Equine-Assisted Mental Health and learning

What is Mental Health Counseling?

Mental Health Counseling consists of assessment, treatment planning, and application of evidence-based treatment modalities by a clinically licensed mental health therapist.

Treatment modalities available but not limited to: Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy skills (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Relational and Narrative Therapy, Somatic Experiences, Family Systems, and Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).

What is Equine-Assisted Counseling?

Heartland Equine-Assisted Counseling integrates evidence-based mental health treatments while clients are observing and connecting with horses. The interaction with horses provides feedback to the client that can highlight authentic emotions and behaviors during sessions. This allows for increased self-awareness, grounding and mindfulness practice, and a tangible shift of perspective for the client.

During Equine-Assisted Counseling sessions the Licensed Mental Health Counselor (and PATH Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning) facilitate experiential activities with horses, based on the client’s treatment goals. These activities offer tangible experiences for clients to receive bio-psycho-social feedback from the horse while practicing client’s nervous system regulation and therapy skills in real time. The client and therapist then process the experience with the horse within the context of mental health treatment modalities and goals thus establishing self-reflection, expression, insight, and shifts in cognitive perspective.

Equine-Assisted Counseling allows for holding space for clients both emotional and physical surroundings by being near the horses in nature.

Who Can Benefit?

Mental Health Counseling reduces symptoms of anxiety, depression, and traumatic events. It helps with behavioral challenges by increasing self-awareness of thoughts and behaviors. Additional benefits are increased self-confidence, clear and direct communication, relationship skills, identity exploration, physiological relief and recovery from traumatic experiences.

Individuals (ages 8+), couples, and families will benefit from a custom treatment plan.

Equine-Assisted Group sessions are available for therapy and/or team building, please reach out for additional information.

Cost of Services

Individual/Private Sessions: $175 per hour. (This includes services from the entire treatment team: therapist, equine-specialist, and horses).

Family/Couples Sessions: billed at $250 per hour

Private Group Sessions: $300 per hour for up to 10 participants, additional participants are welcome to join for an additional $75 per person, per hour.

Insurance: We are out of network with insurance companies. You may qualify for a “Superbill” if you have a documented mental health diagnosis. A Superbill is a document that you can submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement for out-of-pocket services. We do not send information directly to insurance companies.

FSA and HSA cards are accepted.

Andrea L Metcalf, LSCSW, PMH-C BIO

Andrea earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, and Master’s Degree in Social Work at The University of Kansas. Andrea holds the level of Licensed Clinical Social Worker in both Kansas and Missouri.

Andrea’s clinical background includes extensive experience providing direct patient care and assessment for Emergency Department crisis-intervention, inpatient psychiatry, Intensive Outpatient Psychotherapy (IOP), medical and special-needs social work, individual counseling, equine-assisted counseling and EMDR.

Andrea specializes in anxiety, depression, substance use, chronic mental illness and trauma treatment for children (ages 8+) and adults. She also has specialty knowledge in working with medical professionals, physicians, and nursing staff who serve patients with complex medical needs.

Andrea is an approved clinical supervisor for:

Clinical MSW Practicum/Field Supervisor-Colorado State University’s Master of Social Work
Clinical Training Affiliate- University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) School of Nursing and Health Sciences
Kansas BSRB Approved Clinical Supervisor for LMSW Clinical Licensure Candidates
EMDRIA Approved EMDR Consultant-in-Training- The Touchstone Institute, Holistic Training and Consultation for Perinatal Practitioners

To contact Andrea for services or questions please email Andrea@HTRkc.org or call (913) 963-0463

Dustin "Dusty" Grier, LPC

Dusty is a Licensed Professional Counselor and graduated from Southern Arkansas University with a Master’s Degree in Clinical & Mental Health Counseling in 2021. Dusty holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Psychology from The University of Central Arkansas. He has extensive experience working with clients in acute care settings, individual therapy, and residential programs where he practiced individual, group, and family counseling. His specialties include Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, and PTSD treatment. Dusty incorporates various therapeutic modalities including CBT & DBT with a person-centered approach. 

As a kid he always dreamed of having his own horses and would often “pick out” his horse while watching westerns. He has always had the utmost respect for horses for the value that they bring to our lives. Upon moving to the Kansas City area six years ago he realized that he felt called to work with kids, teens, and young adults. Being able to combine “work” with his admiration of horses is a dream come true. 

“For one to fly, one needs only to take the reins.” – Melissa James

Licensed Professional Counselor, State and Kansas (LPC)

Candidate working towards PATH, intl. Equine-Assisted Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL)

*Dusty is currently working towards Clinical Licensure and is practicing under the clinical supervision of Dr. Lee Harris, DBH, MS, LCPC, RPT-S, NCC

Cassidy Haag, LMSW

Cassidy completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work at Washburn University and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work at the University of Kansas. 

Cassidy’s professional experience includes The Family Service & Guidance Center as an Attendant Care Provider where she provided respite care with adolescent clients. At the Lilac Center, Cassidy co-led adolescent IOP and provided 1:1 therapy. Currently she also practices at Clarity Counseling where she provides 1:1 therapy and Emotional Support Animal (ESA) evals and letters.

I’ve always been interested in integrating animals into healing work as I grew up with my dog who helped me during rough patches and I realized how much of a difference she made to my mental health. I also grew up taking riding lessons (English and western) and I also got involved with my local 4-H horse club and competed in horse shows. I have seen both the mental and physical benefits of working with animals through myself and others. 

I believe each person's journey is unique and deserves empathy and understanding. I view mental health as a changing spectrum influenced by biology, environment, and life experiences. Healing is more than the absence of illness. It involves well-being, realizing abilities, managing stress, and working productively. I use a holistic approach, addressing both symptoms and underlying causes by considering the mind, body, and spirit. I believe in resilience, self-compassion, and growth, viewing challenges as opportunities for learning and development. 

Licensed Master Social Worker, State of Missouri (LMSW)  

Licensed Master Social Worker, State of Kansas (LMSW) 

Intensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Animal-Assisted Intervention Specialist (C-AAIS) 

Candidate working towards PATH, intl. Equine-Assisted Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL)

April Hatch, RN, MSN

April brings a deep passion for helping each client heal their mind, body, and spirit. A registered nurse for over 20 years, April has never stopped learning or evolving in her commitment to patient-centered care. From earning her Master’s in Public Health Nursing in 2010 to completing the Psychedelic Therapy and Research program at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) in 2022, and a soon to be graduate of a PMHNP program, she feels it has come full circle. 

Having witnessed firsthand the limitations and failures of today’s healthcare system, she became increasingly motivated to seek approaches that truly support healing. With a longstanding belief in the importance of lifestyle, nutrition, and movement, April has always remained open to what genuinely helps patients thrive. Throughout her work, April has consistently provided care through a heart-centered, holistic lens.

Additionally, April is a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT), integrating yogic principles of breath and movement into therapeutic care when appropriate. April bridges traditional psychiatry with emerging approaches to wellness and remains deeply dedicated to helping people feel whole again – utilizing her compassionate presence, clinical insight, and lived experience. 

She has been interested in equine-assisted therapy for years and she is grateful for the opportunity to complete her clinical therapy hours at Heartland. 

Graduate Student, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program (UMKC)

Registered Yoga Teacher, RYT