Sessions at the Stable

Long before she stepped foot at the Graduate College of Social Work, MSW student Elisabeth Adams had her eye on studying a novel form of therapy – one that incorporated a lifelong love of hers.

“I’ve always loved horses,” She said, “I was considering graduate programs and knew a LMSW who mentioned that the GCSW had a professor that taught equine-assisted therapy. I looked up Professor Amtsberg and reached out to her.”

Clinical Associate Professor Donna Amtsberg most certainly had a ready opportunity for Elisabeth. In the classroom, Donna teaches equine-assisted therapy and supervises students with a passion for animal-assisted treatment. Outside the GCSW, she’s a practitioner at Brookside Ranch, an equine-assisted psychotherapy practice. Every year, she recruits MSW students to complete their practicum on the ranch. It gives students the opportunity to observe an innovative, up-and-coming treatment modality.

Clinical Associate Professor Donna Amtsberg and MSW Student Elisabeth Adams.

Donna has practiced animal-assisted work since 1997. She came across the Brookside Ranch in 2014 while seeking out sites for student practicum placements. She met owner Dr. Beverly Walsh and was impressed by the ranch’s forward thinking of equine therapy. “These horses have been together [for about 20 years] and have worked under a model that really focuses on choice and consent.”

The treatment entails several activities but is generally divided into three stages: self-regulation, equine interaction, and debriefing. In the second stage, clients build a relationship with a horse in the pasture while following principles of consent. According to Dr. Walsh, adolescent clients who have anxiety, depression, or ADHD particularly benefit from this treatment because of its empowering nature. “Horses are good at helping us be more self-led. For some people, partnering with a horse can be the first time they’ve ever really experienced a sense of connection with a secure attachment.”

Dr. Beverly Walsh, the owner of Brookside Ranch, training Penny the horse.

"It’s not easy work. It’s beautiful work. I have the support of the horse, the equine professional, and the whole team, we can walk with our clients to help them deal with their stuff in a way that's powerful."

Beverly Walsh, PhD
^{Owner, Brookside Ranch}

Clinical Associate Professor Donna Amtsberg, LCSW-S (left) and Brookside Ranch owner Dr. Beverly Walsh (right).

Brookside Ranch currently employs eight providers and 12 horses. Donna, who is one of the eight providers, hopes to keep bringing in GCSW students to complete their internship at the ranch. Students often seek her out, though she noted, “We’re looking for somebody who has an interest in a unique way of providing therapeutic services. Somebody who has a deep interest in working with animals and individuals.”

It was the perfect placement for second-year student Elizabeth Low, who had experience in canine-assisted therapy prior to starting her MSW program at the GCSW but wanted to venture outside of her comfort zone. “What excited me is being hands-on, being outside of a traditional therapeutic setting, and helping people who aren’t successful in those traditional ways of therapy.”

Fellow intern Elisabeth Adams loved the opportunity of hands-on practice. What she didn’t expect was to learn about herself. While having a frustrating moment with a horse she practiced with, she realized, “I let other people define how I’m feeling as opposed to me being able to stay grounded.”

Both MSW students agree their experience at Brookside Ranch have shaped their post-grad goals. Elisabeth plans to pursue a PhD to research equine-assisted work to fill in existing limitations in related literature. Elizabeth wants to head down the clinical route, focusing on teenagers and their mental health by incorporating animal-assisted therapeutic techniques.

MSW students and Brookside Ranch interns Elisabeth Adams (Left) and Elizabeth Low (Right) with Penny the horse.

MSW students and Brookside Ranch interns Elisabeth Adams (Left) and Elizabeth Low (Right) on the field.

Current MSW students should take the opportunity if they can take it, Elizabeth said, “It’s all about connections and who you know. If I weren’t in that class in my first year with Professor Amtsberg, I wouldn’t have had this experience. Making connections within this program will get you a lot of places.”

Brookside Ranch is just one of the many opportunities available to MSW students at the Graduate College of Social Work – one that can go from a practicum placement to a full-time role. She hopes that more students continue to choose the ranch as a launchpad for their careers especially as the treatment is pushed further into the mainstream.

Exposure to novel clinical treatments expands MSW students’ understanding of practice, underscoring the vast opportunities of an Advanced Social Work Degree from the GCSW. Elisabeth not only finds herself inspired to go beyond only viewing the ranch as merely a graduate school practicum experience, but as part of a larger calling.

“It’s difficult for people to receive this type of treatment. I want to practice it as well. It would be amazing to be a practitioner for equine-assisted work with people – so both research and practice.”