Our Clinical Staff

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Dr. Hallie Sheade - Founder /President Equine Connection Counseling, PLLC
My credentials: I have a Ph.D. in Counseling; I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Texas (#67848), a Registered Play Therapist (RPT), and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). I am also a PATH Intl. certified TRI-R and ESMHL.

I grew up in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. I fell in love with horses when I was 2 years old, begging to ride a pony at a local carnival without my mother holding my hand. When I was 9, I mucked stalls and groomed horses in exchange for free riding time. But the journey that led me to start Equine Connection Counseling really began the day Cowman arrived at the barn. He was a former rodeo horse that had a reputation for being strong willed and uncooperative. I believed he was just misunderstood. At the time, I often felt very misunderstood by my parents so we had something in common. Every day I would sit in Cowman's stall and groom him for hours as I told him all of my troubles. Cowman and I soon bonded. When I would leave the stall, he would often grab the back of my shirt and pull me back in. I was the only one he would cooperate with - either in the barn or the riding ring. Over the next few months, some interesting things started to happen. My relationship with my parents began to improve and Cowman started to cooperate with other riders. Cowman and I had formed a mutually beneficial bond that improved the quality of life for both of us.

My relationship with Cowman started me down a path that has led to:
  • Signing a contract with Routledge (a division of Taylor and Francis) to author a textbook on Equine Assisted Counseling;
  • Becoming a Faculty Candidate with PATH Intl. for Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning Workshops;
  • Earning a Ph.D. in Counseling at the University of North Texas where I have pioneered two innovative models for the practice of Equine Assisted Counseling:  Relational Equine-Partnered Counseling (REPC) and Equine-Partnered Play Therapy (EPPT).  In my doctoral dissertation, I examined the effectiveness of REPC on the reduction of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in military veterans; 
  • Being named Chi Sigma Iota International's Outstanding Practitioner of 2015;
  • Founding Equine Connection Counseling, a private practice for equine assisted counseling;
  • Presentations at state, national and international conferences, and authoring manuscripts and articles on animal assisted therapy and Equine Assisted Counseling currently in preparation for publication;
  • Training through the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) as both a Mental Health Specialist and Equine Specialist;
  • Atlanta, Georgia for a job as a behavioral therapist working with children with developmental disabilities. While in Atlanta, I completed a Master of Science (M.S.) Degree in Counseling at Georgia State University becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor Intern. I also became a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International registered therapeutic riding instructor and certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning;
  • The University of Miami for Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees in Psychology and Biology, where I also volunteered at a horse rescue facility and participated as a member of the University Equestrian Team.


I have come full circle. My journey started with the mutually beneficial bond I made with Cowman that improved the quality of life for both of us. Now I am helping others tap into the power of the horse-human relationship to do the same.

For more information about me, you may download my curriculum vitae (academic resume) here.
sheade_curriculum_vita_01.18.pdf
File Size: 299 kb
File Type: pdf
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​Monique Van Houten, B.A.S.
Counselor
Monique joins us as a student intern from the University of North Texas Masters Counseling program. Monique is an animal lover and enjoys working with clients of all ages. Monique has a passion for serving our military veterans and we are so happy to have her as a part of our team!
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In Memorium

In Memorium
​Brooke Pitts., M.S., LPC-S
Counselor/Equine Specialist

Brooke Pitts received her Master’s in Counseling from the University of North Texas in 1999, specializing in Play Therapy. Brooke is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Board Approved Supervisor and is a certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. A Texas native, Brooke has always loved animals and the outdoors. For the past seven years she has combined this love with her passion for helping others, as an Equine Assisted Therapist. Seen here with her horse Cash, Brooke can be found in the barn, in her garden, or spending time with her family. Brooke’s areas of expertise are trauma and attachment and she has extensive experience treating children, adolescents and adults with a variety of presenting issues. Brooke believes in the healing nature of relationships, both animal and human, and it is her mission to create a safe, healing space for each of her clients. 
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Our Non-Clinical Staff

Paul Ziehe, PATH Intl. Certified TRI-R
Vice President of Non-Clinical Activities
Therapeutic Riding Instructor/Equine Specialist

​Paul Ziehe is a Fort Worth native, born in Fort Worth and raised in Benbrook. He enlisted into the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1996, rising to the rank of sergeant. He was called to active duty and deployed with VMGR-234 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and again in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II in 2004. He was honorably discharged in 2005 and will be forever proud to be a US Marine. 

He began his horse adventure in 2007, riding at a local stable. From there he began working at a local therapeutic riding facility supporting a veteran’s riding program. He earned his PATH International Registered Riding Instructor certification in 2010 in order to be able to teach a Veteran’s riding class with a focus of Veterans helping Veterans. He has also been an instructor for adults and children at the same facility. Meanwhile, in order to further his equine education, he has worked with a local cutting horse trainer to learn how to get horses started under saddle. He has also worked cattle in west Fort Worth and even taken a trip to New Mexico in 2012 riding and working cattle in the mountains. His latest experience began in 2014 when he started serving as an Equine Specialist for Equine Connection Counseling.