Amber is a certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL). She is a “helper” by nature with over 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector. Though her career began with helping humans in the housing industry, her focus has turned to helping humans and horses in an industry that is changing lives at exponential rates.
Since 2015, she has been involved with Equine Assisted Therapies (EAT) in several capacities. She's held positions at equine therapy organizations as Volunteer Director, Veteran Programs Manager, Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, and Special Olympics Coach. Amber also played roles in organizational fundraising, curriculum development, and community outreach. Additionally, during this time, she became a certified veterinary assistant and therapeutic massage therapist to increase her knowledge and skill set to better serve the horses and humans who cross her path.
It is in her role as an ESMHL, partnering with mental health professionals and four-legged therapists to provide experiences for individuals and groups in a therapeutic setting that Amber found her purpose, passion, and place in this world. She is a central Texas native, residing in McGregor with her daughter, who happens to be an EAT success story. Together, they have three horses who have been or are currently part of an equine therapy program.
Currently, she is a full-time student in the Mental Health/Youth Counseling and Social Work program at McLennan Community College and will graduate in May 2024. She is also EAGALA* certified.