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Leadership and Staff

Leadership

Staff

Instructors

Our Herd

The HERD Institute | Our Team

Veronica Lac, PhD. LPC

Founder & Executive director

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Dr. Veronica Lac has 25 years of experience as a corporate trainer and mental health professional providing her with an integrated perspective to equine-facilitated work. 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 of equine-facilitated work, including a mentorship in Adventures in Awareness with Barbara Rector, a groundbreaking influence in this field. This has allowed her to combine her theoretical understanding into a relational and embodied approach. Veronica is passionate about bringing a cultural competence framework into the equine-facilitated field.

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. 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 International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor for clients with cognitive, physical, and emotional disabilities, and a Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. Veronica believes that research is the key to supporting equine-facilitated psychotherapy as an evidence-based modality and has multiple publications internationally in peer-reviewed journals. Veronica currently serves on the Board of Trustees for PATH International, and a Governance Committee member, as well as a founding member of their Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Committee. She has served on the Executive Board of numerous 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.

Veronica is the recipient of the 2022 APA Division 32 Camri Harari Early Career Award from the American Psychological Association. This award recognizes outstanding contributions for innovative applications in the field of Humanistic Psychology.

Staff Members

The HERD Institute | Our Team

KATIE WHEELER

OFFICE Manager

Katie is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in forest management. After working in the forestry industry for several years she accepted a full time position as barn manager and finance manager for a therapeutic riding center in central Ohio that she had been working part time for since moving to central Ohio in 2003. She continued this work until having her son in 2019. Recently she moved to Northeast Ohio with her husband, son, dogs and two horses to live closer to family. She loves being part of the HERD Family!

The HERD Institute | Our Team

RACHAEL LOUCKS, MAED

Program Manager and Senior EFL Instructor

Rachael knew she wanted to be able to combine two of the topics she loves: education and horses. After much research and schooling, she found The HERD Institute most closely matched her philosophy of teaching and Rachael jumped in with both feet! These days, Rachael enjoys facilitating learning through interactions with horses through her program UP THERE, as well as supporting Veterans, active service members, and their families through her non-profit, Operation Horses Heal.

HERD Instructors

The HERD Institute | Our Team

ELIZABETH MCCORVEY, LCSW

EFP Instructor, Admissions & Clinical Lead

Elizabeth McCorvey, LCSW, is a psychotherapist living in Hendersonville, NC. She is the Admission & Clinical Lead and an Instructor for the EFP Program and has a private practice where she works with adults in an EFP setting. Elizabeth is a passionate advocate for anti-racism and equity in the Mental Health world and frequently facilitates workshops and consultation events for therapists on the subject. Elizabeth is also a graduate of The HERD Institute®.

 
The HERD Institute | Our Team

BRANDIE MILLAR


SENIOR EFL Instructor & Mentor

Brandie Millar grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia, and spent all of her free time at the barn. She spent years gaining experience as a working student on the show circuit, working as a riding instructor, and assisting local veterinarians at a variety of small and large animal clinics.  After a few years in the airline industry, life pulled her back towards horses. She realized that there was a community of like minded individuals who wanted to celebrate the magic of horses and share that joy with people around them. Since joining the HERD, Brandie has devoted her time fully to EFL, whether it be working with her clients and horses, building her business, or continuing her learning in this field. “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” Confucius

 
 
The HERD Institute | Our Team

MARSHA KRANTZ CTRI, ESMHL

SENIOR EFL Instructor & Mentor

Marsha Krantz is a lifelong equestrian committed to serving others through horses. With over a decade of experience as a therapeutic riding instructor and equine specialist at a PATH Intl. Premier Accredited Center, Marsha has been involved in creating and delivering equine facilitated sessions to a wide range of clients including veterans, first responders, elementary and high school programs, and working with the elderly. Marsha is a PATH Intl. Registered Mentor and a HERD EFL Advanced graduate. Her passion is to teach and mentor others to help more people serve their community.

 
 
 
The HERD Institute | Our Team

DANIELLE MILLS, BACP, EFPL

Senior Instructor

Danielle started a successful nonprofit in the UK named Pony Partnerships. She 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 earned several degrees and certifications in the Equine and Mental Health sectors. Danielle graduated from The HERD Institute’s Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy training in 2018.

 
The HERD Institute | Our Team

KATIE FALLON



EFL Instructor

Katie is the founder and president of Bridle Paths, is a PATH Certified Advanced Level Therapeutic Riding Instructor with over ten years of experience teaching children and adults with a wide range of physical, cognitive, behavioral, and other disabilities. She is certified as an Equine Specialist through the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association, a Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning through PATH Intl., and a EFL Foundation graduate through The HERD Institute.

