Counseling Services

Innovative Retreats

Lasting change

Renew your Mind, Body, and Spirit with Hope Filled Counseling and Innovative Retreats

Counseling in Illinois

Retreats in Illinois

Click Below For Your Free Consultation

Now Offering Brainspotting Therapy

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Now Offering Brainspotting Therapy 〰️

What is Brainspotting and how can it help me?

Read more Here

Are you ready to feel hope again?

You’ve been carrying so much for so long. It’s okay to take a breath.

Here, you’ll find a space to heal, to grow, and to rediscover yourself. Through counseling, retreats, and workshops, we offer a supportive and compassionate approach to healing. Whether you're navigating trauma, stress, or a life transition, you don’t have to do it alone—we’re here to walk alongside you.

More than just Talking

Transformational Experiences through Counseling,

Retreats and Professional Growth

Welcome to Hope Reins, I’m Debra Hirschberg the founder of Hope Reins. I know you’re here because you’ve tried everything and don’t know what else to do. Or maybe you are sick of the same old team buildings/retreats and are looking for a fun and unique experience.

That’s why I created Hope Reins, I have experienced what it ‘s like to be stuck, try harder and have nothing change- both as a professional and as an individual. Traditional counseling or team building methods do not always result in change. I decided to search for what does work. I found brain based science, trauma informed approaches, and experiences that produce change. We won’t just keep doing “the same old thing”. Instead, we’ll have tools like Brainspotting, Equine Therapy and Art that can harness the power of hope and connection for real change. We also believe in holistic approaches, so we can integrate  your faith , and your health if you’d like.

So whether you work with us in a counseling session, retreat, or through equine-assisted work, we want you to feel seen, supported, and empowered to move forward. We have over 35 years of helping individuals, couples, small groups and businesses do just that.

Curious about how? Click below to set up a Free 20 minute consultation.

Healing looks different for everyone, which is why we offer a variety of ways to support you:

🌿 One-on-One Counseling – A safe space to process, heal, and move forward with hope.
🐴
Equine-Assisted Therapy – Partnering with horses to deepen self-awareness, emotional regulation, and healing.
🐴 Healing Retreats – Step away from the noise and reconnect with yourself in a nurturing environment.

🐴 Consulting - Helping you build your equine assisted program, with retreats and trauma informed programming
🌿 Workshops & Trainings – Tools to support and develop your program or business -especially for equine assisted therapists .

Testimonials

  • Hope for my Marriage

    “Since working with Debra, I am more calm and patient. I tolerate more and my marriage and relationships are better. I know how to let go of things outside of my control.”

  • Confidence Building

    The Fall Retreat was the most memorable experience I’ve had in my life. The strength of the horses, their size and their beauty all made me feel comfort. I was amazed at how I developed confidence during the retreat.

    .— 2023 Fall Retreat Participant

  • Healing from Grief and Loss

    “I came to Hope Reins full of grief, completely lost, lonely, depressed, and sad. Now I'm more aware of my feelings and how to control them. I feel hopeful and not overwhelmed. I have a greater realization that I'm not bad for feeling things intensely and that I can cope with my feelings now.”

  • Coping with Trauma

    “Since I started counseling, I am able to think more clearly, not panicking all the time. I can sort out my feelings and not feel so overwhelmed, I learned to take care of my health and now I am able to stop my triggers more easily,”

  • Great Team Building

    I was so impressed . I didn’t believe horses would help but they did! The horses read our body language and intentions better than we could. Debra’s facilitation skills were awesome and the team was so welcoming, knowledgeable, and kind. I can go on and on. I will spread the word about the great experience. It was unforgettable” How’s Your Herd Team Building ~ Stryker 2022

No matter where you are in your healing journey, you are not alone.

  • If you’re healing from trauma, grief, or major life shifts, we provide support.

  • If you’re a helping professional seeking your own support - whether for therapy or training we offer therapy, trauma-informed training and equine assisted program guidance.

  • If you need a place to breathe, reconnect, and reset, our retreats and equine-assisted experiences are here for you.

Start Your Journey Today

Click Below for a Free 20 Minute Consultation.

Explore our Services

  • Counseling Services

    We provide Counseling for Depression, Anxiety, Trauma, Parenting and Family Problems

  • Brain based healing

    Brainspotting

    Brainspotting provides healing and freedom when you are stuck, whether from grief, loss, depression or anxiety.

