We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Hannah Clay . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Hannah below.

Alright, Hannah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you get your first job in the field that you practice in today?

I first got into the field when I went through the Utah University Substance Use Disorder Counseling Program. I knew I wanted to be a therapist but I had only ever been on the receiving end of therapy so I didn’t have any experience as the therapist. As part of the program they require that you do an internship in the drug and alcohol field, I had browsed the available internships and didn’t feel like any of them would be a good match so I went to one of the professors in the program, Bev Roesch and asked her about doing a potential internship at the drug rehab she worked at , Cirque Lodge. After some discussion it was decided that I would come do an interview with the treatment team to decide if I would be a good fit. At the interview I was terrified but must have made a good impression because I got the internship and eventually was hired on full time. The first few years at Cirque Lodge were tough, there were many days that ended in tears or feeling like I was a fish out of water but it shaped who I am as a therapist today. I quickly learned how to set boundaries with empathy and love . The Job also helped me realize that although I loved what I did at Cirque I really needed to go back and get my masters so that I could really do what I want which is a therapist that incorporates animals into their practice.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started working with horses when I was 7 years old , I would take riding lessons twice a week and tried to spend as much time as I could at the barn. My parents , who had previously struggled to manage my ADHD behavior, began to see dramatic positive behavior changes. Working with horses I was able to start developing emotional regulation skills and believe it or not some coping skills. I began to see the positive therapeutic impact that horses had on my life. Later on I needed to go to therapy to work through some trauma, I am probably one of the only people who loved going to therapy so I decided that I wanted to combine both horses and mental health therapy and found a grad school that had an equine assisted mental health program.

I am a mental health therapist who specializes in working with children and teens who struggle with anxiety and ADHD. I am effective in making therapy meaningful as well as encouraging clients to manage tough emotions. I incorporate animals into therapy sessions as a way to engage clients into therapy and humble themselves so that we can work on the deeper trauma. Horses and animals are amazing at communicating how someone is feeling and in turn helping me to recognize the client’s emotions that they may not feel comfortable sharing with a therapist. During the session I have to be aware of 1. How the client is feeling and reacting and 2. what my horses are communicating that my clients are feeling.

In my therapy practice I offer individual as well as family therapy sessions. I offer both traditional talk therapy as well as animal assisted therapy when appropriate. I have many different animals that come into sessions which include horses, ponies, goats and just recently we got two piglets. We have a pretty strict screening process where we find animals that are appropriate for this type of work. We choose animals who want to engage with people, who are incredibly safe and predictable and who are kind. I would say that my ideal client are the “bad kids” or rather the children and teens who tend to get in trouble or have a hard time listening. I love working with these clients because I feel like I am able to have empathy and relate to them as I struggled with this growing up.

My favorite part of this work is being able to see the change that happens in my client’s life as they shape their life for the better and eventually stop needing to go to therapy altogether.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest thing I have had to learn as a therapist is that there is no one way to be a therapist. When I first started I was so stiff and wanted to do therapy perfectly so I wouldn’t let any of my clients down and focused my work around different theories . I realized after several years that although different therapeutic theories are important the thing that matters the most is the therapeutic bond with the client and that only comes when the therapist is able to be their authentic self. I am eccentric and quirky and it took me more than a few years to realize that those qualities can be my strengths when working with clients because I am able to relate more easily.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

My business partner is my husband Ryan Clay; We actually met in grad school when we were in the same internship doing equine assisted therapy. We had an internship where part of it we were required to go volunteer at a horse sanctuary where we mostly scooped horse poop. I guess we spent too much time talking with each other while we were doing it because a year later we were engaged. I absolutely love working with my husband because I feel like we are on the same page when it comes to business goals and practices. My husband is my number one support when it comes to chasing my dreams and doing what makes me happy in my career.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://happyappytherapy.weebly.com/
• Instagram: @happy.appy.eamh
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happy.appy.eamh
• Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/hannah-evensen-peyton-co/807334

Image Credits
White Fence Equine Photography Implusion Images