Isabella Stenzel’s path to the University of Iowa was inspired by her father’s Hawkeye pride and her own lifelong love of animals – especially horses.
Now pursuing a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC), Stenzel is blending traditional therapy with equine-assisted psychotherapy. She earned her Psychology degree from Iowa in 2024, along with certificates in Trauma and Resilience and Nonprofit Leadership and stayed to deepen her training.
“I have had a passion for working with animals for as long as I can remember, particularly animal rescue,” says Stenzel. “I found that horses have a unique intelligence and a very grounding presence.”
Initially uninterested in counseling, Stenzel’s work with clients and horses at Hunkapi Programs — an equine-assisted psychotherapy farm in her hometown of Scottsdale, Arizona—shifted her perspective.
“My experiences opened my eyes to the profound impact the human-animal bond can have on mental health,” she says. “Equine-assisted psychotherapy allows me to combine my love for animals with my passion for helping people.”
Stenzel works at Hunkapi remotely during the school year and in person during breaks. She says Iowa’s holistic approach to counseling education and supportive faculty, including mentor and associate professor Katy Schroeder, make it an ideal place to grow. Schroeder, an expert on human-animal interactions in mental healthcare, is also her academic advisor and instructor.
“I love equine-assisted psychotherapy because it fosters change in ways traditional counseling can’t always reach,” Stenzel says. “Iowa is helping me build the skills to become a more effective and compassionate counselor.”
This fall, Stenzel begins her clinical internship at the Wellness Collective in Cedar Rapids, a key step toward licensure. She plans to graduate in 2026 and stay in Iowa to practice.
“The University of Iowa gives me the opportunity to explore my passion for equine-assisted psychotherapy while gaining a strong foundation in counseling theory and practice,” she says.