Today we’d like to introduce you to Sue Conklin.
Hi Sue, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have been a licensed clinical social worker for over 30 years working in a few different more traditional counseling settings. My daughter had asked when she was 8 years old if she could try horse lessons. Over the time I was enamored by the relationships she formed. A number of years later when I was caring for my father I sought out horses near his home to support myself with the emotional tug of walking someone “home”. I went to my first horse retreat. I arrived a few minutes early and asked to ‘say hello’ to a horse. The host said, ‘sure’. As I was saying hello, the horse began yawning quite a few times. The retreat leader so gently observed with me that horses yawning is a ‘releasing behavior’ and was there anything I was releasing. I was in tears and amazement that this horse felt me so quickly and tuned into my energy of the letting go of my Dad. I was determined to find this work for more exploration. Two key partnerships that helped me grow into the work was with April Dona, MFT and owner of Brave Grace and my personal horse, Mateo. With each of them, I have been welcomed to learn and grow in how to bring this theraputic work to others. And I am starting my 9th year.
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 to this has been a journey! The initial challenges was finding teachers. This horse work has a variety of styles of accomplishing the work. I wanted to find something that was congruent with my clinical values. Additionally, Mateo presented some challenges. He is a formally wild mustang who had had some training that had some harsher methods to it. At the time we started working with him, he wasn’t very trusting of humans. The struggles there ended up being the biggest rewards as now he is a horse that likes this work and engaging with humans to teach.
On a business side, because this work is experiential in nature, at times it can be hard to market since it is hard to explain vs experience.
As you know, we’re big fans of Sue Conklin, LCSW and Women’s Wisdom Ranch. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
As a licensed clinical social worker, I have worked with many people in a variety of clinical settings. I have been in private practice for 20 years. Now, I have the best role of partnering with horses and donkeys in the theraputic process and facilitating learning through group experiences with horses in retreats.
I am most excited with some of our recent collaborative events. We provided a recent corporate event with a local artist to help participants explore there work challenges thru art and perspective shifts with the support of the horses. We recently partnered with a non profit group that supports people finding different ways to walk thru grief. That group enjoyed a sound bath, reiki healing and a time with the horses. Each particpant found a new level of support in their grief journey. We have a couple new ones rolling out next spring with themes around an animal communicator providing a learning time for those learning energy work and another event with creative writing and art using horses as inspiration or support in taking a leap into creative work.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memories always include the family camping trips we went on-especially the ones that included family friends.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.womenswisdomranch.com
- Instagram: womenswisdom.ranch
- Facebook: women’s wisdom ranch
