safe, inclusive, and non-judgmental therapeutic environment for clients from diverse backgrounds.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build rapport with children, youth, adults, families, and professionals.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to facilitate meaningful conversations and therapeutic activities in individual and group settings.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage a clinical caseload independently.
- Ability to adapt to changing client needs and unexpected situations.
- Strong problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.
- Ability to work independently while also collaborating as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Confidence working outdoors and within an equine environment.
- Physical ability to safely complete required horse care and program-related duties.
- Basic computer literacy, including electronic documentation systems, email, scheduling software, and word processing programs.
Additional Information:
This position requires a flexible schedule, including potential daytime, evening, and weekend availability based on client needs and program offerings.
The successful candidate must be comfortable working onsite at our Kawartha Lakes location and participating in both clinical and equine care responsibilities.
Daurio Counselling is committed to providing inclusive, accessible, and culturally responsive mental health services. We welcome applicants who bring diverse experiences, perspectives, and approaches to supporting client wellness.
Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
Pay: $75.00-$115.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Flexible schedule
- On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Kawartha Lakes, ON: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Application question(s):
- Registration with regulatory college and liability insurance.
Education:
- Master's Degree (preferred)
Experience:
- Equine: 3 years (preferred)
Work Location: In person