  • Christian Counseling

    Christian counseling services including premarital, marital assessments and counseling available.

  • Equine therapy in Illinois, a women brushing a beautiful horse in a pasture. The women is looking into the horses eyes as they connect.

    Equine Therapy

    We provide Equine Therapy for all ages for Depression, Anxiety Trauma and Parenting . We are currently only doing intensive sessions.

  • Retreats

    Retreats designed to help you go deeper and identify your purpose and passions by partnering with horses.

  • Anxiety and Depression

    We provide counseling for anxiety, trauma and depression.

  • PreMarital and Marital Therapy

    We provide Christian premarital, marital and couples assessments and counseling

  • Team Building

    Unique team building experiences with horses to help you grow your business.

Which Service are You interested In?

Click below to request a Free 20 Minute Consultation.

What you will experience at Hope Reins

  • Hope filled counseling that works

  • A Personalized plan for you or your group

  • Compassionate and strengths based approach

  • Respect for your faith and values

  • Emotional freedom and true peace

  • HOPE

  • Confidence as you navigate life changes

  • Improved relationships

  • Expertise for helping professionals

  • Transformative Retreat experiences

Let’s Talk About How We Can Help

Click below to request a Free 20 Minute Consultation.

So How does this work?

  • Step One: Set up Free 20 minute Consultation

    Schedule a free 20 minute consultation to see if we are a good fit. Share your unique story and goals for your life. Ask questions and hear what we do and how we can help.

  • Step Two: Let's Design a Plan

    Receive a plan that is tailored to your needs, dreams and goals. Identify how you work best and which services will most effectively help you. No one size fits all here!

  • Step 3 Your Journey Begins

    We set up a regular appointment time to start your journey of transformation. Begin to enjoy your life as you embrace the purpose God has for you.

Let’s Get Started!

Click below to request a Free 20 Minute Consultation.

Your journey to emotional strength and freedom starts here.

Click below to request a Free 20 Minute Consultation.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure”.

— Hebrews 6:19

There IS a path to healing. God has designed it. And we are going to help you find it.

We are here for you.

Our compassionate team of Christian Counselors provide the support and proven tools you need to reclaim your emotional well-being

Click below to request a Free 20 Minute Consultation to see if we are a good fit.

Finding true healing doesn’t have to feel impossible or lonely.

At Hope Reins, we understand how painful and isolating emotional trauma can be, especially for women. Our specialized therapy equips you with the tools to address and heal from your past, fostering a sense of resilience and feeling seen. Together, we’ll navigate the difficult path toward emotional freedom, enabling you to reconnect with joy and confidence in your life

Anxiety and Depression

We are committed to helping you find creative and effective ways back to a strong and healthy place

Living with and managing anxiety and depression is exhausting. You know your thoughts are not always true but it feels like it is easier to avoid what worries you. This can look like procrastination, staying home instead of going out, numbing yourself out with screens, food or alcohol. You may feel irritable and struggle with sleep. As you lay down your mind just races with all the things that “could” go wrong or did go wrong. You feel like there is dark cloud that robs of seeing any good in your life. If you are a person of faith you may feel like you have lost your connection to God.

Sometimes, dealing with anxiety and depression means changing some external circumstances but often a counselor can help. If all your efforts are not leading to feeling better or even worse leading to worse thoughts, then it is time to get help from a counselor.

We know that looking for a counselor for anxiety or depression takes time. Not only does it take time to search for a counselor in your area, you then need to figure out if they are a good fit, if they have expertise and all that insurance stuff. It even more overwhelming! And that is even before you know whether you will feel any connection with them. Will they really hear you and provide help or will you just end up wasting time and money? This can make searching for a counselor pretty overwhelming.

So we’ll save you a bit of time and let you know you can set up a free 20 minute consultation to see if we are a good match. Also our FAQ page will answer many simple questions about fees and insurance.

Equine Therapy

In Equine Therapy and Equine Assisted Learning we partner people with horses to find empowering solutions. Horses are amazing partners in counseling, Equine Retreats, team building, workshops, and business trainings. Horses can provide a fun way to learn new strategies and problem solving approaches to get unstuck. Instead of “just talking or rehashing” the problem you get a chance to try new approaches right there in the session and see works. Horses are highly sensitive and don’t hold grudges. Horses live in groups and care about being in a safe and mutually helpful relationships. They are honest and give immediate feedback. So whether you are an individual, a group or business, horses can help you move forward to achieve your goals.

