January 17, 2024 HHRF Webinar: Self-Care and Staff Support

On January 17, 2024 at 7:00pm (EST) embark on a journey with Tara Mahoney, LCMHC, Shellie Kwitkowski, PATH CTRI and TD, and Cheryl Meola, PhD, LCMHCS, as they share insights gleaned from their research, personal experiences, and authentic struggles. Join us in discussing the relevance of self-care and staff support for overall program well-being.

About our speakers:

Tara Mahoney is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional. She graduated from Boston College majoring in Neuroscience and holds a Master's in Counseling with certifications in Forensic Psychology and Veteran Behavioral Health. Since 1996, Tara has counseled in diverse settings including a correctional facility, NYC homeless shelter for veterans, in-patient psychiatric hospital, Vet Center, Family Drug Court, DBT Out-Patient Clinic and private practice.

For the past 10 years, Tara has combined her professional calling with her lifetime passion for horses. She has focused her education, experience and energy into the field of animal-assisted alternative therapies. Tara is proud to support HHRF’s mission to fund and share research as it is vital for the field to explore efficacy and best practices.

Her current role as CEO and Co-Founder of Equine Immersion Programs (EIP) is the highlight of her career. She is honored to serve those who have served- veterans, active duty service members, law enforcement/first responders as well as their families and supports. EIP provides trauma informed equine assisted learning to heal the Invisible Wounds of War (PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, Military Sexual Trauma and Moral Injury).

Cheryl Meola, PhD, LCMHCS, NCC is the founder of Mane Source Counseling, a private psychotherapy practice in Greenville, NC, and one of the founders of Horses and HEALTH Inc, a non-profit equine assisted activities program for veterans. She is PATH Certified as a TRI and ESMHL. Her research projects have focused on equine assisted activities with various populations, including adolescent inpatients with substance use issues, veterans, and counselors-in-training. She has authored one book and various peer-reviewed publications. Her love of being around horses started very young when she used to catch rides on ponies at her aunt’s farm, and she now has 2 horses of her own as well as a group of horses that work with her in practice.

Shellie Kwitkowski earned her undergraduate degree from Lake Erie College in Equine Studies and returned to Lake Erie College years later for her Master's of Business Administration.

Shellie is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership at Franklin University. Her working dissertation topic is What Benefits Do Veterans Receive from Equine Assisted Services and is expected to be complete in 2024.

Shellie is the Program Director at Dreams on Horseback in Blacklick, Ohio. She is a PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) Certified Therapeutic (Horseback) Riding and (Carriage) Driving Instructor. She previously worked at Fieldstone Farm Therapeutic Riding Center in Chagrin Falls, OH as an instructor and led the Farm's Mobile Mini program, taking a miniature horse out into the community to therapy centers, schools, and assisted living facilities. She currently serves on the Equine Services for Heroes Committee with PATH. A lifelong equestrian, Shellie frequently competes around the Midwest in combined driving and pleasure driving competitions with her Hackney Horse, Beaumont.

Call in information:

Topic: Self-Care and Staff Support- HHRF January 17, 2024 Webinr