I grew up in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. I fell in love with horses at age 2, begging to ride a pony at a local carnival without my mother holding my hand. When I was 9, I mucked stalls and groomed horses in exchange for free riding time, but the journey that led me to start Equine Connection Counseling and now S.T.E.P.S. With Horses really began the day Cowman arrived at the barn. He was a former rodeo horse that had a reputation for being strong willed and uncooperative. I believed he was just misunderstood. At the time, I often felt very misunderstood by my parents, so Cowman and I had something in common. Every day, I would sit in Cowman's stall and groom him for hours as I told him all my troubles. Cowman and I soon bonded. When I would leave the stall, he would often grab the back of my shirt and pull me back in. Over the next few months, some interesting things started to happen. My relationship with my parents began to improve and Cowman started to cooperate with other riders. Cowman and I had formed a mutually beneficial bond that improved the quality of life for both of us.
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I am a Fort Worth native raised in Benbrook. I enlisted into the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1996, rising to the rank of sergeant. I was called to active duty and deployed with VMGR-234 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and again in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II in 2004. I was honorably discharged in 2005 and will be forever proud to be a US Marine. To further my equine education, I worked with a local cutting horse trainer to learn how to get horses started under saddle. I have also worked cattle in west Fort Worth and even taken a trip to New Mexico in 2012 riding and working cattle in the mountains. My latest experience began in 2014 when I started serving as an Equine Specialist for Equine Connection Counseling.
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At STEPS, I serve in the role of Equine Manager, Equine Specialist, and Therapeutic Riding Instructor. I work with all disciplines helping to build confidence in both the horse and the client. I am a CHA IRD clinic staff, CHA standard certified, and a PATH CTRI/Mentor and ESMHL certified. I am committed to strengthening the equine-assisted services industries and enjoy mentoring and training new professionals.
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I recently graduated with my MS degree in clinical mental health counseling from the University of Memphis. I was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas and always knew this place had a special place in my heart. I have grown up with constant exposure to horses but did not pursue any lessons until graduate school. I have always known I wanted to tie animals into mental health but was never quite sure how to do it. Coming upon this field has changed my life for the better. I was a trail guide at Shelby Farms Park throughout the duration of my courses in Memphis and noticed that the days I was able to be around the horses, and simply spend time practicing my horsemanship skills, I was slowly showing confidence in other areas of my life. I was also noticing I was becoming more patient in my studies and in other stressful areas of my life. I believe animals have the ability to sense human emotion and that emotion can reach deep inside and touch people in their soul. If you can connect, you can start a new journey whether it is healing, love, comfort, decreased stress and or anxiety.
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I grew up in Arkansas where my love for nature and animals started. I moved to Texas six years ago to pursue my undergraduate and graduate degree from University of North Texas. My love for working with horses and clients started as I took a role of a therapeutic riding instructor. I watched how the relationship between horses and their riding partners could flourish physical, mental and emotional benefits. When I discovered the possibility to work with them in a mental health capacity, I found my passion in life that combined helping people and getting to connect with these amazing creatures. I pursed my Masters of Rehabilitation Counseling and took an internship facilitating Animal Assisted Counseling and Equine Assisted Counseling. I currently am a PATH certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning, and LPC-Associate.
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I am a graduate student at the University of Louisville pursuing my master's degree in social work! I was born and raised in Louisville Kentucky and moved to Fort Worth in July 2022. As a girl I became fascinated with horses; drawing them, watching them at the racetrack, sneaking into my neighbor's barn to be around them, and eventually convincing my mom to get me riding lessons. I have always felt drawn to horses and a desire to be around them. I then enrolled in my graduate program (online), met my partner, and moved to Texas! Since being in Texas and far away from those I love, I decided to start riding again and connecting to what made sense to me (horses). This led me to discover equine-assisted therapy! I volunteered at a facility for about a year and decided to integrate my love for this field with my career as a social worker. I believe in the equine-human connection because of how it has helped me and I am looking forward to where this journey takes me.
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