No riding is involved and no horse experience is needed. Watch this video to hear more about how horses can help!

What is Equine Therapy?

Talking with Debra Hirschberg in the pasture at The Ranch of Hope Reins in Hampshire, IL. Hope Reins does not own or operate The Ranch of Hope Reins.

HOPE REINS NEWS

Blogs

  • Can Brainspotting help me?

    Struggling with anxiety, PTSD, or grief? Brainspotting therapy offers a powerful way to heal by accessing where trauma is stored in the brain. Learn how this cutting-edge approach can help you find relief and move forward.

  • Hope Reins on WGN Radio. LISTEN HERE

    Hannah Stanley interviews Debra K Hirschberg about equine therapy. Find out how equine therapy works and the various programs that Hope Reins has.

  • Coping with Grief during the Holidays

    Holiday festivities can be an important way to maintain family connections. But it can also be terrible if you are copng with grief during the holidays.. To misquote Forrest Gump, Christmas can “be like a box of chocolates” – you never know what you are going to get. You may be horribly disappointed when you expect a peppermint mocha kind of Christmas but instead end up with an empty box of chocolates– a sad and empty reminder of what was.

  • A Summer camp particpant listening to the heartbeat of a beautiful horse

    Benefits of Summer Camp

    Do we offer a horse camp or a social skills camp? How about both! A social skills camp offers many benefits for children. Research shows that those who have better social skills and a higher EQ (emotional IQ) tend to do better at school, in friendships, and even in future jobs. Our social skills camp offers an experience that focuses on learning and practicing the social and emotional skills of Respect, Relationship Skills, Responsibility, Boundaries, Choices, and Consequences. We also teach and practice how to manage feelings using mindfulness and self-regulation skills. We do this all while working with horses!

  • Reset Your Mind: How to Achieve your Goals

    After working on goals for a couple of weeks, it gets hard. We can feel stuck and frustrated with the goals we set. Whether it is to eat right and exercise, pay down debt or have better relationships, most people abandon their goal when it gets hard. We all know what the steps are yet we still struggling with follow through. Many of us don't not even set goals anymore. And many of us are left with negative thoughts about ourselves. We end up believing we can never succeed or that we are failures. Dr. Amen, a well known brain researcher calls these negative thoughts ANTs --Automatic Negative Thoughts.

  • Summer Camp fun as children run and play together outside

    How to Choose a Summer Camp

    Choosing a summer camp can be so hard. There are so many choices that it can be overwhelming. The choices abound— Art Camp, Science Camp, Horse Camp, and Faith Based camp, STEM camps. So how do you choose? First, ask yourself what does your child really need — consider these Top Ten Tips

  • Strategies to Help your Child Thrive in Remote Learning

    Parents, remote learning or e-learning has started up and you have already been on a roller coaster of emotions. Your child is struggling to have their unique needs met in this new online world and you are overwhelmed and stretched thin. Come join us at Hope Reins for a FREE special on-the-ground horse experience with practical strategies from Nicole Schlechter Advocacy and Hope Reins . Our goal is to help you pause and take care of yourself while learning how to help your child do well in this new way learning. You won't just leave recharged with a new "bag of tools" you don't know how to use. As you spend time with the horses, you will be practicing how to implement those new tools so you can leave confident and effective.

  • Hope Reins at the Educators Summit at Judson University!

    Hope Reins led a team of educators on how to work with special needs students utilizing horses

  • 21 Days of Stress Relief

    If you’re like most people, you lead a busy life in an increasingly noisy world. As a result, you move quickly through your day, distracted and disconnected from yourself, those around you, and even God.

    If you feel like peace can be hard to come by, or you’ve searched for lasting change but can’t make it stick, join us for a different type of faith and fitness challenge: Project Stress Relief.

 

Where healing begins and hope thrives.

We are located in the Elgin area and serve Chicago, IL and Flordia. Can’t make it into the office? No worries – we’ve got you covered with online virtual counseling services. Florida Virtual Counselor and Broward Virtual Counselor and IL

 
 

Contact us today

We’d love to help

Book a Free 20 minute Consultation