After more than a decade of involvement with HorseAbility—including over 7,000 hours of community service as a volunteer, intern, and now staff member—I collaborate across all departments to provide support as needed. My work with the organization often includes, but is not limited to:

• Collaborating with Licensed Mental Health Counselors and Therapists to develop DBT-based programming rooted in mindfulness practices for our regular programs serving veterans, senior citizens, at-risk youth, and children and adults with developmental disabilities.

• Assisting Therapeutic Riding Instructors, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Speech-Language Pathologists in delivering Therapeutic Riding lessons and Hippotherapy to clients with a wide range of disabilities.

• Communicating with clients, guardians, and partner organizations to plan programming, including weekly therapeutic sessions, field trips for special education classrooms, and therapeutic horse visits.

As a counselor with Camp on Tour, my primary role is to provide full-time support to more than 30 neurodiverse young adults during international travel tours. In addition to the typical camp counselor responsibilities, my daily duties include:

• Supporting campers in developing social, emotional, and behavioral skills, as well as abilities needed for completing activities of daily living.

• Collaborating with therapists to ensure the effective implementation of behavioral plans and interventions.

• Facilitating small group sessions with campers to practice conflict resolution skills, addressing trip-specific challenges, and exploring how these skills can be applied to their home and school environments.

• Encouraging the use of positive coping strategies and mindfulness practices.

Developed and taught adaptive horseback riding lessons and general programming to 900 campers with varying levels of physical, developmental, and intellectual disabilities.

As an Intern through Skidmore College's Clinical Field Experience, my placement at FourWinds Hospital included:

•Providing care and support to inpatient children aged 5-11 years old with emotional and behavioral challenges.

•Assisting therapists and mental health counselors in creation and implementation therapeutic interventions. 

•Creating and teaching weekly “Skills” lessons, using CBT and DBT techniques to promote positive self-thought, and improved social skills towards peers and family.