The Equine Psychotherapy Institute

What The Equine Psychotherapy Institute does

The Equine & Animal Assisted Psychotherapy Institute (EAAPI), operating as EAAPI and founded in 2011 by Meg Kirby in Daylesford, Victoria, Australia, is a private professional certification institute that trains registered mental health professionals, coaches, teachers, and wellness practitioners in equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP), equine-assisted learning (EAL), animal-assisted psychotherapy (AAP), animal-assisted learning (AAL), and ecotherapy. The institute delivers a 200-hour Foundation Training program comprising 126 hours of live instruction and 74 hours of independent study, plus a suite of specialist modules covering trauma, addictions, anxiety/depression, children & adolescents, ecotherapy, inner critic/shame work, and practitioner self-care, alongside one-day introductory courses and three published textbooks. Its proprietary intellectual property centers on the EAAPI Integrated Theoretical Model, which integrates humanistic psychotherapy, neuroscience, ethical horsemanship ("I-Thou Horsepersonship"), animal advocacy, and nature-based therapy, including the AWARE trauma-informed approach and the Horse Wisdom Program.

EAAPI generates revenue primarily through one-time tuition for the Foundation Training program at AU $5,400+GST (with three-instalment or weekly payment plans), specialist module fees, AU $150+GST supervision sessions invoiced by contracted supervisors, one-day introductory courses, and textbook sales. Distribution is omnichannel: 15-day in-person immersion at the Daylesford headquarters, online live interactive classes (40 sessions), self-paced on-demand, and an asset-light Host Training Program enabling qualified individuals to deliver the foundation curriculum at their own venues. The PACFA-accredited EAP pathway is positioned as Advanced Specialist training for registered mental health professionals, and the institute is also an IICT Approved Training Provider and IAHAIO member, supporting graduate pathways to professional insurance and association membership.

The customer base consists of individual practitioners distributed across 20+ countries, with no enterprise anchor accounts; the institute operates with approximately five core staff supported by contracted faculty and supervisors. The organization is founder-led, privately held, and has not raised institutional capital; there are no disclosed funding rounds, M&A activity, or subsidiary structures. The headcount listed (5) is materially smaller than the nine named management/faculty members in the source data, suggesting many listed faculty operate as contracted supervisors/trainers rather than employees.

Name

The Equine Psychotherapy Institute

Legal name

The Equine & Animal Assisted Psychotherapy Institute

Website

https://equinepsychotherapy.net.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Equine & Animal Assisted Psychotherapy Institute (EAAPI) is an Australia-based, PACFA-accredited private training organization founded in 2011 that certifies mental health professionals, coaches, and educators in equine-assisted and animal-assisted psychotherapy, learning, and ecotherapy through 200-hour Foundation Training and specialist modules.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Mental Health and Wellness Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Educational Support Services (611710), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAOAOAE

Equine Care & Stable Management

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/Agriculture, Horticulture & Skilled Trades

Keywords

• Equine-assisted psychotherapy
• Animal-assisted therapy
• Professional certification training
• Mental health education
• Continuing professional development

Headquarters

HQ city

Daylesford

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Foundation Training Programs: The primary revenue stream comes from professional certification courses including 200-hour Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) foundation training programs. The programs include live instruction, supervision, and support components.
2. Specialist Training Programs: Advanced professional development courses in areas such as Trauma, Addictions, Anxiety & Depression, Working with Children & Adolescents, and Ecotherapy provide additional revenue from existing practitioners seeking specialized skills.
3. Education Support and Supervision (ESS) Sessions: Individual supervision and support sessions (1:1 on Zoom) required for certification completion, invoiced by ESS supervisors at AU $150+GST per session. Students complete 6 hours of supervision as part of the foundation program.
4. One Day Introduction Courses: Single-day introductory courses in Equine Assisted Therapy and Animal Assisted Therapy offered as entry points to attract prospective students and generate revenue from a broader audience.
5. Books and Publications: Sale of textbooks authored by Meg Kirby including 'Horses, Love & Science', 'Equine Therapy Exposed', and 'An Introduction to Equine Assisted Psychotherapy' available as paperbacks or eBooks through major retailers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Equine Psychotherapy Institute (EAAPI) provides professional certification and training programs in equine-assisted psychotherapy and animal-assisted psychotherapy/learning. Its core offerings are multi-level training pathways (Foundation, Advanced Practitioner, Supervisor) that credential mental health professionals, counsellors, coaches, educators, and wellness practitioners to deliver equine- and animal-assisted therapeutic and learning interventions. The institute operates with a small team of approximately five staff and supports an alumni base of more than 1,000 students across 20+ countries.

