Q&A With Janna Dewey, MA, LPC, Director of Equine Programs At The Meadows

Diana Bezdedeanu
May 18
7 min read

Woman in a floral dress smiles while riding a gray horse in a field. The magazine cover reads: Equine Business Magazine, Q&A with Janna Dewey.

DIANA: How did you first get started in the field of Equine-Assisted Therapy?

JANNA: I entered this field through a nontraditional path. Horses have been a constant in my life and I grew up riding before I could even speak, surrounded by a culture and family that valued them. My grandfather bred horses, and my father gave me my first lessons. Because I didn’t have the financial means for formal training, I worked at different barns in exchange for lessons, which exposed me to a wide range of disciplines and training approaches.

My early career was in animal care as a zookeeper, where I focused on behavior and training using positive reinforcement. That experience shaped how I view learning, choice, and relationship-building with animals. During that time, I also became aware of the mental health challenges within that profession and found myself drawn to connecting with people and their stories. After working as a behavior consultant for domestic animals with fear, anxiety, and aggression, I transitioned into therapy with the intention of integrating my background with animals into clinical work. That led me to pursue specialized education in ethically incorporating horses into the therapeutic process.

Person smiling, holding a sloth in front of rocks. Sign reads "SAFARI CANYON." Warm sunlight and shadows create a relaxed mood.

DIANA: Please introduce us to your team, both the human professionals and the animal partners who make this program possible.

JANNA: Our team is structured to balance clinical integrity with equine welfare. We have two equine therapists who guide the clinical direction of each session, ensuring alignment with treatment goals. Supporting them are six equine specialists, with at least one present in every session. Their role is critical; they continuously assess horse behavior, advocate for equine welfare, and translate equine responses into meaningful input for the clinicians.

Our herd consists of 24 horses and 4 goats across two locations. We rotate environments and herd groupings strategically to support resilience, reduce burnout, and maintain behavioral soundness. My role as Director is to ensure these systems function smoothly; overseeing staffing, equine care standards, and the integration of clinical programming with equine behavior science.

Person riding a gray horse on a trail in a grassy field with tall pine trees and mountains in the background under a blue sky.

DIANA: What does a typical session look like for a participant from start to finish?

JANNA: One of the defining characteristics of our program is that there is no fixed session template. Both clients and horses are dynamic, and a rigid structure would limit our ability to respond appropriately. Sessions typically begin with a herd-based check-in. This allows clients to regulate and orient to the environment, and it provides clinicians with immediate observational data on how the client is presenting that day.

From there, the session develops in real time based on the client’s clinical goals, their emotional state, and the behavior of the horses. Interventions range from low-arousal regulation work, such as grooming or herd observation, to more active exercises like leading patterns or obstacle work. This "responsive framework" allows us to challenge clients appropriately while ensuring horses participate in ways aligned with their own behavioral state.

DIANA: Why are horses uniquely suited to help individuals navigate mental health challenges compared to traditional, office-based therapy?

JANNA: Horses are authentic, which provides clinicians with immediate, actionable data. They are often described as "mirrors"; if they are uncomfortable, they shift, and if they feel safe, they stay. This honesty prevents the use of maladaptive coping mechanisms like masking, because the client's internal state shows up in their physical interaction with the horse.

Horses are also masters of regulation. When a horse feels stressed, they regulate through their own natural behaviors—play, rolling, or grazing—which provides a tangible model for clients who feel overwhelmed. By observing these moments in real time, clinicians can help clients bridge the gap between their experiences in the barn and their treatment goals outside of it.

DIANA: For those who are nervous around large animals or have never been on a farm, how do you ensure the environment feels safe?

JANNA: Safety is foundational. We normalize fear as a healthy response and provide structure through clear boundaries each session. Participation is never forced; clients are encouraged to ask for support in whatever way they need, whether that is working closely with a clinician or engaging at a distance. Alternative options, such as working with smaller animals, are always available. Crucially, our horses also have choice. We facilitate interactions only when horses are willing participants, which creates a more predictable and safer environment for everyone involved.

A person in shorts walks a horse down a dirt road with mountains in the background. The sky is partly cloudy, creating a serene atmosphere.

DIANA: Is there a specific modality or clinical framework that you and your team utilize?

JANNA: Our program is intentionally integrative. We have clinicians trained in approaches such as Natural Lifemanship, EAGALA, and Equusoma, among others. However, rather than applying one framework rigidly, we prioritize clinical appropriateness, equine welfare, and safety.

Our work is anchored in a welfare-informed, science-based foundation. We emphasize principles like the Humane Hierarchy, LIMA, and learning theory (operant and classical conditioning). Clinically, our team pulls from trauma-informed care, somatic awareness, and attachment-based perspectives. The "modality" is less about a branded model and more about a structured, ethical decision-making process that integrates clinical insight with equine behavior science.

