Horsewoman, therapist and CEO of Highland Rivers Behavioral HealthMelanie Dallas
Melanie was called to equine facilitated therapy work by her horse Eisen, who has kept her on the path of healing and awareness since their meeting in May of 1996. Melanie
and Eisen spent the next several years in training and competing dressage until her introduction to equine facilitated therapy occurred. In 2005, Melanie completed her
apprenticeship with Linda Kohanov, author of Tao of Equus, Riding Between the Worlds, Power of the Herd and Five Roles of the Master Herder. Following her apprenticeship,
where she was designated as an Eponaquest Approved Instructor, Melanie returned to co-facilitate the Eponaquest programs with Linda in the following two years. In addition,
Melanie was part of an international group of Eponaquest instructors who developed the Eponaquest Best Practice Guidelines now utilized by Eponaquest approved instructors.
Eisen has now been joined by Amber, Whisper and Riley to offer healing through equine facilitated therapy at Melanie’s 40-acre farm in North Georgia. In addition to being an
Advanced Approved Instructor with Eponaquest, Melanie is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and has specialized in work with youth, families and trauma. Melanie currently works to integrate traditional psychotherapy, equine facilitated therapy and integrated healing modalities for children, adults, and families, with a particular interest in youth, veterans and first responders.
Currently, Melanie is the CEO for one of the largest community mental health centers in Georgia, Highland Rivers Behavioral Health, where she leads a staff of about 1000, who serve close to 21,000 individuals a year. She has recently brought the experience of what she has learned in working with horses into the newly launched Leadership Academy for her agency. They have brought the concept of how to use predatory power sparingly and non-predatory power liberally into their work with social and emotional intelligence.
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