Who We Are
Empowering Growth Through Equine Therapy
Set on a peaceful 22-acre family farm in Palmwoods, Equine Alliance helps people build resilience, confidence, and emotional wellbeing through horse-assisted counselling. With roots dating back over 70 years, the farm has a rich family history of community service, including a long-running Riding for the Disabled program.
Equine Alliance was established in 2004 by Helen Sorensen, a registered counsellor and skilled horsewoman who recognised the unique healing power of horses. Guided by the Eagala model, the team offers non-riding, ground-based programs where horses become partners in healing, growth and learning.
Equine Alliance supports individuals, schools, community groups, and corporate teams, providing a safe, respectful space for personal development. Calm therapy horses, a qualified facilitation team, and a peaceful farm environment set the foundation for every session.
Equine experiences include equine assisted therapy (focused on mental health), equine assisted learning (focused on wellbeing and life skills), and corporate and team development (focused on team building, leadership and communication). Programs can vary from a 1 hour session, to half, or full days, or booking a therapy block.
Meet The Team
Helen Sorensen
Mental Health Counsellor, MACA Level2, NCAS Level 2, Cert IV in Training and Assessment, Advanced Certified Member – Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (Eagala) since 2004, Arenas for Change founding member and embodied processing practitioner.
Helen Sorensen is a registered counsellor with a passion for helping people through the healing power of horses. A skilled horsewoman, she has spent decades coaching riders of all abilities and competing in show jumping, dressage, and eventing. In 2004, Helen travelled overseas to train in equine therapy and complete her counselling qualification, marking the beginning of her work with horses in a therapeutic mental health setting.
Helen and her team bring common sense, creativity, and understanding to every session. Her approach is refreshingly non-judgemental for parents and carers, and she provides a safe, caring, and supportive environment for people to manage big emotions and life’s challenges.
Sharon Lederlin
B. Soc Sc (Counselling), MACA Level 3, Certified Eagala Model, Art Therapy, Sand Tray therapy and Arenas for Change facilitator.
Sharon is a registered counsellor who brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to the team. She has worked in domestic and family violence services and is trained in the Circle of Security parenting program. Sharon enjoys working with people from all walks of life and has been certified in the Eagala model since 2014.
Janice Burt
B. Bus (Sport Management), Cert IV Leadership and Management, Equine Specialist, Advanced Trained Eagala Model, Breathwork Coach, Arenas for Change facilitator, Animal Therapies Australia member, International Institute of Complimentary Therapy member.
With over 20 years working with horses and 15 years in healthcare administration, Janice brings a unique perspective to the team. She supports the care and wellbeing of the therapy horses and co-facilitates leadership and youth programs. Janice enjoys working with corporate groups, children, and young people, helping participants from all walks of life build resilience and reach their full potential.
The Horse Team
There are approximately ten horses in the Equine Alliance herd. Many of the horses join the farm after retiring from careers as riding horses and play an essential role in program delivery. Each horse contributes to the learning experience, offering honest, non-verbal feedback that supports emotional exploration and development.
Like human families and communities, the horses have distinct personalities, physical traits, and histories. These differences are an important part of the therapeutic setting, creating opportunities for participants to explore, reflect, adapt, and grow through meaningful interaction.
The welfare of the horses remains a key focus at Equine Alliance. Qualified equine specialists oversee their health, wellbeing, training, and safety, ensuring that each horse remains supported and able to contribute fully to the program environment.
Horses names are:
Leroy, Kenny, Venus, Ellie, Pebbles, Tavi, Izzy, Bobbie, Colorado, Frankie, Chances.
Testimonials from Schools
It has allowed each child a creative and unique avenue to communicate their feelings and emotions with
very gentle animals.
"It has been a chance for the children to monitor and reflect on themselves due to the way the horses respond to their behaviour.
"We have seen improvements in the children's social and emotional development as the program has an emphasis on individually based development processes that requires them to problem solve at a social and cognitive level with the horses.
The school has been working closely with Helen Sorenson from Equine Alliance in providing this valuable program for our students since 2012. We have found that engaging students in activities with horses has provided an opportunity for them to explore and develop their strengths, which in turn has improved their self-awareness and confidence.
The success of this program has also had a ripple-effect whereby students bring their learning from working with the horses back into the classroom and home environment. Teachers have commented on the student's ability to make better friendships and that they are more able to self-regulate their emotions which in turn has produced better learning outcomes in the classroom.
With regard to students attending Equine Therapy: During that time we have seen tremendous benefits not only in the students that were able to attend but also their families and the wider community in Nambour.
We have students here from diverse backgrounds that have encountered trauma in many different ways in their young lives. This can bring a variety of behaviours from aggression to emotional and behavioural change like being withdrawn and disengaged. Equine Therapy has made such a difference to these students
It has allowed each child a creative and unique avenue to communicate their feelings and emotions with
very gentle animals.
"It has been a chance for the children to monitor and reflect on themselves due to the way the horses respond to their behaviour.
"We have seen improvements in the children's social and emotional development as the program has an emphasis on individually based development processes that requires them to problem solve at a social and cognitive level with the horses.
This is what a student had to say:
“It helped me stay calm and I felt as if I had a bond with my horse and he helped me feel happy and learn about boundaries and other things that are useful for mental health and saying no in a way that won’t hurt others but not hurt you either
"Equine Therapy has helped me in most aspects of my life. lt has helped me become more confident and caring toward “others".
“Equine therapy helped me become more confident and not so indecisive.”
