Why Learn With Leif?
Since 1996, Leif has made it her life’s work to explore the myriad of health benefits that can be gained from engaging in respectful, relational, and mindful interactions between horses (and other animals), humans, and the natural world.
Considered one of the foremost authorities in this emerging specialization, Leif has developed a reputation over the past 25+ years for her broad-reaching and objective investigation. Her books, Walking the Way of the Horse: Exploring the Power of the Horse-Human Relationship, The Clinical Practice of Equine-Assisted Therapy: Including Horses in Human Healthcare, and The Equine-Assisted Therapy Workbook (second two published by Routledge) are used by colleges and universities around the world as teaching texts, and professionals consider all of her books essential resources for research and clinical practice.
Leif has extensive expertise training therapists and non-therapists alike how to incorporate a holistic, mindful, embodied, and experiential approach that honors and supports our deep affiliation with animals and the natural world.
Leif’s innovative and powerful approach starts with slowing down, quieting the mind, and learning to listen to the body. Intentionally-crafted techniques are taught that deepen the body/mind connection and foster a new level of understanding about the nervous system and how the body stores memories.
The experiential learning model is used as a core theoretical foundation for all of Leif’s offerings. Experience both wires the brain and transforms the brain, and with the support and guidance to process patterns and practice new behaviors new neural pathways can be formed and long-lasting change happens!
Grounded in extensive scholarly research and exhaustive academic study, Leif’s approach takes into account the complex and dynamic nature of experiential work. No two providers, clients, students, or animals are alike or have the same needs. That, coupled with the ever-changing quality of the natural world and the evocative power of this model, requires a great depth and breadth of knowledge and experience. Leif designs her offerings to address this need for increased competency across the various spheres of knowledge, awareness, and skill.
Considered one of the foremost authorities in this emerging specialization, Leif has developed a reputation over the past 25+ years for her broad-reaching and objective investigation. Her books, Walking the Way of the Horse: Exploring the Power of the Horse-Human Relationship, The Clinical Practice of Equine-Assisted Therapy: Including Horses in Human Healthcare, and The Equine-Assisted Therapy Workbook (second two published by Routledge) are used by colleges and universities around the world as teaching texts, and professionals consider all of her books essential resources for research and clinical practice.
Leif has extensive expertise training therapists and non-therapists alike how to incorporate a holistic, mindful, embodied, and experiential approach that honors and supports our deep affiliation with animals and the natural world.
Leif’s innovative and powerful approach starts with slowing down, quieting the mind, and learning to listen to the body. Intentionally-crafted techniques are taught that deepen the body/mind connection and foster a new level of understanding about the nervous system and how the body stores memories.
The experiential learning model is used as a core theoretical foundation for all of Leif’s offerings. Experience both wires the brain and transforms the brain, and with the support and guidance to process patterns and practice new behaviors new neural pathways can be formed and long-lasting change happens!
Grounded in extensive scholarly research and exhaustive academic study, Leif’s approach takes into account the complex and dynamic nature of experiential work. No two providers, clients, students, or animals are alike or have the same needs. That, coupled with the ever-changing quality of the natural world and the evocative power of this model, requires a great depth and breadth of knowledge and experience. Leif designs her offerings to address this need for increased competency across the various spheres of knowledge, awareness, and skill.
Personalized Learning at it's Finest!
When it comes to teaching, guiding, and mentoring individual practitioners, Leif prides herself on crafting powerful, intimate, and one-of-a-kind learning opportunities that gently weave together the personal and the professional.
All of Leif’s training opportunities are intentionally designed to deepen the process of learning, growth, and change through cultivating connections with self, others, and the natural world.
Leif’s diverse life and professional experiences and her authentic, unassuming, humble, lighthearted, and curious personality make her a wealth of knowledge, inspiration, wisdom, and FUN! She believes the first step in learning anything includes a process of slowing down, getting into our bodies, becoming curious, and preparing for the journey ahead. For Leif, learning is a deeply personal and embodied practice that involves increasing awareness of ourselves and the world around us and generating personal transformation across all spheres of our lives.
Leif’s goal is to foster a generation of professionals who are dedicated to life-long learning, to expanding their knowledge in new and different areas, to increasing their competency (both personally and professionally), to doing their own personal growth work, to promoting respectful relationships with animals and the natural world, and to doing it all together – in community!
Learning with Leif is a very different experience. Is is far, far more than “just” attending a training or obtaining a certificate. This is an intimately personal journey — one of self-discovery, challenge, humor, and adventure that will inevitably challenge your beliefs, open your eyes, and touch your heart. If you are learning with Leif you won’t be disappointed!
All of Leif’s training opportunities are intentionally designed to deepen the process of learning, growth, and change through cultivating connections with self, others, and the natural world.
Leif’s diverse life and professional experiences and her authentic, unassuming, humble, lighthearted, and curious personality make her a wealth of knowledge, inspiration, wisdom, and FUN! She believes the first step in learning anything includes a process of slowing down, getting into our bodies, becoming curious, and preparing for the journey ahead. For Leif, learning is a deeply personal and embodied practice that involves increasing awareness of ourselves and the world around us and generating personal transformation across all spheres of our lives.
Leif’s goal is to foster a generation of professionals who are dedicated to life-long learning, to expanding their knowledge in new and different areas, to increasing their competency (both personally and professionally), to doing their own personal growth work, to promoting respectful relationships with animals and the natural world, and to doing it all together – in community!
Learning with Leif is a very different experience. Is is far, far more than “just” attending a training or obtaining a certificate. This is an intimately personal journey — one of self-discovery, challenge, humor, and adventure that will inevitably challenge your beliefs, open your eyes, and touch your heart. If you are learning with Leif you won’t be disappointed!
What People Are Saying
"I listened to Leif's podcast with Warwick Schiller and knew I had to do one of her trainings. The learning journey has been unexpected and amazing. I have learnt things I didn't know I needed to know! And the depth of the course in learning about myself has made me a better and more empathetic facilitator. Her course covers so much and I couldn't start to describe the depths it has taken us."
“The introduction to the polyvagal theory has been life changing. I apply the theory in my personal and professional life consistently. It has provided a new perspective on interactions with other people, my animal partners, understanding of my own reactions and neuroregulation, and strategies to identify dysregulation and tools to reregulate. . I also have compassion for myself and others when I identify dysregulation which has helped me to not be judgmental or defensive.”
