KJH Counselling and Supervising

03/23/2026

Last chance for the early bird discount on the training your horse wants you to attend!

Discover what your horse wishes you knew, and how to put that into practice. You’ll learn what human and equine neuroscience and the wisdom of the horse have to teach us about connecting more deeply and authentically with equines, people, and ourselves. And you’ll put this into practice experientially within a small group of like minded people – and horses.

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

Register now – the horses and people in your life will thank you!
https://healinghooves.ca/healing-hooves-2022-training.../

Detailed Course Description

During the online portion of this course you will explore the human and equine nervous system to help you access the wisdom in your own body while listening to that of the horse. You will learn how human and equine brains are both similar and different - in how we experience and perceive the world through the senses, how we learn, how we process information, think and feel. You will explore what this means for equine needs, care and training to allow you to create equine environments which honour the equine as a sentient being and support mutually beneficial human-horse relationships.

During the onsite part of this course you will be supported to put your learning into practice with experiential exercises with the horses, reflection and group discussions.

Throughout all aspects of the course you will be invited to apply all of the above to your context with horses, be it trail rider, riding coach or within Equine Facilitated Wellness.

Schedule

Flexible Online: April 25-Jun 2
Onsite options: June 3 in Nova Scotia/ June 13 in Alberta

Cost

Online and Onsite: Early bird rate: $495 plus GST, regular rate: $550 plus GST.
Online only option: $295 plus GST early bird/ $350 regular rate
Early bird deadline: March 25

Includes

• Ten hours of pre-recorded video material to view when convenient to you. Life time access.
• Comprehensive online interactive course packed full of information supporting the videos, application exercises, discussion and self-reflective components. Provides you with direct access to your facilitator.
• Live zoom call with your facilitator to ask questions and connect with other students in your cohort
• One day in person workshop to discuss what you have learned and to apply this within your equine context. All materials, equipment and horses required for the onsite are provided plus coffee, tea and snacks.

03/05/2026

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.

01/13/2026

Come join us

01/07/2026

“Within the quiet sentience of the horse lives a mirror for our own becoming.

In their presence, we are invited to listen beyond words, to soften into truth, and to remember who we are beneath our defenses.

Through connection with equines in the scope of equine facilitated wellness, we do not seek to change the horse or judge ourselves we allow ourselves to be seen, reshaped, and transformed.” - Professional Association for Equine Facilitated Wellness Pro- EFW

12/19/2025

As a licensed equestrian coach and a Registered Counselling Therapist (covered under most health plans), I offer an integrated approach to supporting equestrians’ mental health, confidence, and performance. I work with riders of all ages and levels who experience performance anxiety, confidence loss, fear after a fall, competitive stress, perfectionism, or burnout, as well as broader life stressors that impact focus, emotional regulation, and enjoyment of riding.
Counselling is individualized and may address both sport-specific challenges and personal concerns that affect a rider’s well being in and out of the saddle.
As a Pro-Equine Facilitated Wellness (Pro-EFW) practitioner I may incorporate ground based equine assisted experiences when clinically appropriate. These sessions support self-awareness, nervous system regulation, emotional resilience and the horse-human relationship.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/karen-johnston-bedford-ns/963879

12/17/2025

11/24/2025

11/22/2025

10/12/2025

Ask me about Equine Therapy at Sunnyridge

09/13/2025

🧠💥 POLYVAGAL THEORY - coined by S.Porges (aka “Why you snapped at your partner, cried in Tesco, and then needed a nap… all in the same hour.”)

Let’s make it simple. Like, ponies-in-a-field simple. 🐴

Because your nervous system? She’s dramatic. She has moods. And she doesn’t always let your brain know what she’s doing.

So let’s meet the three ponies of Polyvagal Theory:

🖤 Fight-or-Flight Pony – jumpy, twitchy, ready to bolt because someone looked at them funny. Will probably scream if you drop a spoon.
(Yes, this is why you couldn't reply to that text. Or got irrationally angry at the slow WiFi.)

🤍 Safe and Social Pony – this pony is vibing. Makes eye contact. Can handle a chat. Will help you carry your emotional bags AND make you a cuppa.
(This is the version of you that’s brushing your horse, laughing with a mate, and actually responding to emails.)

🤎 Shutdown Pony – she’s DONE. Over it. Can’t even. Has entered energy-saving mode like an old laptop.
(Not lazy. Not rude. Just nervous system: unplugged.)

💡Polyvagal Theory says:
You’re not broken.
You’re not overreacting.
Your body is just trying to protect you — sometimes in ways that feel ridiculous (but make total sense underneath).

08/28/2025