Meet Victoria Harms, Lcsw | Owner & Psychotherapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Victoria Harms, Lcsw and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Victoria, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success has been the support and learning I have received from others. I knew I wanted a career in mental health, horses, and nature, but I would not have known where to start without the expertise of Philip Tedeschi at the University of Denver. He probably doesn’t remember our phone call over 7 years ago, but he made a huge impact on my future by helping me create a career roadmap that started me on the path toward a Master’s in Social Work, and how that could lead to a career in animal-assisted mental health.

My bachelor’s degree in Finance and Accounting has also helped me with the logistical side of running my own business. I have tremendous gratitude for my undergraduate professors and the professionals I worked with in the field before I made this career change.

I also received a lot of guidance, feedback, practice, support, and opportunities from the practitioners at Brookside Ranch and Red Dun Ranch in Houston Texas. I learned a lot through observation and working alongside the multiple providers (and horses) there and can not express how thankful I am for that education. I still incorporate the things I learned there into my practice daily.

For the three years I worked at MD Anderson Cancer Center, I had a supportive leadership team who provided me with clinical supervision and encouraged me to earn my clinical license. Without this, I would not be able to have a private practice. MD Anderson also helped fund my post-master certificate program in equine-assisted mental health from the University of Denver.

I encourage anyone interested in this career to find opportunities to learn from the experts and to pay it forward by providing support and educational opportunities to future generations of providers.

What should our readers know about your business?
Stable Elements PLLC is my private psychotherapy practice. I am a team of one, and I provide psychotherapy in a unique setting – my horse property in Berthoud Colorado. I offer clients the opportunity to incorporate horses and nature into their therapy sessions – a distinct departure from the typical therapy setting. I don’t have a traditional office – all of my in-person sessions take place outside (although I also see clients online if they prefer). By incorporating movement, spending time with animals and practicing mindfulness in a peaceful space, it can be incentivizing for clients to come to therapy.

I primarily work with clients who are experiencing anxiety, depression and relationship struggles. The horses are a wonderful enhancement for relational work since they are relational beings with their own social structure, likes, dislikes, fears and frustrations. I have also found horses to be great teachers in communication – a fundamental discussion in therapy – since they are very expressive, but also very subtle communicators.

Finally, it’s important to note that I accept almost all health insurance plans in Colorado, something that is relatively unique in this therapy setting. It’s important to me because mental health care has historically been (and still is in many cases) inaccessible, and even less accessible if you want to incorporate animal-assisted therapies into your sessions.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
A lot of people travel to Denver when they visit Colorado, but NOCO has some great restaurants and relaxing getaways away from the crowds. There is so much to explore.
If I was bringing a friend around town, we would start at FeelLove Coffee in Downtown Loveland. Both coffee and tea drinkers love this place because of their expansive menu and robust food options. Not to mention, the decor and ambiance is a vibe.
Next, we would walk around Benson Park Sculpture Garden to admire the botanical garden and diverse sculptures. If you’re lucky, you can catch both the farmers market AND local art show in the park on select Saturdays over the summer. North Lake Park across the street even has a cute kid’s train that is only a dollar to ride and there are a number of shaded picnic areas.
Then we would head a little further south to Rosa’s Cantina in Longmont. Their spicy guava margarita is my personal favorite drink, and if you want something unique to eat, try “El Molcajete” or “El Molcajete del Mar” for the seafood lovers.
Colorado has a lot of breweries, but not many wine vineyards. That’s why I love bringing people to Blue Mountain Vineyards in Berthoud. They have a beautiful wine garden with views of the countryside and a number of wines to sample and take home. You can bring your own food so I love creating charcuterie boards and pairing them with their wine flights.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people who deserve credit and recognition in my story. I know I won’t be able to list them all and will surely forget someone so I apologize in advance! First I want to say thank you to my parents and my In-laws who have not only provided moral support, but also continue to provide support through childcare, animal care, and encouragement. I also want to thank my husband Aaron who has always believed in me and has had to make sacrifices for this to work for our family. Thank you to the faculty at the University of Denver, especially Nina Ekholm Fry& Philip Tedeschi. Thank you, Beverly Walsh, Laurie Baldwin, and all the other practitioners and equine partners at Red Dun Ranch & Brookside Ranch. I also want to send a shoutout to Wildsong Ranch, the staff, horses, other practitioners, and Hatha Equus trainers who created a “home” for me, my horses, and my business when we moved back to Colorado. THANK YOU!

Website: https://stableelements.clientsecure.me/

Instagram: @farmgirltherapy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-e-harms/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stableelements