The Herd is Calling

The Parts We Exile: Cara Gereau, LMFT on Trauma, Somatic Healing, and What Horses Reveal About Our Hidden Selves


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🦄 Join the Movement—The Herd Is Calling.

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What if the parts of yourself you’ve buried hold the key to your healing? In this episode, we explore how horses—masters of presence—can reveal our hidden wounds and guide us back to wholeness.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

✅ How the wisdom of horses reveals our unconscious patterns—and helps us heal them​.✅ The power of somatic therapy to process trauma—without retelling the story​.✅ How to navigate the tension between self-protection and vulnerability with horses​.✅ Why groundwork with horses brings up deep relational patterns—and how to move through them​.✅ The ripple effect of healing with horses—from personal breakthroughs to collective change​.

In this illuminating conversation, LMFT and equine-assisted psychotherapist Cara Gereau invites us into the layered world of somatic healing with horses. She shares how the relational feedback from horses brings forward the parts of us we’ve exiled—the ones shaped by trauma, self-protection, and unmet needs. From her personal journey leaving a high-powered corporate career to becoming a healer, to her somatic techniques with clients, Cara offers a deeply resonant look at what happens when we stop performing and start listening—both to our bodies and the horses beside us​.

Episode Breakdown

00:00 | Introduction and WelcomeThe hosts introduce the guest, Cara, and share the theme of today’s episode—resilience and navigating change.

02:15 | Cara’s Journey into Healing WorkCara opens up about her personal story and how life’s challenges led her to become a healer and coach.

07:42 | Overcoming Burnout: Cara’s Turning PointA raw conversation about burnout and how Cara reclaimed her joy.

12:05 | The Role of Horses in Cara’s Healing PracticeCara explains how equine-assisted experiences transformed her approach to trauma healing.

17:18 | Practical Tips for Coaches and TherapistsCara shares three actionable practices for integrating somatic awareness into client sessions.

22:40 | Facing Fear and Building ConfidenceA powerful dialogue on working with fear, both in life and in equine-assisted sessions.

27:03 | Navigating Loss and Grief in a Healing ProfessionCara reflects on how personal losses shaped her empathy and professional approach.

32:25 | The Power of Community in Healing JourneysWhy support networks are essential for practitioners and clients alike.

38:12 | What’s Next for Cara: Vision and Upcoming ProjectsCara reveals her next steps, including a new program launch.

42:50 | Final Thoughts and Where to ConnectThe hosts and Cara share how listeners can join the conversation and get involved.

🎧 Tune in, join the conversation, and step into a new era of healing, connection, and purpose.

🚀 Ready to go deeper? Join us on The Healing with Horses Compass—our new Substack for raw reflections, real conversations, and a community built on belonging.

PS—When You're Ready...

Ready to lead your first equine-assisted healing session? Download our First Session Template—discover how to build rapport, safety, & trust on day one, without overwhelming your client and horses! 100% free, but only for a limited time—Check out a new approach to first sessions, no matter your experience level. Get Your First Session Template Here!



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myhorsejourney.substack.com
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