Our Team

The Human-Equine Relational Development Institute®

Veronica Lac, PhD, LPC

Founder & Executive Director

Veronica Lac, PhD, LPC has 20 years of experience as a corporate trainer and mental health professional, as well as a certified therapeutic riding instructor, providing her with an integrated perspective to Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy and Learning (EFPL). Her academic background includes a Masters in Training and Performance Management, a Masters in Gestalt Psychotherapy, and a PhD in Psychology.

She is trained in a number of models in EFPL including a mentorship in Adventures in Awareness with Barbara Rector, a pioneering influence in this field, and certification through the Gestalt Equine Institute of the Rockies. This has allowed her to combine her theoretical understanding into a relational and embodied approach to EFPL. Veronica is passionate about working with clients to enable them to reach their full potential, and is an experienced corporate trainer offering one-to-one coaching and organizational consultancy. Clients range from large corporate businesses to individuals, couples and families read more

The HERD Faculty

Chris Goodall, LISW-S, CTP-C

EFP Instructor and EFL Level 1 Instructor (US)

Chris is a licensed independent social worker supervisor and a member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship Int. read more

Sarah Morehouse, MCouns, EFPL, CTRI

Program Manager and EFL Level 1 Instructor (US)

Sarah Morehouse is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh, receiving her Masters in Counselling
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Alison McCabe, MS, GEP

EFL Level 1 Instructor (US)

Alison McCabe is a registered psychotherapist and certified Gestalt Equine Psychotherapist

Danielle Mills, BACP, EFPL

EFL Level 1 Instructor (UK)

Danielle specializes in working with children and young people in a variety of settings
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Jude Jennison, EFPL

EFL Level 1 Instructor (UK)

Jude Jennison began EFL in 2012 after overcoming her fear of horses
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Michelle Hitt, EFPL

EFL LEVEL 1 INSTRUCTOR (UK)

Michelle was initially drawn to EFPL to combine her love of horses with her desire to help humans heal read more

Elisabeth Crabtree, MSc., GEP, MIAEB, AIRSB

Equine Consultant

In addition to a long career as a Business & Management consultant, Elisabeth (Lis) also has extensive experience teaching at colleges and universities read more

Catherine Anne Frend-Gillihan MAHSC, EFPL, EFAI, CHCT

Equine Consultant

Catherine (Kat) is a graduate of Liberty University with both her Bachelors & Masters degrees

Reba

Reba is a 18-year-old AQHA chestnut mare, whose registered name is Star Dually read more

Cheyenne

Cheyenne is a 12-year-old quarter horse mare with a gentle and loving soul
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Arrow

ARROW is a 13-year-old quarter horse gelding with a calm and sweet disposition read more

Veronica Lac, PhD. LPC

Founder & Executive Director of The HERD Institute:

Veronica Lac, PhD. LPC has 20 years of experience as a corporate trainer and mental health professional, as well as a certified therapeutic riding instructor, providing her with an integrated perspective to EFPL. Her academic background includes a Masters in Training and Performance Management, a Masters in Gestalt Psychotherapy, and a PhD in Psychology. She is trained in a number of models in EFPL including a mentorship in Adventures in Awareness with Barbara Rector, a pioneering influence in this field, and certification through the Gestalt Equine Institute of the Rockies. This has allowed her to combine her theoretical understanding into a relational and embodied approach to EFPL. Veronica is passionate about working with clients to enable them to reach their full potential, and is an experienced corporate trainer offering one-to-one coaching and organizational consultancy. Clients range from large corporate businesses to individuals, couples and families.

Veronica was a UKCP Registered Psychotherapist in the United Kingdom, and since moving to the United States in 2011, has gained licensure as a professional counselor and completed her PhD in Psychology through Saybrook University. She specializes in working with eating disorders, trauma, and attachment and has developed equine and canine assisted programs for at-risk adolescents in collaboration with residential treatment centers and eating disorder clinics. She is also a PATH registered therapeutic riding instructor for clients with cognitive, physical, and emotional disabilities. Veronica is passionate about research in the field of equine facilitated psychotherapy and has multiple publications internationally in peer-reviewed journals. Veronica is on the Executive Board of a number of professional organizations including: American Psychological Association Division 32 (Secretary), University Professors Press (Editor), and The Humanitarian Alliance. She is also a peer-reviewer for The Journal of Humanistic Psychology, and The Humanistic Psychologist.

Chris Goodall, LISW-S, CTP-C

EFP Instructor

Chris is a licensed independent social worker supervisor and a member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International and is a certified trauma practitioner through the National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children. She has 30 years of experience with horses and 15 years working in the mental health field. Chris has studied a number of EFPL models including 10 years of certification with the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association. Career highlights include Hopewell therapeutic farm community and the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA where she started equine facilitated programming. Chris is currently the director of clinical services at Carrington Behavioral Health where she has incorporated animal assisted therapy (canine and equine). As an adjunct faculty member for Lake Erie College and Youngstown State University, Chris lectures on equine facilitated psychotherapy and learning and social work with families. She is in private practice offering both traditional and equine facilitated psychotherapy services through In Step With Horses in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

Sarah Morehouse, MCouns, EFPL, CTRI

Alison McCabe, MS, GEP

Danielle Mills, BACP, EFPL

EFL Level 1 Instructor

Danielle specializes in working with children and young people in a variety of settings including psychiatric inpatient care, community mental health, education, and residential care within the statutory, private and voluntary sector. She has a BSc with first class honours in Counselling and Therapeutic Studies from Leeds Metropolitan University; CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling working within an integrative model; Advanced Motivational Interviewing; Neurolinguistic Programming Practitioner training, Time Line Therapy training and Hypnotherapy training with Inspire 360. She is a Registered Member of the BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) and has a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Supervision. Danielle is also a Senior LEAP Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy and Learning (EFP/L) Practitioner. Danielle graduated from The HERD Institute’s Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy training in 2018.

