Our Team
WE ARE A GROUP OF DEDICATED PEOPLE AND HORSES COMMITTED TO CREATING A CULTURE OF CONNECTION
EquiShui is made up of dedicated and compassionate people who are committed to the belief that we can create a culture of connection through transformational equine therapy and other experiential programs.
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MEET THE STAFF
JIMMY DOWNES
Advanced certified EAGALA trainer
Jimmy is the founder of Relatively Stable, LLC providing EAGALA model equine therapy on his farm in Sandy Hook, CT. He has owned horses for the last 27 and has provided horse care and was a trail guide at Green Chimneys in Brewster, NY.
Last year he introduced the EAGALA model to the Military Wellness Program at Holliswood Psychiatric Hospital as well as for the substance abuse clients at Arms Acres Treatment Facility. At EquiShui, he is the main EAGALA trainer that facilitates Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) and Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) activities.
VICKI L. SMITH
EAGALA Advanced Certified Mental Health Counselor/Equine Specialist
Vicki is an EAGALA Advanced Certified Mental Health Counselor/Equine Specialist at Relatively Stable as well as a certified Meditation Instructor and Reiki Master who utilizes horses in practice to help facilitate positive change, balance, peace, and healing.
She is also trained in other trauma-focused equine assisted psychotherapy modalities. At EquiShui, Vicki partners with Jimmy to facilitate Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) sessions and Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) activities. Her goal is to expand her knowledge in other methods of holistic healing so that she can bring a holistic healing approach to mental health and learning to my community.
KAREN L. ARTHUR
LCSW, BCD
Karen L. Arthur is a licensed psychotherapist in private practice for over 20 years. She is an EMDR therapist and consultant, also trained in EFT (tapping), Ericksonian Hypnosis, Thought Field Therapy, Psychosynthesis, and Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, as well as the main psychotherapeutic approaches.
She has studied extensively in mind-body healing therapies including shiatsu, martial arts, yoga, meditation, and contemplative care of the dying. She teaches yoga in the Sivananda tradition and conducts workshops on EFT.Ms. Arthur combines her passion for both horses and psychotherapy as an EAGALA certified mental health practitioner. She strongly believes in the therapeutic presence of horses to help humans heal. She has a general practice with specialties in trauma, anxiety, grief, stress and sports performance enhancement. At EquiShui, she leads our Equine meditations and children programs.
KIRSTEN REISTER
International HorseTrainer & Clinician
Kirsten Reister is an international horse trainer and clinician. She is also the proud owner of POSITIVE WAY HORSEMANSHIP, LLC. that provides horse boarding and training services as well as teaching people natural horsemanship.
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Kirsten has been in love with and riding horses since she was 2 years old and her mission is to enlighten people on the highest of partnership that can be achieved with horses. she works with horses and people alike and instills the groundwork to develop a solid communication.
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She does not teach the sport of riding. She teaches connection. She teaches riding skills while stimulating the horse/human connection. At EquiShui, she leads our therapeutic horsemanship lessons.
MORGAN LAVELLE
Equine Specialist
Morgan is an equine specialist and has worked with horses for over 20 years. She got on her first horse when she was three and started taking serious lessons when she was 10.
She worked as the head client groom for an Equestrian Olympian for a year and in the past has taken part in jumping competitions like Hunter jumper. She loves horses and provides loving compassionate care to our healers and other horses (16 total). She also facilitates equine assisted leaning activities as part of our children and teens program.
CHRISTOPHER CIESZKO
Recreational Therapist
Christopher is a recreational therapist and his passion is working with children. In the past he has worked with special needs children and at risk children from the Children's Village Programs.
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While he is not teaching children, he helps to take care of the horses and also facilitates portions of our Children & Teens program.
NING TENDO
Program Director
Ning has over 8 years of experience as a digital Transformation consultant at Deloitte Digital. She has experience working on large scale global implementations spanning all phases of the Software Development Life Cycle as well as the project management space. At Equishui, Ning manages and directs programming and supports fundraising activities.
Ning also has an M.A from Columbia University in clinical psychology with a concentration in the spirit mind body connection. She has also trained in conscious breathing and has been training as a spiritual healer with world renown spiritual healer Ron Young for some years.