Product overview

EAAPI is Australia's first specialist training institute for equine and animal-assisted psychotherapy, offering a unified training platform with multiple certification pathways. The core offering is the 200-hour Foundation Training program that includes Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) certifications, supplemented by Animal Assisted Psychotherapy (AAP) and Animal Assisted Learning (AAL) programs. Specialist advanced training modules cover trauma, addictions, anxiety/depression, children & adolescents, inner critic/shame work, and practitioner self-care. The institute also provides introductory one-day courses, the Horse Wisdom Program, and published textbooks authored by founder Meg Kirby. Programs are delivered through in-person immersion (15 days), online live interactive, and self-paced formats, with PACFA accreditation for psychotherapy pathways.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 200-Hour Foundation Training Program in Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy Entry-level professional certification program covering foundational theory, ethics, and practice of equine-assisted psychotherapy. Delivered through blended in-person intensives, live online classes, and self-paced study. Designed for mental health professionals, counsellors, coaches, and educators seeking a PACFA-aligned credential.
• Advanced Practitioner Certification in Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy Advanced-tier certification for practitioners who have completed the foundation program, focused on deepening clinical competence, specialized modalities, and trauma-informed practice in equine-assisted psychotherapy. Aimed at licensed or pre-licensed mental health professionals seeking to advance their modality credentials.
• Supervisor Training and Certification Highest-tier certification preparing experienced practitioners to supervise and mentor other equine-assisted psychotherapy professionals. Required for practitioners pursuing advanced clinical leadership roles and recognition within PACFA-aligned professional frameworks.
• Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy and Learning Training Training program covering animal-assisted psychotherapy and animal-assisted learning modalities. Designed for practitioners working with a broader range of animals beyond horses, including coaches, educators, and allied professionals in non-clinical settings such as learning and neurodivergence support.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1000+ students trained across 20+ countries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• IAHAIO (International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Institute is a proud member of IAHAIO, the global organization dedicated to advancing the field of human-animal interaction. Membership provides access to international best practices, networking opportunities, and recognition within the global EAP/AAL community.
• PACFA (Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEAAPI EAP programs are PACFA accredited and promoted as Advanced Specialist training. This accreditation validates the Institute's training meets rigorous professional standards for mental health practitioners.
• IICT (International Institute for Complementary Therapists)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Institute is an approved training provider recognized by IICT, enabling graduates to obtain professional insurance and membership with this complementary therapy association.
• Animals AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud supporter of Animals Australia, an organization working for a kinder world for animals. This partnership aligns with the Institute's animal advocacy ethos.
• World Animal ProtectionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud supporter of World Animal Protection, reflecting the Institute's commitment to animal welfare and ethical treatment of animals in therapeutic settings.
• Little Urchins Wildlife SanctuaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud supporter of Little Urchins Wildlife Sanctuary, demonstrating the Institute's broader commitment to animal welfare beyond equine-assisted services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association): Global standard-setting organization for equine-assisted psychotherapy and learning, offering professional certification to mental health professionals and equine specialists — directly comparable model to EAAPI's Foundation Training.
• Natural Lifemanship: Provides training and certification in equine-assisted relational trauma-informed practice, with a global instructor network — operates the same practitioner certification model as EAAPI in the equine-assisted psychotherapy niche.
• Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy Institute: Trains psychotherapists in equine-assisted Gestalt therapy — overlaps with EAAPI's humanistic psychotherapy foundation and serves a similar mental-health practitioner audience.
• The Equine Psychotherapy Institute (United States): US-based organization offering equine-assisted mental health practitioner training, focused on credentialing psychotherapists and counselors — directly comparable training mission and target audience to EAAPI.

Broad incumbents

• Green Chimneys: Established US organization running animal-assisted therapy programs with training, education and clinical services — a much larger and more diversified player in the same animal-assisted therapy space as EAAPI.
• Pet Partners: Largest US nonprofit registering therapy animal teams including equine; offers training and certification that overlaps with EAAPI's animal-assisted learning track, but operates at much broader scale across multiple species.

Others

• International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO): Global industry body for human-animal interaction of which EAAPI is a member; relevant comparator as the umbrella organization setting standards and connecting practitioners in the same field.

Emerging players

• HERD Institute: Provides equine-assisted psychotherapy and learning training programs targeting mental health and coaching professionals — emerging player in the same practitioner-certification space as EAAPI.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/EquinePsychotherapyAustralia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-equine-psychotherapy-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/equinepsychotherapy

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Equine Psychotherapy Institute