Megan Kadler, BA, MC

My journey to Now I See a Person Institute (NISAPI) began with an inquiry into the existence of alternative perspectives to prevailing medicalized and diagnostic approaches for being with people in therapy. I found myself questioning discourse that was occurring where diverse responses to adversity and to experiences of oppression were explained through the use of pathological language and treated through the processes of categorizing and labeling clients. I yearned to connect with people in the field who were working to understand and facilitate healing of human experiences of pain and suffering in respectful and dignified ways. Through the generosity of a professor at my university in Canada, I was connected with Dr. Susan Swim. From the first time we spoke and I heard more about the work that she and her team were doing in California, I knew in my heart that NISAPI embodied the principles, values and ethics I had been seeking. At NISAPI the encounters that occur are human, relational and natural. People are seen as people and they are embraced with compassion, normalcy and nurturance from the caring team of therapists and horses. Horses have the natural gift of experiencing people as they are within the present moment. Through the eyes of a horse there is no prejudice, no judgment, no psychological jargon nor psychiatric diagnoses. Setting foot on the ranch as a learner I witnessed firsthand how clients who have experienced severe suffering in their lives were given the opportunity to be heard, to be believed, to transform and to heal within a loving and nurturing environment. Upon my return to Canada I stayed in touch with NISAPI and dove deeper into learning about collaborative Practice, writing my master’s thesis on aspects of CEACRM. I continue to remain inspired through my connection with NISAPI internationally and passionate about therapy, research and teaching endeavours that support the idea that all people can heal when they are seen and treated as people.