Peg is a co-founder of Horses Guiding Humans - without her the program wouldn't be what it is today and we are forever grateful!!
Peg graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with Bachelors in Social Work and a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. While at PLU, she set up the therapy clinic for the Masters Program. Prior to coming to the state of Washington, Peg earned her degree in Agriculture at SUNY Canton and went on to work on a 1000 acre farm in Brockport, NY where she helped developmentally disabled adults and hard core unemployables run the farm. Horses were used to do much of the work and she got her start in working with horses there. She has raised and trained horses with her family.
Peg has over 30 years of experience as a marriage and family therapist. She started her career at the Pierce County Sheriffs Dept. as a police social worker working with at-risk youth. She then moved into in-home family therapy for 3 mental health agencies: Comprehensive Mental Health, Greater Lakes Mental Health, and Good Samaritan Mental health where she provided intensive care for adolescents and their families in 30-day periods. She worked at the Chance Program in Tacoma for hard to place foster children. She also worked for Puyallup Valley Institute, part of Good Samaritan Hospital, doing Employee Assistance work as well as therapy with individuals, couples and families. She then had her own private practice in downtown Tacoma where she incorporated Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), Systems Therapy and Mindfulness into her work with depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, PTSD, eating disorders and also in her work with families, couples, individuals, lesbian, gay, and transgender groups. Peg specializes in marriage/relationships, adolescent/teen issues, and family counseling.
Peg became certified in EAGALA as an equine and mental health specialist in 2003. She has been doing the EAP- equine assisted psychotherapy consistently for the last 15 years. She has run groups for chemical dependency and addiction, and athletic teams for motivation and team management, and trauma groups.
Qualifications
- School: Pacific Lutheran University
- Experience: 30+ years in Marriage and Family Therapy
- EAGALA Certified since 2003
Specialties
Acceptance Commitment Therapy / Solution Focused Therapy / Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Systems Therapy / Mindfulness / Depression / Anxiety / Trauma / Grief / PTSD / Eating Disorders / LGBT Individuals
