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Academic History
  • 2011  Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology, Northcentral University, Prescott, Arizona
          Dissertation: Effect of Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy on Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Youth With History of Maltreatment and Abuse
         
    Nominated for Best Dissertation of the Academic Year, 2011 – 2012, School of Behavioral and Health Sciences
  • 1981  Master of Science in Social Work, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas
  • 1976  Bachelor of Science, Individual and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
Scholarly Interests/Activities
  • The Human-Animal Bond: Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy & Learning (EFPL), Animal Assisted Psychotherapy, Animals in Education; The role of animals in human health and well-being; animal cruelty and its link to human violence: Actively involved with animals in counseling settings for over 30 years, 25 years in EFP/L, lectures on these subjects and grass-root organizations to promote the human-animal bond.
  • Child & Animal Welfare, both separately and as an integrated phenomenon: Over 33 years of conducting/organizing counseling, psychotherapy, community and grass-roots services for children and families including support groups, civic group membership, nature experiences, lectures and workshops.
  • Trauma, abuse, juvenile offenders and PTSD – the issues and nature/animal-based interventions for treatment and education. Most of my counseling/psychotherapy/ community action experience focused on these populations including study, lectures, workshops and training others on etiology and treatment modalities conducive to change and growth. My dissertation, Effect of Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy on Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Youth With History of Maltreatment and Abuse, addressed these issues specifically with both children having experienced abuse and offenders who were themselves abused. Results proved significant for the positive effect of EFP on the reduction of PTSD symptomotology.
  • The natural world and the benefit of nature for human well-being, including the reduction of medication use and psycho-somatic illness
  • Spirituality and its role in holistic treatment, intervention and life-style choices
  • Alternative & holistic treatments
Service Interests/Activities
My service interests and activities parallel my scholarly ones. I have been involved in a variety of equine, canine and child welfare community groups and national associations and have lectured or conducted workshops on each of these. My most recent community activity has been membership in the Guardians of the Children, a community-based motorcycle organization whose mission is to assist abused children throughout their court testimony and until their offender has been sentenced and committed – or for as long as the child needs us.  We’re the good guys in black!
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