How to Balance Professionalism and Authenticity as an Equine Assisted Wellbeing Practitioner
As an Equine Assisted Wellbeing Practitioner, it's important to strike a balance between being professional and authentic. Here are some tips to help you achieve this balance:
Develop Self-Awareness: Self-awareness is crucial to being authentic as a practitioner. Understanding your own thoughts, feelings, and biases can help you be more empathetic and present with your clients.
Establish Clear Boundaries: Being authentic doesn't mean sharing everything about yourself with your clients. Setting clear boundaries and maintaining a professional relationship is key.
Avoid Jargon: Technical language can create a barrier between you and your client. Using plain language can help your client understand and connect with you better.
Practice Active Listening: Listening to your clients with an open mind and without judgment is essential to being authentic. This means truly hearing their concerns and experiences.
Be Genuine: Being genuine means being honest about your thoughts and feelings while still maintaining a professional demeanor. Clients can sense when a practitioner is not being authentic, which can damage the therapeutic relationship.
Recognise Your Limitations: Being authentic also means recognising your limitations as a practitioner. If you don't have the expertise or experience to help a client with a particular issue, it's important to refer them to someone who does.
Follow these tips to develop a truly authentic and professional relationship with your clients.
Felicity!