JBEC Equine and Nature Center

Mental Health work is intense. Healing from trauma or dysfunctional behavior patterns is often intimidating, exhausting, and the time frame varies. The environment matters. Our Equine and Nature Center has 55+ acres of private, hilly woods, water, fields and trails. It is home to a variety of amazing humans, resources and animals that are available to provide support in sessions with all ages. Sessions can be hosted indoor or outdoor, and a variety of activities are offered to provide external support and comfort as clients do this empowering and life changing work.

A Way of Life

JBEC Owner, Krista Mecker, and her family not only believe in the energy and mental health techniques and services offered here, they have cultivated their lives and home in such a way that those patterns and dynamics have been integrated and embraced resulting in a way of life that is individual and collective healing focused. This way of life, affectionally referred to as K(haos) Theory, was born of desperation and lack of resources in their darkest hours. Every member of the Mecker Family and their Friends are encouraged to embrace this focus and transform into the most authentic version of themselves. The standard is to be vulnerable and growth minded and lovingly hold all members of the tribe accountable while providing encouragement and support. New modalities and techniques are implemented and proven within their family, before being offered to clients. This practice allows for real time evolution of theories and current, relevant experiences that allows for deeper practitioner client connection. This global mindset and commitment to Mental Health and Authenticity recognizes each person’s capacity to know and heal themselves, the expertise gained on the healing journey and the communal benefit of sharing that insight and experience with others. For Krista and her family, loving loudly, sharing pieces of their stories and showing up for others, in the way they wished someone had shown up for them is a daily practice. It is not uncommon to see even the youngest Mecker openly speaking about their struggles, sharing wisdom, offering a creative solution or support and at times, facilitating a session, field trip, or working together training the emotional support animals.

  • We are not currently offering general riding lessons to the public. Horsemanship, as well as riding skills are often taught and used to help clients find positive coping mechanisms and enhance self esteem and confidence. As such, technique, beyond what is needed for safety, is not often the focus of equine assisted sessions. The method of instruction is based around bolstering lagging skills and bridging the gap between theory and practice. In this dynamic, the horse often acts as a second practitioner. The human practitioner uses their knowledge of psychology, mental health strategies, individual connection and herd dynamics to read the relationship between the client and the horse to gain a deeper understanding of the client's emotional state, psychological patterns and unconscious, dysfunctional underlying beliefs and feelings.

  • We do not accept insurance. We do consider payment plans on a case by case basis. All services offered have a flexibility not found in traditional mental health care and therefore are not yet recognized as reimbursable, by most insurance companies. Given JBEC's beliefs about the importance of connection and collaboration and the importance of community, there are skill exchange/bartering options to subsidize or cover service costs. Please contact Krista to explore these options.

  • All client information and participation is kept confidential as a standard practice, barring some specific exceptions. All privacy related dynamics will be discussed at intake. If desired, only directly relevant staff will even know the identity of clients. The size of the facility as well as the method of scheduling ensures client privacy when appropriate. Peer practitioners and clients who wish to participate in the collective experience must submit an application and agree in writing to abide by our collective confidentially policy, which is similar to those of 12 step programs, before starting any group activity.