Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy Jobs — Clinical Supervisor & Child Therapist

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy Jobs — Clinical Supervisor & Child Therapist

Resilient Kids Child & Family Therapy + Buddy’s Place

LPCMH  •  LCSW  •  LMFT  |  Full-Time  |  W2  |  Middletown, Delaware

Grounded in Science. Guided by Horsemanship.

✓ W2 Employee — not 1099   ✓ $100/week per supervisee

✓ Paid documentation & admin time   ✓ Employer-paid EAP certification

✓ +$10 per equine-assisted psychotherapy session for certified clinicians

About This Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy Position

We’re hiring a full-time Clinical Supervisor and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapist to join our team at Resilient Kids Child & Family Therapy.

This is a W2 position (not 1099) for a licensed LPCMH, LCSW, LMFT, or PhD who is eligible to provide clinical supervision and has real, confident experience with horses.

If you’re a licensed therapist who has spent years wondering how to combine your clinical work with your life around horses — this position was built for you.

Our Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy Program

Evidence-Based Child and Family Therapy — In the Barn, Not Just the Office

Everything we do begins with evidence-based mental health care. Every client receives treatment from a licensed clinician. Every treatment plan is individualized, clinically driven, and grounded in research, ethics, and sound judgment.

That never changes.

What makes our program unique is how therapy unfolds.

Through our partnership with Buddy’s Place, children and families participate in thoughtfully facilitated, ground-based equine-assisted psychotherapy alongside horses. Therapy develops through horsemanship — leading, grooming, observing behavior, feeding, filling water buckets, mucking stalls, learning to care for another living being.

Every interaction is intentionally connected to clinical treatment goals. Clients aren’t simply learning horse care. They’re practicing emotional regulation, healthy boundaries, communication, problem-solving, confidence, responsibility, patience, empathy, and relationship skills.

The confidence built while leading a horse becomes confidence walking into school. The patience learned while grooming becomes patience with a younger sibling. The boundaries practiced with a horse become healthier boundaries with peers. The lessons learned in the barn aren’t meant to stay there — they’re meant to help children build skills they’ll carry into every relationship for the rest of their lives.

Our horses are respected as sentient beings — not therapeutic tools. They have personalities, preferences, and needs of their own. Their welfare comes before every session. 

Why We Exist

Resilient Kids was founded on one belief: when therapists are genuinely supported, children receive better care.

Too often, therapists give everything while receiving very little. Burnout becomes expected. Documentation becomes the priority. The pace of the work leaves little room for creativity, reflection, or meaningful connection.

We believe there is a better way — and our partnership with Buddy’s Place is part of what makes it possible. Here, children don’t just talk about life. They experience it. They learn that another living being depends on them. That showing up matters. That calm and consistency build trust where frustration cannot.

Sometimes the most important therapeutic moment isn’t a conversation.

• It’s a child remembering to refill a water bucket without being asked.
• It’s waiting for a nervous horse to approach instead of forcing the interaction.
• It’s discovering that caring for something outside yourself changes the way you see yourself.

We’re looking for a clinical leader who believes in that as deeply as we do.

You Belong Here If…

• You’re a licensed LPCMH, LCSW, or LMFT who is equally comfortable discussing attachment theory and safely tying a quick-release knot.
• You enjoy mentoring newer clinicians and helping them develop both clinical judgment and confidence in the barn.
• You naturally ask “What is this child learning about themselves?” — not simply “What activity are we doing today?”
• You understand that good horsemanship begins with observation, not instruction. And you’ve noticed that the same is true in therapy.
• Whether you’re coming from community mental health, a group practice, or a position where your passion for horses had no place in your clinical work — if that sounds like you, we think you’ll feel at home here.

The Clinical Supervisor & Equine Therapist Role

Your Caseload and Supervision Responsibilities

As our Clinical Supervisor and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapist, you’ll carry a caseload of approximately 25 client sessions per week — with the option to see more if you want greater control over your income — while supervising one to two associate clinicians working toward independent licensure.

