Leif is considered one of the foremost leading experts in the equine-assisted mental health (EAMH) and equine-assisted learning (EAL) industry. Leif has been involved with EAMH/EAL since its inception in the early 1990s – participating in a majority of the milestone moments, leading the industry towards a new level of insight and awareness, and chronicling its growth and development all along the way.
Leif’s first book (published in 2008) Walking the Way of the Horse: Exploring the Power of the Horse-Human Relationship has been called “the definitive” text for the EAMH/EAL industry and was the first to define and describe the various models or ways of including horses in mental health and learning services. Her second book (published in 2018) The Clinical Practice of Equine-Assisted Therapy: Including Horses in Human Healthcare is considered the preeminent scholarly text by colleges and universities, and professionals refer to it as the essential resource for research and clinical practice. Leif’s 2017 and 2018 international cross-sectional practice pattern research projects are the largest conducted to date and have provided the industry with critical data about emerging practice trends. Leif has designed countless EAMH/EAL programs and provided training and education to thousands of practitioners both in the US and internationally. She advises national and international associations, provides keynote addresses and other presentations at conferences around the world, and supports the industry’s growth and evolution through public outreach and education efforts.