 
 
The HERD Institute | Our Team

SARA RIETSCH, LPC
CAADC

EFP Instructor

Sara Rietsch is a psychotherapist in Michigan. She spent 15 years working in the horse industry before returning to school with the goal of being able to provide equine facilitated psychotherapy. She is also a certified Equine First Aid Instructor. After working in multiple settings focusing on substance use treatment, she now has a private practice that focuses on supporting multiple pathways to recovery and neurodiversity-affirming approaches to therapy. Sara is also a graduate of The HERD Institute®.

 
 
The HERD Institute | Our Team

CHRIS GOODALL, LISW-S

EFP Supervisor

Chris Goodall has been in the field of social work for 20 years and out in the field with horses most of her life. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Work at Ohio University. Before focusing on teaching, Chris worked in various settings including the VA, a residential care farm for folks with serious mental illness, and as the Executive Director of a mental-health-focused equine assisted services organization. Chris is also certified as a Level 1 Centered Riding instructor and Reiki II. She is most interested in exploring relationships between humans, animals, and nature to find balance and belonging. Chris is proud to have been part of The HERD Institute from the very beginning.

 
The HERD Institute | Our Team

JESSY SULLIVAN, ESMHL

EFL Instructor

Jessy Sullivan is an ICF (International Coaching Federation) PCC certified
Leadership Coach and a certified Equine Learning Facilitator. Jessy supports mission-driven leaders in their quests to maximize the impact they have in their worlds. Her experience includes years in the area of leadership and professional development with McKinsey & Co and other organizations in the corporate space as well as growth and learning in the riding arena. Jessy holds a B.A. from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from The Harvard Business School. She is certified as an Executive Leadership Coach from Georgetown University’s Institute for Transformational Leadership and is an EFL Advanced graduate of The HERD Institute.

The HERD Institute | Our Team

ELIZABETH HERZOG

EFL Instructor

Beth is a HERD EFL Foundation graduate and certified as an Equine Specialist through the Masterson Method and Eagala. She has training in
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), meditation, and breathwork techniques. She is Reiki Level 1
and 2 certified. Beth has had horses in her life for over 40 years. For the last 15 years, she has been on a journey of slowing down, deeply listening, and getting curious, which has allowed her to discover how much the horses have to
offer. Beth weaves mindfulness and meditation into her daily life, and work. She creates and offers space for others to experience awareness, ease and a sense of authentic community with the horses. Her dream is for folks to learn a new way of being through these experiences, and to find relational support for healing and growth. 

Our Herd

The HERD Institute | Our Team

REBA

Reba is a 2001 AQHA chestnut mare, whose registered name is Star Dually. She has had an extensive career, having been a broodmare, reining and cutting show horse, and a kids lesson and trail horse. She has been enjoying a well deserved quieter pace of life. Reba has moved with Veronica from Virginia to Ohio to Florida, and has been introduced to therapy work with adults and children. She is a sweet-natured girl and loves to be groomed and loved on, and has a generous heart for those in need of her wisdom. With her markings of a white blaze and four white stockings, she brings a distinctive flair to the herd. Reba excels in teaching participants about what it means to trust another in a relationship.

The HERD Institute | Our Team

CHEYENNE

Cheyenne is a 2004 quarter horse mare with a gentle and loving soul. She was a part of a therapeutic riding program for students with physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges, and now is enjoying her time with The HERD, in a quieter life. Cheyenne is blind in her right eye but this doesn’t stop her from living life to the full. She is a curious and attentive girl who loves to interact with everyone around her. Cheyenne has been introduced to therapy work with adolescents and is a master at teaching the importance of boundaries, self regulation, and the impact of one’s actions within relationships. With her stunning white mane, she could easily be mistaken for a unicorn, and is almost as magical! 

The HERD Institute | Our Team

ARROW

Arrow is a 2003 quarter horse gelding with a calm and sweet disposition. He was rescued from a bad situation and retrained as a trail and ranch horse. Now, he loves spending his days munching on grass and relaxing in the Florida sun. His willing demeanor and curious spirit makes him a wonderful member of The HERD. Always the first at the gate to meet and greet newcomers, his energy and playfulness shines through. He brings his big, powerful, and solid presence into each interaction with complete authenticity.

 
 
 

We believe in offering our equine partners freedom, choice, and agency when incorporating them into human services. We are committed to advocating for equine welfare, and believe in the sentience nature of these majestic animals. We are proud to be an organizational member of International Equine Professionals and are aligned with their mission to educate humans through a compassionate and ethological lens in all human-equine interactions.