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Hope changes everything
We at Hope Reins do not believe that one size fits all and so we will work to find what works for you. We offer traditional, alternative and faith-based approaches. We are dedicated to find a good match for you. We are dedicated to providing mental health, personal growth, and educational services by offering a variety of counseling and equine assisted psychotherapy and equine assisted learning programs to create positive change. We work with therapists, community agencies, schools, hospitals, residential treatment programs, government, military agencies, court services, families, and corporations to achieve individualized goals.
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, Equine Assisted Learning and Development and Professional Education are the core programs at Hope Reins. Our facilitating teams include licensed therapists and equine specialists who are experts in horse behavior. Our therapists specialize with particular populations (i.e., self-harm, ADHD, behavior disorders, depression, anxiety, etc.). Our team approach allows us to provide the highest quality services for you and each individualized program is designed to meet your needs.
Staff at Hope Reins are trained by EAGALA, the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association and hold basic and/or advanced certifications.
Debra is the Executive Director of Hope Reins and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of experience in the field of mental health. Debra graduated with Honors with her Master's Degree in Social Work from University of Illinois. She has worked in schools, inpatient, residential and outpatient settings before starting her private practice in 1998. Having an unwavering desire to provide therapy that was effective, Debra began to explore alternative therapies to help those clients she felt she wasn't reaching. In 2003, Debra began to integrate art and equine assisted psychotherapy. In 2003, she earned her certification from EAGALA as a Clinical Specialist in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. Debra's passion and persistence to find effective ways to help people find healing from past hurts and find the purpose God has for them led her to start Hope Reins. She has a particular heart for strengthening children and their families. Debra specializes in trauma, self-harm, codependency, depression, anxiety, and childhood issues. She also loves working with churches and businesses to develop strong and effective leaders and teams. She is the co-author of the book Mending Broken Hearts and Broken Connections: Hope for Healing Developmental Trauma.
Kristine Pienkowski is the Executive Director of The Ranch of Hope Reins. A city girl gone country, she discovered horses later in life. She is an Equine Specialist, Advanced Certified with EAGALA. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and has worked with a variety of client populations through the years. Her horse training has been from many different trainers and clinicians, other horse owners, veterinarians and a lot of reading. But, with up to 14 horses at her stable at a time, it has been the horses that have taught her the most, about them and about herself. She is the co-author of Mending Broken Hearts and Broken Connections~Hope for Healing Developmental Trauma
Nora is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker experienced in working with children, adolescents, adults, and older adults with a wide variety of emotional, behavioral, and personal development issues. She believes it is important to have the client as his or her own expert, focusing on their own resilience, therapeutic relationship development, and empowerment. Nora would provide her client with the necessary tools to empower themselves. She individualizes her approach based upon each client’s unique needs. In addition to being an independent contractor with Hope Reins, Nora also owns her own equine assisted psychotherapy business in the south suburbs of Chicago.
As a life-long horse lover, Jean is passionate about using horses as partners in therapy and believes that horses can facilitate change in powerful and applicable ways. Jean has a degree in psychology, has obtained EAGALA certification, and has been working in corporate training for the last 20 years. Her horse sense, psychology degree, and experience in corporate education provide a strong array of skills that she brings to her equine work.
Becca got involved with horses at the age of 7 and has been hooked ever since. She loves the way God reveals Himself through His creation and has watched Him use horses in her life as teachers and healers. Her desire is to share this experience of growth and learning using horses with others. Becca has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and is an EAGALA certified Equine Specialist. With 18 years of horse experience, the most important insight she has gained is how much there still is to learn.
To get started, or if you have questions, please email us or call Clinical Director Debra Hirschberg at
Phone: 847-612-4309