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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. Trained in Structural Family Therapy, Solutions Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Debra began to integrate art and equine assisted psychotherapy when she found limitations in traditional approaches. 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.
Sheryl is a Master’s level Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) who is certified in the EAGALA model and trained in cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and trauma-specific Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapies. For nearly 15 years, she has specialized in complex trauma (including PTSD), sexual abuse, co-dependency, depression, anxiety, family of origin issues, grief, and faith-based concerns. She has had years of experience facilitating groups on abuse and co-dependency and helping under-resourced clients through pro-bono work. Sheryl works with adults, teens, couples, and families and enjoys helping them meet their goals in powerful, exciting, nontraditional ways with the help of the horses. An avid animal lover since growing up on a farm, Sheryl is also a Therapy Dog International (TDI) certified canine handler and works with her Newfoundland dog, Lola, in traditional therapy sessions at Hope Reins.
Kim is dual certified in the EAGALA model as an equine specialist and mental health professional. She is passionate about helping people become more connected to their unique selves as well as building and strengthening healthy relationships with others. Kim worked for many years in the corporate world before going back to school for a degree in counseling. Kim joined Hope Reins as an Intern in July of 2017 and finished her Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology from Capella University in March of 2018. She is now working on becoming EMDR certified. She believes in the power of horses to assist humans in creating a new story for themselves that includes the discovery of inner strength and resources that enables a meaningful and vibrant life.
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
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