Generate and Grow Connection

No drop in visits please. Our programs require confidentiality.                                                                                                                 

We do not offer trail riding or birthday parties. And Therapeutic Riding is not our skill set!   

We love what we do and you can read about here on our website.                                                                    

Generation Farms is well known for our work with horses and people to create healing opportunities. Many children come to Generation Farms for counselling and support. We also work with adults looking for a new approach to counselling. Professionals come from across Canada to learn the Generation Farms Approach; a specialization within the Equine Facilitated/Assisted therapy field. As we move into our 26th year of programs we have developed diverse skills and expertise. Here is a short list of things to know about Generation Farms:

OUR TEAM

We are fortunate to have a very skilled multi-disciplinary team including RCCs, CYCs, and a Child Psychologist

All staff have training in the Generation Farms Approach and follow the same general principles. How these principles are applied depends on the specialty they offer

All practitioners are versed in a trauma-sensitive approach and are nature based trained. 

All have professional degrees

Currently our main focus is children youth and families in our mental health program although we do have spaces for adults looking for an outdoor nature anecdote animal experience

If you are an adult looking to see an experienced and skilled counsellor in an office based setting, we do have an RCC Counsellor affiliated that works from her home office in Central Nanaimo

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

• We have students across Canada who have learned the Generation Farm Approach and are working in a refined way with people and horses.
•  This field is sometimes referred to as Equine Assisted Learning, Equine Assisted Services, Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and a variety of other terms.
• Training is scheduled every summer with mentoring continuing year round. 
• 2025 Training Schedule is available 
• Training includes Equine Specialists and Human Services Specialists together in a rich learning environment.
• We are affiliated with the Professional Association for Equine Facilitated Wellness who provides oversight and the certification.

NATURE BASED AND WILDERNESS PROGRAMS

• These approaches are dear to our hearts and thrive in our 33-acre facility in beautiful Yellow Point on Vancouver Island. It is farmland and includes forest and other areas to explore. This approach is good for all but is especially suited to the children and youth who come. 
• This growing field offers solutions to many of the challenges in our busy lives as well as forming an opportunity to support natural healing.
• The philosophy and core principles are conducive to our EFW approach.

TRAUMA PRACTICES

• Our reputation for working well with trauma comes from using an approach that creates the possibility of change on a neural level. Present moment focus, working incrementally within a Window of Tolerance, and awareness of the body and the senses are major components of our trauma therapy.
• Our work is refined in the important areas of attachment healing and attunement.
• Working outside in nature has a strong helpful impact on healing.
• Our entire staff has expertise in what could be called a ‘trauma informed’ approach that was developed prior to that term becoming in general use.
• While we do long term work with children as needed, our adult counselling is generally short term. A series of EFW and nature based sessions can be effective and also combine well with other longer term therapy approaches. Due to the long term nature of the work required, we are not longer able to take adult clients who require extended therapy from a trauma specialist. 

RIDING AND HORSEMANSHIP – on hold, sorry!

• Our coaches are trained in the same core principles as our counsellors and they use this expertise to create safe and healthy programs
• We have a dressage coach who specializes in working in relationship with your horse, rider position and effectiveness in a unique and encouraging approach. We have well trained school horses for those who want to relearn and grow. You can also bring your own horse.
• Our riding lesson program is small and we generally have a wait list for beginner riders.
• Therapeutic Riding is not our specialty. For that please contact one of the local programs with that focus.

Simple experiences can be naturally therapeutic.

There is calm at Generation Farms. Time to pause and to listen to the eagles and the wind in the trees. In this tranquil environment people come to rediscover their natural ability to heal and to experience themselves at their best.Some come to Generation Farms for the recreational benefits of riding and connecting with horses. Others come to heal deep trauma, improve relationships or develop confidence. A strong base of common values and consistent philosophy runs through all programs based on principles of connection and self-regulation.

There is a need for programs for people who do prefer or benefit from an alternative to traditional approaches. Our well-trained and experienced professional staff have chosen to use their talents to work in this organically healing way.