Mica Graves combines her experience as a therapist, horsewoman, and therapeutic riding instructor. As a graduate of Naropa University's Transpersonal Counseling Psychology program, Wilderness Therapy track, she is trained to work with people therapeutically in connection with nature. She is an Advanced NARHA instructor and an active member of the Equine Facilitated Mental Health Association. She has extensive experience working with individuals with different physical, cognitive, and behavioral needs and has trained and mentored other instructors. As a camp director for children and teens of all abilities, she developed successful and engaging programs and curriculum. While she has worked in school and agency environments, Mica believes that therapy in a natural setting can be quicker and more effective. Working with animals in nature helps people develop stronger relationships with themselves and others. Specifically, horses offer people hands-on experience with how to establish firm and loving boundaries. They allow parents, children, and individuals to gain insight into their own process while at the same time developing empathy for others. Mica grew up on a farm surrounded by horses, cows, chickens, dogs, and cats. Today, she continues to ride and train dressage. She appreciates the restorative power of nature, which can be calming, challenging, fun and invigorating all at the same time. For her and many of her clients, an active relationship with nature is key to feeling healthy, balanced, and connected to something greater than the self.
Rocky Mountain Equi-Rhythm depends on a volunteer staff to help facilitate equine growth and learning sessions and also offers clinical internships in equine-assisted psychotherapy for graduate students in psychology, social work, wilderness therapy, and criminal justice.
Caroline holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver and certifications in Farrier Science and Equine Therapy. She has worked as a Probation Officer in Boulder County for ten years where she specialized in working with adolescents and domestic violence offenders. She was the team lead of an SB-94 Diagnostic Assessment team, a multi-agency collaborative team that assessed high-risk youth in the Juvenile Justice System and implemented a Master’s Intern Program for the Boulder County Juvenile Justice agencies. Caroline has practiced as an individual and family therapist. She is a consultant for Justice System Assessment and Training (J.S.A.T.), training juvenile justice personnel in risk and needs instruments. She has been a 4-H horse leader in Boulder County for the past 12 years and is a member of Boulder County Sheriff’s Department Mounted Search and Rescue Team. Caroline is the Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Equi-Rhythm and Mountain Meadow Holistic Equestrian Center, both located at Joder Arabian Ranch.
Jennifer, who joined Rocky Mountain Equi-Rhythm in November 2004, is currently facilitating the equine-assisted psychotherapy program and feels deeply inspired to share in a vision for Equi-Rhythm and the community of Boulder. Jennifer has had seven years of social work experience with a variety of populations. She earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Maryland and became licensed in the state of Maryland in 1999. Her skills include working with severely emotionally disturbed children, adolescents, and their families in a special education setting; crisis intervention with survivors of sexual assault and incest; group and family therapy with children and families in therapeutic foster care; inpatient adult and child psychiatry; and working with a variety of clients in community outpatient centers. Jennifer also has special training in individual, group, and family therapy with the Hispanic population and enjoys speaking Spanish. She completed an internship at Spirit Horse Ranch in 2005 and is currently employed by the Compass House, a non-profit organization committed to helping Boulder adolescents. Jennifer has been a lifetime student of riding and training horses, having been involved in 4-H and the hunter-jumper horse show worlds. She worked for Dr. Karen Stell, an equine veterinarian, for five years and was a barn manager at Andover Equestrian Center in Linthicum, Maryland.