Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsey Vickers, SEP, LPC Associate, LMFT Associate.
Hi Lindsey, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My love affair with horses began early in my life. My parents tried a few different sports with me in elementary school, but all I wanted to do was ride horses. I started taking horseback riding lessons at age eight and I never looked back. I had anxiety as a child and horses allowed me to learn confidence, about relationships, and helped me regulate my body. I was extremely fortunate to be able to show Arabians on a national level up until I was eighteen years old. I then went to Texas A&M University to major in Biomedical Science in hopes of becoming an equine veterinarian one day. While I was in college, I wanted to remain involved in horses. I started volunteering at a therapeutic riding center helping to teach individuals with disabilities and special needs horseback riding. While I did not become a veterinarian, I did continue to volunteer at RED Arena in Dripping Springs and become a certified therapeutic horseback riding instructor through PATH International. In 2019, I was approached by a family friend who had land asking if I would like to have my own therapeutic equine program. I jumped at the chance and contracted with a licensed mental health counselor to start providing equine assisted psychotherapy sessions serving South Austin, Buda, Kyle, Driftwood, Dripping Springs, and New Braunfels. In 2023, I graduated from Texas State University with a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling. Horses have been a constant in my life and so good for my mental health which made me want to share that with others in a therapeutic setting. I love what I do!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road definitely has not been smooth. I went to A&M to become a veterinarian. In college, my mental health issues showed up which led to not having the grades to get into veterinarian school. I did not know what I wanted to do if I could not be a veterinarian. I fell into data management and software implementation. While the income was great and allowed me to be around horses and become a certified therapeutic riding instructor, it was not what I would have chosen for myself as a career. It took me fifteen years to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up. In those years, of course life happened along with some great opportunities. Mental health struggles came and went along with going to therapy and experiencing a lot of personal growth. Someone mentioned to me that I would be a great therapist alongside getting the opportunity to have my own therapeutic equine program. I then applied to counseling programs and spent three great years at Texas State University to become a therapist. And after another two and a half years since graduating, I will be getting my full Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license this month (October 2025)!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Braving the Arena Counseling?
I started Braving the Arena Counseling upon graduating from Texas State University as a counseling practice that incorporates therapy, somatic work, and horses to help those in South Austin, Buda, Kyle, and San Marcos because an equine assisted psychotherapy practice did not exist south of the river. The name of my private practice comes from work that Brene Brown has done and the quote from Theodore Roosevelt, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” In my opinion, no one should accept criticism from those who are not in the same arena braving similar problems. But those that enter their own arena are the bravest of them all. I believe doing our own work in therapy is braving our own arenas. There is also the symbolism of doing therapy in the arena with a horse.
My practice specializes in equine assisted psychotherapy, trauma, ADHD, and mood disorders. We see children ages five and up, teens, individuals, couples, families, and groups. I have extra training in equine assisted psychotherapy through two different organizations, Natural Lifemanship and EQUUSOMA, that focus on providing therapy in partnership with a horse to resolve trauma and mental health concerns. I also am a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) and completed a three-year certificate program to help clients process trauma their body holds on to. These types of therapies set me apart from others doing traditional talk therapy.
Many ask what therapy looks like with a horse. When a client decides to come to us for therapy, we will talk a little and then go out to meet all of the horses a client can choose from. The client then chooses a horse to be their therapy partner, and we head into a riding arena and let the horse go free. While processing the client’s concerns, we also teach clients about horse psychology, how to connect with a horse, and other activities to help process what the client chooses to discuss. Clients learn about a felt sense of safety, what real connection in a relationship feels like, and how to uphold boundaries with others. The experiential nature of work with a horse brings a lot more content up much faster to process. This is why equine assisted psychotherapy works faster than traditional talk therapy.
Another question we get is does the client get to ride the horse. The answer is no; our sessions involve groundwork only. Our sessions are also not about training the horse. The session is an experience where the horse is part of the therapy team and can choose to participate or not. It is beautiful to watch clients and horses learn about and teach each other things in the therapeutic relationship.
I am most proud of the brand and therapy practice I have built. It has been a labor of love and horses. I enjoy working with our clients and watching them grow and heal.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I love what I do and I love sharing it with others. For clients, we offer a free initial consultation and also an in person meet and greet at the barn to ensure our services align for that client. I also love networking and seeing how I can help other businesses grow. I have hosted groups of people that work together to improve team dynamics and communication. We also try to make therapy fun when it is appropriate.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bravingthearena.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bravingthearena/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550207634146