Clinical Care

• Individual, family, and parent therapy alongside ground-based equine-assisted psychotherapy
• Treatment planning, documentation, and care coordination — with dedicated time built into your schedule

Clinical Leadership and Supervision

• Individual and group supervision for one to two associate clinicians
• Case consultation and treatment planning support
• Review, sign, and maintain required clinical documentation for associate clinicians in accordance with licensure and regulatory requirements
• Helping clinicians develop both their therapeutic skills and their confidence in the barn

Horsemanship and Stewardship

Caring for the horses is part of our culture — not a side responsibility. Everyone shares the daily rhythms of barn life: feeding, grooming, mucking stalls, and helping ensure the horses’ physical and emotional wellbeing. 

What It Feels Like to Work Here

Picture your Tuesday.

You arrive at the farm a little early. Before your first client, you walk through the barn — check on the horses, top off a water bucket, say hello to the one waiting at the gate. One of your associate clinicians waves you over with a question about a treatment plan before their session. The conversation happens naturally beside a horse being groomed—because around here, clinical consultation doesn't always happen in an office.

Your first supervision meeting includes reviewing documentation, but that's only the starting point. The real conversation explores clinical thinking. What did the child notice? What did the horse notice? How did today's session move the treatment goals forward?

That afternoon, a child who has struggled to trust adults spends twenty minutes quietly grooming a horse. There’s very little conversation. There doesn’t need to be. Together, you help the child make meaning of the experience and connect it to what’s happening in their life outside the farm.

Before heading home, everyone finishes evening barn responsibilities. Hay is thrown. Water buckets are checked. Stalls are cleaned.

Of course, there are days when a session surprises you or a treatment plan needs to shift. That's why we work as a team. You'll have colleagues who genuinely enjoy collaborating, consulting, and helping each other—whether that's talking through a case, lending a hand in the barn, or celebrating a child's breakthrough. We believe the best care happens when clinicians are supported just as much as the clients they serve.

Compensation for This Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy Position

Transparent Pay for a Specialized Role

We believe specialized clinical expertise — including equine-assisted psychotherapy and clinical supervision — should be recognized and compensated accordingly.

• $45–$50 per completed therapy session, based on experience
• +$10 per completed equine-assisted psychotherapy session for clinicians who already hold an approved equine-assisted psychotherapy certification.
• $100/week per associate clinician supervised — in addition to your session rate
• $20/hour for documentation, meetings, and administrative time
• +$5 per session after 5:00 PM and on weekends

A full-time caseload is approximately 25 sessions per week, with the option to see more.

• Already certified in equine-assisted psychotherapy? Typical first-year earnings are $83,000–$95,000+.
• Need employer-sponsored certification? Typical first-year earnings are $70,000–$82,000+ while completing your training.

Actual earnings depend on experience, supervision responsibilities, administrative hours, and evening/weekend sessions.

Don’t Have an EAP Certification Yet?

If you're the right clinician—strong clinical skills, solid horsemanship, and a genuine passion for this work—we'll invest in your growth. We pay for an approved equine-assisted psychotherapy certification (such as Eagala, PATH Intl., Natural Lifemanship, or EQUUSOMA®).

Clinicians who receive employer-funded certification become eligible for the $10 per-session equine differential after completing the certification and satisfying the terms of the training agreement.

Benefits

• 50% employer-paid health insurance premium (Highmark Delaware)
• Malpractice and supervisory liability insurance
• Employer-paid EAP certification (if needed)
• 80 hours paid time off annually
• Delaware Paid Leave (paid family and medical leave benefits for eligible employees)
• Delaware EARNS Retirement Program (state-sponsored retirement savings through payroll deduction)
• Annual performance-based raises
• Full administrative support (scheduling, billing, credentialing, insurance verification, and client communication)
• One optional telehealth day per week

Schedule

Core client hours are Monday through Friday, 2:00–5:00 PM. Clinicians choose either two weekday evenings or one weekend day. Outside of those expectations, you’ll have flexibility to build a schedule that works for both your clients and your life.

Because work should support your life — not compete with it.

