Blending the Kindness of Horses with Therapy

SRD Straightening Reins continues to serve the families who reached out during the COVID-19 crisis on an individual basis. As protocols for opening other services are being developed, SRD has been invited to work with a teen mental health agency in the San Fernando Valley.
SRD wishes to introduce the staff that provides care to the SCV clients and their families. Deborah Rocha, Founder and Executive Director, has retired from teaching after thirty-three years in the Saugus Union School District and holds a Masters in Special Education and Reading. She is EAGALA certified by the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association whose programs have expanded to 41 countries. Deborah is the “boots on the ground” for SRD.
Marcie L McEndree, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor is Pupil Personnel Services credentialed and the Clinical Supervisor for SRD’s clinical staff. Marcie specializes in treating depression, anxiety, trauma recovery, PTSD, behavioral issues in children, effective communication tools and improving relationships. She began with SRD in 2018 and she finds that equine-assisted therapies provide individuals with opportunities to grow beyond traditional talk therapy.
Kristle Williams Manuel is an Associate Clinical Social Worker who utilizes a blend of Cognitive Behavior, Motivational Interviewing, Solution Focused and Psycho-Education therapies to treat her clients. She utilizes a holistic approach to teach how the mind, spirit and body are interconnected. This allows the client to replace their irrational thoughts, beliefs and attitudes, experiencing change as an outcome.
Melanie Rivas is working on her MA in Psychology at Brandman University and is a MFT/PCC trainee at SRD. Having lived through her own trauma as a child, Melanie has been inspired to help others experience a better quality of life. Likewise, SRD inspired Melanie to expand her knowledge and embrace the healing relationship between animals and humans.
Denise Delaney-Harris is obtaining her MA in Psychology from Brandman University and is an MFT/LPC trainee. This is her second career. Her experiences at SRD have provided inspiration as to the ability to blend equine-assisted therapy with other theoretical orientations to achieve the best possible outcomes.
For more information about programs at SRD Straightening Reins, visit the website at https://srdstraighteningreins.org or call (661) 803-1641.