Our Approach

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At Horse and Soul Counseling, we believe that healing begins with connection—connection to self, to others, and to the natural world around us. We are proud to be part of your local community, offering professional mental health counseling and Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) services in a serene, supportive setting.

Whether you’re facing stress, anxiety, grief, trauma, or simply seeking personal growth, we provide a safe and welcoming space to explore and heal. Our counseling services are tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual, family, or group, with a deep respect for your lived experience.

What sets us apart is our integration of equine-assisted therapy, a powerful and experiential approach that involves working with horses as part of the therapeutic process. Horses are deeply intuitive animals, and their presence offers a unique opportunity to build trust, foster self-awareness, and support emotional regulation in a non-judgmental environment.

Our services are led by experienced, credentialed mental health professionals and certified equine specialists who are passionate about your wellbeing. Whether in the counseling room or alongside our herd, our mission is to walk with you on your path toward healing, growth, and resilience.

We are pleased to offer accessible care and accept a variety of health insurance plans to help ensure that cost is not a barrier to receiving the support you need.

We invite you to connect with us to learn more about our programs, ask questions, or schedule a consultation. Our hearts and hooves are here to support you.

Our Philosophy

We believe it takes small steps to work towards improving your quality of life. We specialize in working with children, adolescents, teens, adults, and families. We are an advocate for family counseling and often find this essential when completing goals towards a positive mental health. We believe counseling is short-term where your family relationships are forever. We offer traditional talk therapy services and animal assisted counseling services. Most of our participants enjoy integrating the horses into counseling sessions while others prefer the comfort of our offices on site.

We have diverse staff at our location so you can have the option of finding the right provider that understands the needs of you and your family. You have options of integrating faith based services or scheduling with our certified trauma professional. Either staff member has the qualifications to integrate their training during animal assisted sessions.

We encourage you to find the right counselor that can best support you and your family. This is a sensitive process where you have to feel safe and build a professional relationship with your counselor. I encourage you to reach out and stretch past any hesitation that may come up with having to seek the improvement of your mental health.

Tara Higgins, MA, Licensed Professional Counselor, Owner, Certified CLINICal trauma professional, APproved Board Supervisor

Welcome to Horse & Soul Counseling, led by myself (Tara Higgins), a dedicated professional with a passion for facilitating healing through the unique connection between humans and horses. With a background in counseling and extensive experience in equine-assisted therapy, I support staff with creating a safe and nurturing environment where you can explore your feelings, build self-awareness, and foster personal growth. The approach integrates the transformative power of horses, encouraging individuals to connect with themselves and others on a deeper level. At Horse & Soul Counseling, we are committed to helping you and your family navigate your journey toward emotional well-being and fulfillment.

thiggins@horseandsoulcounseling.com or at (540) 220-1305

GRETCHEN FRITTER- Busy Bee Billing Services, LLC

Hello and welcome! I am the office manager here at the farm. I have lived and worked in Orange County as a medical office administrator since 2004 and joined Horse and Soul Counseling in 2021. I enjoy using my skills to help people navigate entry into our services and provide support for any billing or insurance needs. Please feel free to reach out to me at admin@horseandsoulcounselng.com or at 540-220-1305.

I am an empty nester and a G.G. to two amazing grandchildren. In my free time, I enjoy reading, spending time with family and playing with my 7 month old cat, Sam. Fun fact: Sam has the same birthday as my granddaughter Kinsley!

Wishing you and yours the very best on your healing journey.

Brittany Cicero - EAGALA Certified equine specialist - firesign Equine services, LLC

Hi there! My name is Brittany Cicero and I own Fire Sign Equine Services, LLC.  I am an EAGALA certified Equine Specialist with a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Illinois. My spouse Nic, our cat A.J. and I are originally from the Chicagoland area. We moved to Virginia for an opportunity that Nic was given to pursue his passion as a Professional Firefighter. Horses have always been an integral part of my upbringing. I feel blessed to be emotionally influenced by their presence and admire their innate ability to live in the moment. I have patiently prayed for a career that could unite my love of horses with the compassion I have for individuals seeking personal growth and development.

My mental health experience includes inpatient and outpatient hospital intake roles, behavioral health crisis line triage, and appointment and referral management.

In my free time, I enjoy horseback riding, photography, gardening and raising Monarch butterflies in the summer months.

Please feel free to reach out to me at equinesolutions@gmail.com.

