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Harmony Through Horses
About Us
Harmony Through Horses was founded in 2013 by Andrea Burgess, LCSW, LCAS and is based on the belief that facilitating healthy relationships between horses and humans is highly beneficial for both. Cultivating the qualities of a skillful horse person has positive effects that reach far beyond the arena, including increased confidence, more satisfying relationships, and a grounded awareness we carry throughout our lives. We believe in letting the horses lead the way and giving them choices, and all of our relationships with horses begin "at liberty," meaning the horse is free and not on a lead rope. At Harmony Through Horses the primary job of the equine therapist is to facilitate a relationship between the human and the horses, offering education and supportive reflection throughout. We believe that developing ourselves and our horses should be fun most of the time, and that laughter and play are fundamental healing principles!
Meet the Staff
Andrea Burgess, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS), has been fully licensed since 2011, and has worked for the Department of Social Services in Foster Care and Adoptions, the Department of Juvenile Justice in the Woodson Wilderness Challenge, and the Department of Health and Human Services in the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Center. She has served as a Psychiatric Intake Clinician for Mission Hospitals Emergency Department, worked on the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit, and was the Director of Eliada's Therapeutic Horse Program for three years. Andrea enjoyed two years of travel Social Work, serving incarcerated women in the Georgia State Prisons, critical access hospitals in New Mexico and Florida, and Newport Academy as a family therapist in Utah. Local agencies and programs regularly utilize Andrea's expertise in Clinical Supervision services for their social workers in training. Andrea's favorite therapeutic topics are recovery from addictions, healthy communication, building self esteem, and healing from trauma, all of which are a natural fit with horses. Natural Lifemanship's Trauma Focused Equine Assisted Therapy, many natural horsemanship modalities and mindfulness practice all deeply inform Andrea's equine work at Harmony Through Horses. For fun she loves outdoor adventure or to sit quietly in a meditation retreat.
***SEPTEMBER 2024 UPDATE: Andrea is accepting referrals for child and adolescent equine therapy and continues to be in network with BCBS, UHC/Optum, and Aetna. Please see Terri's profile below for adult equine therapy services referrals.
Terri Wilson, LCSW, LCASA continues to utilize the Harmony Through Horses facility and our herd remain happily together. She has opened her own therapy practice Healing Connections Wellness, and we are currently forwarding adult equine therapy referrals to her. Please visit her website for more information: healing connections wellness.org
Hi! My name is Susan Penland and I am an Equine Specialist (ES), and I have been working with horses for 38 years. I began riding in elementary school and moved up to competing in middle and high school. I earned my associates degree in Equine Technology from Martin Community College and then spent several years working with a breeding and training farm in California. After some time in California, I moved back to the east coast and continued to work as a trainer and began to realize horses could reach people in ways that people cannot reach people. I began teaching horsemanship in 1997 and has had the pleasure to teach in the Asheville area ever since. I believe there is something magical about the horse/human relationship, and I am honored to help facilitate positive growth through the work that is done at Harmony Through Horses. I truly believes all of my life experiences have guided me to my role as an Equine Specialist and I am grateful for the opportunity to grow relationships through these amazing animals that have shaped my life and made me who I am today.
Harmony Through Horses, PLLC
Swannanoa, NC * email: harmonythroughhorses@gmail.com * 828-337-8468
© 2013 by Harmony Through Horses