About Us
Earth-Soul Connection is dedicated to guiding people to a more efficient way of being self aware, by tapping into the horses unique ability to mirror the inner emotional world of the humans in their presence.
Dr Karien Botha
Qualifications: MBChB(Pret), MMed Psych (Stell), Functional Medicine Practitioner, EAPISA Bronze Level Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (Cum Laude): Mental Health Practitioner
Karien is a psychiatrist in private practice in Paarl since 1992, in her spare time she is a horse rider hoping to compete in Working Equitation.
Karien is especially interested in a holistic approach to mental health, such as using EAP as a form of psychotherapy to guide people to live more effectively, especially patients with anxiety disorder and depression or going through bereavement.
Currently she is involved in using EAP in group sessions to assist rehabilitating addicts, as well as family and private therapy sessions using the EAP modality, in addition and supporting her normal psychiatry practice.
Dr Gail Venecourt
Qualifications: PhD Agric (Stell), SANIP Certificate of Horsemastership, Horsemanship & Riding Instruction International Level Two, Ethology Academy Basic Animal Behavior Course: Horses, EAPISA Bronze level Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (Cum Laude): Horse Specialist
Gail is a self employed livery yard manager and equestrian coach, having previously worked in the agricultural research field, publishing many scientific articles, developing and patenting indigenous flower cultivars for the local indigenous flower industry and mentoring previously disadvantaged young scientists.
Currently Gail works alongside Karien as her Horse Specialist in all EAP activities.