Requirements for This Equine Therapist Position

Required Qualifications

• Active Delaware LPCMH, LCSW, or LMFT license in good standing
• Eligible to provide clinical supervision under Delaware regulations
• Minimum two years post-licensure clinical experience
• Experience providing psychotherapy to children, adolescents, and families
• Confident, safe, and experienced handling horses on the ground
• Comfortable working outdoors year-round
• Commitment to evidence-based, relationship-centered mental health care

Preferred, One or More of the Following:

• Certification or advanced training in an established equine-assisted psychotherapy model (Eagala, PATH Intl., Natural Lifemanship, EQUUSOMA®, HERD Institute, or comparable)
• Trauma-focused training (TF-CBT, EMDR, or similar)
• Play Therapy training
• Experience supervising associate clinicians
• Spanish-speaking clinicians are encouraged to apply

We're less interested in someone who has completed every certification. We're more interested in someone whose clinical philosophy aligns with ours—someone who respects horses as sentient beings, sees horsemanship as an opportunity rather than an activity, and is excited to mentor associate clinicians while helping shape the clinical culture of our practice.

Our Hiring Process

• Step 1 — Submit your application.
• Step 2 — Meet with Marissa Lloyd, LPCMH, Founder, to learn about our mission, our partnership with Buddy’s Place, and the future we’re building together.
• Step 3 — Meet with Mary Caroselli, LMFT, Clinical Director, for a relaxed clinical conversation centered around a case vignette you’ll receive in advance. This isn’t an exam — it’s a conversation about how you think clinically, and an opportunity for you to ask questions about our approach.
• Step 4 — Spend time at the farm. You'll meet our horses, tour Buddy's Place, and enjoy a relaxed horsemanship experience with our team. This isn't a performance evaluation—it's simply an opportunity for us to spend time together in the environment where you'll be working. We want you to experience our culture, meet the horses, ask questions, and get a feel for what a typical day is like. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is equine-assisted psychotherapy and how is it different from therapeutic riding?

Equine-assisted psychotherapy (EAP) is a mental health intervention facilitated by a licensed clinician in partnership with horses. It is distinct from therapeutic riding, which is an adaptive horsemanship program. In EAP, the horse’s behavior and responses become part of the therapeutic process. There is no riding involved. Our program is fully ground-based, and every interaction is connected to individualized clinical treatment goals.

Do I need an equine-assisted psychotherapy certification to apply?

No. If you have strong clinical skills, genuine horsemanship experience, and a passion for this work, we will provide employer-paid training and certification in an established EAP model such as Eagala, PATH Intl., Natural Lifemanship, EQUUSOMA®, or the HERD Institute.

What licenses are accepted for this position?

We are accepting applications from licensed LPCMH, LCSW, and LMFT clinicians holding an active Delaware license in good standing who are eligible to provide clinical supervision under Delaware regulations.

Can I relocate to Delaware for this position?

Yes. We welcome applications from therapists across the United States who are willing to relocate to the Middletown, Delaware area. Delaware licensure will be required prior to your start date.

Is this a W2 or 1099 position?

This is a W2 employee position. You will not be hired as an independent contractor.

What does clinical supervision look like in an equine-assisted psychotherapy setting?

You'll help associate clinicians develop strong clinical judgment while integrating evidence-based treatment with equine-assisted psychotherapy. Through supervision, you'll teach them to interpret equine interactions through a clinical lens and intentionally connect each horsemanship experience to individualized treatment goals, therapeutic interventions, and measurable client outcomes.

How much do equine-assisted psychotherapists earn?

In this role, first-year earnings typically range between $75,000–$90,000+, depending on caseload and schedule. Compensation includes a per-session rate, supervision pay, an EAP session bonus for certified clinicians, and paid administrative and documentation time.

What horse experience is required?

You should have enough horse experience to confidently and safely bring horses in from pasture, halter and lead them, groom them, feed them, blanket them when appropriate, and complete routine barn chores without direct supervision. You should also be comfortable reading basic equine body language and handling horses calmly and respectfully. Riding experience is not required, as our program is entirely ground-based.

Maybe You’ve Been Looking for This, Too.

Maybe you've realized that while you still love being a therapist, you've grown tired of spending your days inside the same four walls. You know healing doesn't only happen across a coffee table. You've seen the way horses invite presence, honesty, and connection in ways that can't always be replicated in an office. You're not looking to leave traditional therapy behind—you're looking for a place where your clinical expertise and your love of working with horses finally belong together.

Resilient Kids Child & Family Therapy is located in Middletown, Delaware and serves children, adolescents, and families through evidence-based mental health care and ground-based equine-assisted psychotherapy in partnership with Buddy’s Place. We welcome applications from licensed therapists — LPCMH, LCSW, and LMFT — throughout the United States, including those considering relocation.