Demery Schriver, MS - LIcensed Professional Counselor-Lead clinical therapist -Owner of Heeler peak Counseling, LLC

Hi, I’m Demery—a licensed professional counselor and the founder of Heeler Peak Counseling. I specialize in working with children and teens, helping them navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship challenges through both traditional therapy and equine-assisted psychotherapy. With over 5 years of hands-on experience providing therapy on the farm, I’ve seen the powerful impact that horses, nature, and a safe therapeutic relationship can have on a young person’s healing journey.

While my primary focus is on youth, I also work with adults—especially women and LGBTQIA+ individuals—seeking support with codependency, life transitions, and emotional wellness. Outside the therapy space, I enjoy riding horses, training my dogs, and spending time outdoors. These passions shape the grounded, compassionate approach I bring to my work at Heeler Peak Counseling and Horse and Soul Counseling.

She is not available upon request, but on a case-by-case basis only.

Please feel free to reach out to me at dschriver@horseandsoulcounseling.com.

Mackenzie Taylor - Resident in Counseling-Sunshine souls counseling, llc

Hi! My name is Mackenzie. I am currently a resident in counseling, completing my required hours for LPC licensure. I hold an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a B.A. in Psychology.

I have a background working primarily with children and adolescents in the mental health field and I love the work that I do! I have a passion for helping others and enjoy using a collaborative treatment approach with my clients. My experience includes assisting vulnerable populations with navigating areas such as anxiety and depression, trauma, behavioral issues, and LGBTQIA+ issues. 

In my free time, I enjoy spending quality time with my family and fur babies, exploring new cities, and attending concerts.

Please feel free to reach out to me at mtaylor@horseandsoulcounseling.com.

Crystal Spears, MA, Resident in Counseling

Hi! My name is Crystal! I am currently a Resident in Counseling, gaining hours toward licensure. I hold a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Capella University. 

I have experience working with children and their families providing intensive in-home services and therapeutic day treatment within a school setting. I have experience working with anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma, ADHD, and those with an intellectual disability. 

I have a passion for helping people find peace in their lives. My love for animals has deepened my sense of empathy and connection; qualities I bring into every session. I utilize a variety of treatment modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy tailored to suit the needs of the client.

I was born in Burlington, VT, and grew up in Upstate NY in the Adirondacks. I moved to VA in 2006. I am a mom of two girls. We enjoy the outdoors and spending time with our 3 dogs, 2 cats, and several chickens!

Please feel free to reach out to me at cspears@horseandsoulcounseling.com.

Mary Garwood, crainosacral therapist

I specialize in a bodywork treatment called CranioSacral therapy (CST) for the horses here at Horse & Soul Counseling. I first started practicing human CST in 2015 when my son’s health required the treatment for his healing. About 5 years later I started my exploration of CST in the equine world.

CranioSacral therapy helps the horses to process the energies that they take on during counseling sessions. It is a non-invasive, light touch modality that works directly with the central nervous system to alleviate stress which in turn helps the horses to heal from their own injuries or traumas in addition to what they absorb from client sessions. While my training and experience is with humans and equine, I also enjoy working with dogs, cats and even lizards!

My husband and I have been married 18 years and we have 3 children. When I’m not loving on horses, doing barn chores or homeschooling my children I enjoy engaging in my kids hobbies, making sourdough bread and reading.

I pray that my efforts to serve the horses will always be honoring to their creator God and a blessing to the work of the community here at H&SC!

Jill - Resident in Counselor

Hi! My name is Jill. I am a Resident in Counselor at Horse and Soul Counseling. I have an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health and Counseling from Grand Canyon University and a B.S. in Psychology.

I have been married for 25 years to my high school sweetheart and we have 3 adult children. 

I have worked extensively in the school setting with children who have disabilities or learning deficiencies. And more recently I have worked with young adults, couples, and families. 

I utilize a collaborative approach that can incorporate various theories depending on the clients needs. 

“There’s a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in” - Leonard Cohen

Please feel free to reach out to me at jceser@horseandsoulcounseling.com.

Frankie - Therapy Dog (NOT AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST) Owned by Heeler Peak Counseling

Please say hello to our resident therapy dog- Frankie! She is a 1-year-old black English Labrador Retriever who is on the farm to greet & make clients smile. Her favorite past times around the farm are chasing tennis balls, finding the best sticks, napping on the stepping stones, and sitting on people's feet. If you see Frankie around the farm, just remember, she's on the job! 

Frankie is only available on a case-by-case basis which will be determined by her handler and clinician Demery Schriver.