Meet Amber Conte

We recently connected with Amber Conte and have shared our conversation below.

Amber, sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

There have been many times when I’ve felt like an outsider, like an alien in my own skin. It took me years to understand why I felt that way. Looking back, I’ve always faced challenges related to mental health, and I still do at times. As a teenager, I experienced depression and anxiety, though I didn’t have the words to describe what I was going through. Now, at 33, I can look back and see how much I’ve been through. I’ve survived sexual and emotional abuse and worked tirelessly to process my PTSD and the struggles that come with it.

In my late 20s, I received an ADHD diagnosis, which helped me understand that I’ve always been neurodivergent. Over the years, I’ve learned to accept that my brain and emotions function differently from others. I’ve spent a lot of time in therapy working through these challenges and discovering what helps me stay grounded. A huge part of my journey has been shaped by nature, animals, and psychiatric medication—without which I don’t think I would be as stable as I am today. Now, I’m able to stay regulated and use the tools I’ve learned to manage difficult days. Each step of this journey has brought me closer to understanding myself, and while there will always be challenges, I am proud of how far I’ve come and the resilience I’ve built along the way.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m incredibly proud of the professional milestones I’ve reached over the years. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and trauma specialist, it’s deeply fulfilling to help others who have faced adversity. One of my biggest accomplishments to date is founding Life Reins, Inc. in Central Florida last year. Life Reins is a non-profit organization with a mission to provide accessible mental health services to vulnerable populations through equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFP). We believe EFP is one of the most effective treatment modalities for issues like PTSD, substance abuse, mood disorders, and more.

Currently, we’re operating in three counties—Lake, Volusia, and Orange—and have been working hard to collaborate with professionals to bring EFP services to their facilities and organizations. The future of Life Reins looks incredibly promising. We’re in the process of developing programs for first responders and at-risk youth, which we hope will make a significant impact on the mental health services landscape. I am excited to continue growing Life Reins and to see how we can transform the mental health field, one person at a time.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are resilience, empathy, and continuous learning. Resilience has allowed me to navigate through challenges and setbacks, keeping me focused on my growth. Empathy has been crucial in both my personal healing and in my professional role, allowing me to truly connect with others who have faced adversity. Finally, continuous learning has driven me to expand my knowledge, seek out new tools, and stay adaptable, which has been essential in overcoming obstacles and helping others along the way.

For those early in their journey, my advice would be to cultivate resilience by embracing setbacks as learning opportunities. Understand that growth often comes through challenges. When things get tough, instead of seeing failure, focus on what you can learn from the experience and how you can adjust moving forward. It’s about bouncing back, not about avoiding hardship.

Develop empathy by actively listening to others and putting yourself in their shoes. Practice understanding people’s emotions without judgment and allow yourself to connect with their experiences. The more you expose yourself to different perspectives, the deeper your empathy will grow. Don’t forget to show empathy toward yourself as well; self-compassion is key to growing in this area.

Lastly, commit to lifelong learning. This doesn’t just mean formal education, but being open to new ideas, asking questions, seeking mentorship, and staying curious. Take time to reflect on what you learn and how you can apply it to your personal and professional life. Remember, growth is a journey, and being open to learning at every stage of life will keep you evolving. The key is to stay patient with yourself. These qualities take time to develop, but with consistent effort and intention, you’ll begin to see their impact.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Yes, we are always looking for like-minded individuals and organizations to partner and collaborate with! At Life Reins, we believe that building strong, supportive relationships is key to creating a larger impact in the community. We are particularly interested in collaborating with mental health professionals, healthcare providers, schools, first responder organizations, and community outreach programs that share our commitment to providing accessible and effective mental health services.

If you’re passionate about making a difference in the lives of vulnerable populations and are interested in exploring the benefits of equine-facilitated psychotherapy (EFP), we’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re looking to integrate EFP into your services or simply want to learn more about what we do, we welcome the opportunity to connect and discuss potential collaborations.

To get in touch, please reach out to us through our website or email us directly at [email protected]. Let’s work together to bring transformative mental health services to those who need them most!

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