Danielle has set up a successful not for profit in the UK called Pony Partnerships and works with children and young people, working alongside horses in EFL groups and individual EFP sessions. This includes children from a local school for the deaf, with whom Danielle can communicate up to BSL Level 1, and young people who have been excluded from mainstream education. Danielle also works with the local post-adoption team to offer support to families after the adoption process, where they need more support.

Danielle has just submitted her PhD to the University of Nottingham looking at young men and health, as well as lecturing at the University of Derby. She is also part of an Arts and Humanities Research Council funded team looking at anorexia in young men, and has been teaching within universities for 7 years and very much enjoys teaching online.

She lives with her husband, 2 dogs, 3 parrots, a tortoise and 4 degu. They also have 4 horses, and a cat!

Jude Jennison, EFPL

EFL Level 1 Instructor

Jude Jennison began EFL in 2012 after overcoming her fear of horses. She went on to train with HorseDream, bought her first horse and began delivering EFL to corporate leaders and teams. The challenges she overcame are documented in her book Leadership beyond measure (2015). Jude’s previous experience includes 16 years in IBM, where she managed a budget of > $1 billion and led UK, European and global teams.

Frequently described as courageous and inspirational, Jude challenges the status quo as an author, speaker and in her EFL work. She believes that the decisions made in business have a major impact on people and society and leading responsibly is crucial to the future of the human race as well as the planet.

Since graduating from The HERD Institute, Jude has grown her business substantially. She published her second book Leading through uncertainty in May 2018 and launched a leadership podcast of the same name where she interviews leaders on overcoming the challenges of our time.

For more information on Jude’s work, books and podcast, visit her website www.judejennison.com

Michelle Hitt, EFPL

Reba

Cheyenne

Arrow

Katrina Mintz, PhD.

Catherine Anne Frend-Gillihan BS, MAHSC, M.Ed. (in progress) EFPL, EFAI, CHC

Equine Consultant

Catherine (Kat) is a graduate of Liberty University with both her Bachelors and Masters degrees and has earned her certifications in both Equine-Facilitated Learning and Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy from The HERD Institute. She has completed training with Elisabeth Crabtree and has become an Instructor for Equi-Health Canada / Equi-First Aid USA, teaching Emergency Equine First Aid, Advanced First Aid, Disaster and Emergency Preparedness, and Safe Trailering. Catherine is an Advisor to Canine Health Canada and provides training for Emergency Canine First Aid and CPR. She also enjoys substitute teaching for her son’s school district, as well as taking on individual assignments mentoring children and adolescents.

Kat currently provides EFL and Horsemanship sessions at her farm for adolescents, families, and veterans. She provides horsemanship instruction for The HERD during EFP and EFL trainings and provides mentoring on a variety of horsemanship topics. Kat owns and operates Keep the Faith Farm, located in Missouri, and is open for mentoring by video conference, phone, text, email, and will travel to work one on one.

Elisabeth Crabtree, MSc., GEP, MIAEB, AIRSB

Equine Consultant

In addition to a long career as a Business & Management consultant, Elisabeth (Lis) also has extensive experience teaching at colleges and universities. Lis combines her life-long horsemanship skills with her business experience in order to develop equine-facilitated programs. She works with individuals and groups, with an emphasis on professional and business development, communication skills, and team building. A lifelong equestrian, she is certified through the Gestalt Equine Institute of the Rockies in Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy (GEP), holds an OK Corral Series certification in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) & Equine Assisted Learning (EAL), as well as a Masters in Education & Training. She is an official coach with the International Society of Rider Biomechanics, a founding member of the International Association of Equestrian Biomechanics, and a Certified Equine First Aid Instructor through Equi-Health Canada, all of which supports her somatically based approach to EFPL. Lis is our Equine Consultant, overseeing the completion of Equine First Aid and any horsemanship development needs for students.

Our Team

The Human-Equine Relational Development Institute®

Veronica Lac, PhD, LPC

The HERD Faculty

Chris Goodall, LISW-S, CTP-C

Sarah Morehouse, MCouns, EFPL, CTRI

Alison McCabe, MS, GEP

Danielle Mills, BACP, EFPL

Jude Jennison, EFPL

Michelle Hitt, EFPL

Elisabeth Crabtree, MSc., GEP, MIAEB, AIRSB

Catherine Anne Frend-Gillihan MAHSC, EFPL, EFAI, CHCT

Meet The HERD Horses

Reba

Cheyenne

Arrow

Founder & Executive Director of The HERD Institute:

EFP Instructor

Program Manager and EFL Level 1 Instructor

EFL Level 1 Instructor

EFL Level 1 Instructor

EFL Level 1 Instructor

EFL Level 1 Instructor

Equine Consultant

Equine Consultant

Equine Consultant