Equine coaching offers a powerful lens on nervous system regulation, authenticity, and relational intelligence. In this episode, we explore how horses provide real-time, nonverbal feedback that helps clients move from insight to embodied change—revealing what it truly means to coach the whole person.

In each episode of Neuroscience of Coaching, host Dr. Irena O’Brien explains the science-based insights behind a particular concept and interviews a coach to discuss how these apply in the real world. Just as she does in her professional programs, Irena “un-complicates” neuroscience and teaches practical, evidence-based tools and strategies that listeners can use in their coaching practices.

“I have learned from being around horses... be in the moment and stop worrying about what happened or what might happen.” — Jocelyn Hastie

Guest Bio:

Jocelyn Hastie is trained in the equine Gestalt coaching method, which blends Gestalt coaching principles, somatic awareness, and the horse-human relationship. This work invites clients to notice what's happening in their bodies, their emotions, and their patterns in real time, and to experiment with ways of being, not just new ways of thinking. You can learn more about her work at TheCowGirlsCode.com.

Host Bio:

Dr. Irena O'Brien teaches coaches and care professionals how to achieve better results for their clients through neuroscience.

She is the founder of Neuroscience School, which helps practitioners understand and apply insights from cutting-edge neuroscience research. She loves seeing her students gain confidence in their ability to evaluate neuroscience findings and use them successfully in their own practices. Her Certificate Program in Neuroscience is certified by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) for Continuing Coaching Education credit.

Dr. O'Brien has studied neuroscience for 25 years and holds a Ph.D. in the field from the Université du Quebec à Montréal (UQAM), where she did brain-imaging studies. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Centre for Language, Mind, and Brain at McGill University.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Mirasee
Dr. Irena O'Brien’s website: The Neuroscience School
Jocelyn Hastie's website: TheCowGirlsCode.com

Credits:

Host: Dr. Irena O’Brien
Producer: Andrew Chapman
Audio Editor: Marvin del Rosario
Executive Producer: Danny Iny
Music Soundscape: Chad Michael Snavely
Making our hosts sound great: Home Brew Audio

Music credits:

Track Title: Sneaker Smeaker
Artist: Avocado Junkie
Writer: Sander Kalmeijer
Publisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION

Track Title: Coo Coos
Artist: Dresden, The Flamingo
Writer: Matthew Wigton
Publisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION

Track Title: In This Light
Artist: Sounds Like Sander
Writer: Sander Kalmeijer
Publisher: A SOUNDSTRIPE PRODUCTION

Special effects credits:

24990513_birds-chirping_by_promission used with permission of the author and under license by AudioJungle/Envato Market.

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Episode transcript: Coaching Beyond Words: How Equine Coaching Builds Regulation and Authentic Leadership (Jocelyn Hastie) coming soon.