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 Supervisor (LPC-S) in the state of Texas (#67848), a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S), and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). I am also a PATH Intl. CTRI 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:
  • Authoring the book, Equine-Assisted Counseling and Psychotherapy: Healing Through Horses;
  • 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_09.20.pdf
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​Ashley Wolffarth, Counselor
I am a graduate student in Counseling at the University of North Texas. I reside in Fort Worth, Texas by way of California, Guam and Hawaii courtesy of my parents’ U.S. Navy service. I am also a 200 RYT yoga teacher and I like to incorporate elements of breath and grounding when working with clients and horses. Equine-Assisted Counseling has always interested me, as a life-long animal lover I know how powerful and transformative the special bond between human and animal can be. When I’m not in class or on the Ranch I like to hang out with my Boston Terriers, Doug and Kevin. I am currently seeing adult clients as a graduate-level intern. 

Ms. Wolffarth is under the supervision of Dr. Hallie Sheade, LPC-S, RPT-S

​Kelsey Kerr, Counselor

I am a counselor-in-training and pursuing a master’s in clinical mental health counseling at Tarleton State University. Although I grew up around horses, I did not have much experience with them. In 2013, I met an American mustang that had minimal human contact and was deemed too dangerous and incapable of being gentled. When I first saw him, we connected eyes and I knew that we were meant to share a journey together. I saw him as a beautiful creature that was scared and frightened just as I was a young woman that felt lost and scared. I adopted the mustang, Drifter, and we began the process of developing a mutual bond. I spent nearly every day from sunrise to sunset with him. We developed a connection with one another that transformed both of our lives for the better. I found the relationship building process with Drifter to be an overall therapeutic and spiritual experience. Our relationship instilled in me a passion to pursue a career in Equine Assisted Counseling and treating trauma, depression, and anxiety. I have been a guest speaker for the Mustang Heritage Foundation’s Veterans & Mustangs program and have a special interest in working with veterans. In addition to counseling, I am also a Licensed Massage Therapist. My experiences as a massage therapist and as a counselor-in-training has led me to believe in the connection between the mind and body. I believe in acknowledging the affects that experiences have on individuals as a whole and that the experiential nature of equine assisted counseling allows for a therapeutic process that addresses both mind and body. I received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology in 2018 and I am expected to graduate with my master’s in 2021. 

Ms. Kerr is under the supervision of Dr. Hallie Sheade, LPC-S, RPT-S

Our Non-Clinical Staff

Paul Ziehe, PATH Intl. CTRI, ESMHL
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.
Laura Hamrin, PATH Intl. CTRI, ESMHL
Therapeutic Riding Instructor/Equine Specialist
Laura Hamrin works with all disciplines helping to build confidence in both the horse and the client. She is a CHA IRD clinic staff, CHA standard certified, and a  PATH CTRI/Mentor and ESMHL certified. She is a leader in the field of EAAT and mentors and trains new professionals.