Amber Conte: Pioneering Equine Therapy to Heal Trauma and Transform Lives at Life Reins, Inc.
- Jada Kelly
- Mar 7
- 3 min read
By: Jada Kelly,
Creative Communications Manager, Intern
March 7, 2025
According to the Mental Health Foundation, 50% of mental health problems are established by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
As mental health struggles continue to rise in our society, there is a growing need for outlets that can fill the gap in accessible mental health resources.
Amber Conte, a licensed mental health counselor, is fulfilling this need. She has dedicated her career to helping those in need of mental health services as the President and Founder of her nonprofit organization, Life Reins, Inc.
Located in Florida, Life Reins consists of a community and environment that empowers those in need by incorporating Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) into a holistic mental health approach.
Equine therapy, also known as horse therapy or equine-assisted therapy, involves interactions between individuals and horses as a way to address mental health, emotional, or behavioral challenges.
The program's use of horses' therapeutic abilities provides a special and successful kind of treatment that fosters self-awareness, emotional control, and trust.
Before becoming the CEO of her own mental health enterprise, Conte had been doing therapy since 2018, initially working in a group practice.
In the fall of 2024, she decided to leave the group practice and create a community of her own where she can work with individuals on a personal level.
“ I knew in high school…when I was like 15, 16, that I wanted to help people,” said Conte.
When discussing her own experiences with mental health struggles herself she stated, “It's something that you deal with every single day. I don't think it ever goes away 100% percent.”
Life Reins, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that appreciates generous donations that contribute to breaking cycles of trauma and providing communities with access to essential mental health services.
The organization has two facilities in Central Florida, both home to therapy horses that love helping humans.
Horses make great therapists because of their unique ability to connect with people in ways that other animals can’t. They do not pass judgement or hold grudges, they can mirror human emotions, stay present focused, and can sense and sync a heartbeat from up to three feet away.
Conte’s heart is in helping trauma survivors of all ages. Her average client age range is currently teenagers and young adults. Her specific method of therapy is client-centered, meaning she likes to let her clients control the session.
“The more you put into therapy, the more you get out of it,” she said.
Some services offered at Life Reins, Inc. include: Group & Community programs with personalized donation rates and 2-hour sessions, team- building retreats, workshops, and community fundraising events.
Starting March 1st, a new workshop for other therapists and professionals in the mental health field will be hosted once a month to introduce the concept of equine therapy and self-care.
As for the future of life Reins, Conte hopes to expand Life Reins into the Orlando area, as well as own her own property in an established location.
“I really want to establish an equine therapy…service center…[and] I would love to have an equine focused victim service center. It would be like upmost in Florida, which would be really awesome.”
To make a donation towards creation and implementation of new mental health programs for the community, as well as providing all the necessary resources to keep their non-profit running
You can reach Amber via email at lifereinsinc@gmail.com or by phone at
518-417-1798
(available for both text and calls and typically available on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays)
Jada Kelly
Creative Communications Manager Intern
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