Leslie Fairchild

Leslie received her Masters Degree in Psychology and Counseling from the University of West Alabama. She has experience in various levels of care to include residential, outpatient, and inpatient settings, and specialized experience working with individuals dealing with trauma/PTSD, substance abuse, depression and various process addictions. She is also trained in various treatment modalities to include EMDR, Advanced/Enhanced Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Breathwork Level 1, and Equine therapy. She started her career in mental health as a children’s case manager at a local community mental health center with the goal of becoming a therapist. She realized her calling was in counseling while working as a teacher’s aide and noticing the impact she had in holding space for her students.

Leslie’s journey with Equine Therapy began in 2015 when she was working as a therapist at a residential facility in Ocklawaha, FL. She was curious about this modality and found herself drawn to it every time she would take her group of clients to participate in it. She didn’t quite understand what was going on or how this could help her clients, but she could see it helping them. One day while she was observing her clients, she had a horse approach her even though she wasn’t a part of the activity. She kept walking away from him to avoid interfering with her clients’ process. Then it hit her…that horse was reading her energy and mirroring back her desire to work with horses. She is grateful for that horse, Dallas, because her journey with Equine Therapy has made her a better therapist, wife, mother, and human all around!

Fortified with her trainings, experience and education, Leslie is someone who understands that healing requires a safe place to explore and navigate those areas outside of a person’s comfort zone. Working with horses is an effective approach to begin that healing journey.