DIANA: Can you share a particularly meaningful moment or breakthrough you’ve witnessed during a session?

JANNA: A client recently had goals around improving boundary setting and regulation. During our session, she was interacting with a horse who chose to step away and lie down, which is atypical behavior for this horse during sessions. He remained in a fully relaxed, flat position for ten minutes, and the client chose to sit ten feet away, maintaining distance rather than pursuing interaction.

As we observed, the client became emotional. She later reflected that the horse’s ability to disengage, regulate, and eventually re-engage had shown her how to set her own boundaries. This moment illustrated a core principle: when horses are allowed to operate as individuals rather than tools for predetermined outcomes, they create opportunities for authentic, self-directed insight.

Janna in a gray beanie and sunglasses stands on a wooden bridge with waterfalls and a pine forest in the background, under a blue sky.

DIANA: Could you share more about your pet loss and grief workshops?

JANNA: I identified a significant gap in support for individuals navigating the loss of an animal. Through my background in animal behavior, I saw how often these losses are minimized or unsupported. This workshop addresses the complexity of the human-animal bond, including grief related to death, euthanasia, and rehoming.

What differentiates this offering is the integration of horses. Clients engage in experiential work where regulation, attachment, and grief can be processed in real time. The horse’s nonverbal presence supports emotional movement for those who struggle to articulate grief in traditional settings. The workshop serves both individuals experiencing personal loss and professionals in animal-related fields, where repeated exposure to euthanasia can lead to burnout.

DIANA: What is the one thing you wish the public or the equestrian industry better understood about this work?

JANNA: The primary misconception is that this work is simply "spending time with horses." That is not the case. This is clinical therapy— specifically, therapy where horses are integrated—and that distinction matters. The therapeutic process must be led by clinical training. Horses are not the "intervention" themselves; they are part of a structured, clinically informed process that requires expertise in both human mental health and equine behavior.

DIANA: As the Director, what is your primary goal for the program over the next decade?

JANNA: In the near term, my focus is on strengthening internal consistency and ensuring all staff are aligned in applying welfare-based frameworks. Over the next five years, I aim to formalize a comprehensive, welfare-informed model that is both clinically rigorous and operationally sustainable. Looking ten years ahead, I want this program to serve as an industry benchmark. I want to help shift the field toward a "therapy-first" model where horses are integrated intentionally, and where welfare and clinical excellence are viewed as inseparable.

DIANA: Finally, you’ve shared that your own journey with your horse, Odin, was a major catalyst for your work. Would you be willing to share a bit about that experience?

JANNA: I had a "soul horse" named Odin. After losing my father, I dreamt of him riding a dappled grey horse, and I soon after discovered Odin on a rescue site. I adopted him despite a tight budget, and we formed a deep connection as I retrained him from the ground up. He became a grounding presence during my divorce.

When he passed from colic following an emergency evacuation, the grief was profound—it felt similar to losing my father. Navigating that loss, including the difficult decision of euthanasia and witnessing the herd’s response, was incredibly challenging. I processed that grief through therapy and eventually honored him with a tattoo that incorporates his tack color. That experience ultimately shaped my clinical focus; it taught me how to hold both deep connection and grief at the same time. While I have since connected with other horses, I still carry the lessons Odin taught me, and I use those experiences to support others navigating their own path through loss.

Website: rioretreatcenter.com

Janna in a blue-striped tank top stands beside a gray horse, outdoors with trees and mountains in the background.

Janna Dewey MA, LPC

Director of Equine Programs at The Meadows

Janna Dewey, MA, LPC is a licensed therapist and animal behavior consultant with a unique focus on the human animal bond. Drawing from her background in counseling, animal behavior, and years of hands-on work with animals experiencing fear, anxiety, and aggression, Janna helps individuals explore the deep emotional connections they have with the animals in their lives.

Janna’s work is grounded in the belief that relationships with animals can profoundly shape our emotions, decisions, and sense of identity. She is especially passionate about supporting people who may feel misunderstood or hesitant to talk openly about the impact of these relationships. By integrating clinical therapy with an informed understanding of animal behavior, Janna offers care that honors both human and animal experiences with insight, compassion, and respect.

Diana smiling beside a brown horse in an indoor arena with flags. She wears a pink top and blue pants, creating a joyful mood. — Diana Bezdedeanu

Written by Diana Bezdedeanu

A native of Westwood, Massachusetts, Diana Bezdedeanu is the founder and lead practitioner at Horses Offering People Education (HOPE in MA), an unmounted equine-assisted learning program. She has written for Sidelines Magazine, Community Horse, and Westwood Living. Diana is the proud owner of two retired bay off-the-track Thoroughbred mares, Coffee and London.