Executive Director

Caitlin Erickson

Caitlin Erickson, LCSW is the Executive Director of Horses for Healing, Inc. Caitlin has been with Horses For Healing since its founding in 2013, first as an equine specialist, eventually transitioning to full-time therapist in 2017 and Clinical Director in 2021. Caitlin received her BS in Psychology from UNM in 2013 and her Master’s in Social Work from NMSU in 2015.

Caitlin is a licensed clinical social worker and certified equine therapist. Caitlin is a life-long horse woman who is extremely devoted to the world of horses in a variety of ways. She brings her passion and love of horses to every session. She specializes in work with Veterans, children, adolescents, and families, with a focus on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and trauma-based work. 

Therapist

Kathleen Edwards

Kathleen began her journey with Horses For Healing as a counseling intern in the summer of 2024. After earning her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Highlands University, she joined the team as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in May 2025. 

With a background as a professional musician, sound designer, and composer, Kathleen brings a creative perspective to her clinical work. She integrates evidence-based practices, including expressive arts, somatic approaches, mindfulness, and client-directed methods to support healing and growth. She encourages clients to build awareness of their physical and emotional experiences as a foundation for regulation, resilience, and self-understanding. 

Kathleen’s work is trauma-informed and client-centered, rooted in the belief that healing happens through safe, attuned connection, to self, others, and the present moment. She draws on the intuitive presence of horses to help clients notice how the herd mirrors nervous system states and gently invites deeper self-awareness. 

Kathleen strives to create a supportive, affirming space for every client, honoring each person’s lived experiences and identities. She brings warmth, curiosity, and a steady presence to her sessions, helping clients reconnect with their strengths and become more embodied, empowered, and fully themselves.

Therapist

Bethany Garcia

Bethany Garcia, LPCC, has been practicing since 2019. She was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico and attended the University of New Mexico for her undergraduate degree and continued my education there in the Master of Counseling program.

Bethany had the opportunity to shadow and volunteer at Horses For Healing in 2015 and has been here ever since. She was able to shadow and intern at Horses For Healing throughout my counseling program, as well as other agencies in town, but she always knew that equine therapy was where she would end up. The horses have taught her so much and offer so much healing for the clients she works with. She is very lucky to be a part of it.

Therapist

Baylee Hawkins

Baylee Hawkins is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) who has been practicing in therapy since 2022. Originally from Texas, New Mexico’s unique culture and beauty drew her here. Baylee started her studies of psychology in 2012 receiving her undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of Texas and graduate degrees from Utrecht University in the Netherlands and Lamar University.

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Joining the team in January of 2025, after a period of self-exploration seeking a niche as a therapist that felt authentic and effective. Equine therapy provided an integral paradigm shift expanding her understanding of the field of mental health as horses taught her a depth and a felt-sense of healing through co-regulation and connection that was not previously attained in traditional therapeutic settings. Baylee aims to help her clients deepen compassion for ones’ self, heal through relationship including reciprocity and boundaries, identify needs including the need to release, and attend to the body. Baylee prioritizes creating a safe, attuned, and regulated space for clients to find their own healing through feeling felt, being seen and getting gotten. Baylee is currently being trained as a yoga therapist and in the Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM) protocol to better serve her clients in a holistic and trauma-focused practice.

Therapist

Betsy Hickok

Betsy Hickok, LPCC,  has had horses most of her life. She spent several years working for a horse packing company in the Rocky Mountains and plays a little known horseback sport, polocrosse, which is lacrosse on horseback.

Betsy has been able to combine her love of horses and her profession as a mental health professional through equine assisted psychotherapy. Betsy supports clients in achieving goals of healing and learning with horses as part of the treatment team.

Therapist

Celina Miera, LCSW

Celina Miera, LCSW was born and raised in NM. She began her social services study with undergraduate degrees in Child, Youth and Family Development and Art Studio.

She later graduated from New Mexico Highlands University with her Master’s in Social Work. Celina brings with her an abundance of life experiences including spending time as a veterinary technician. Her unique experiences help her to easily connect with clients from diverse backgrounds. Celina has experience working with children and youth of all ages, survivors of domestic abuse, and the first responder population, who hold a special place in her heart.

Ultimately, her love of animals and helping others realize their potential, brought her to Horses for Healing where beautiful connections between horses and humans are created and where she has been able to combine her passions in life to help others facilitate change. Celina believes that with the right therapeutic support, people can begin to heal, manage, and overcome their mental health challenges. She utilizes a creative approach that combines scientific modalities with the unique needs of eachindividual in order to create a safe space for all to grow, learn, and heal.

Therapist

Hattie Monroe

Hattie Monroe is an LMSW who has been practicing since the beginning of 2022. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Social Work at the University of Southern Indiana. 

Hattie has always had a passion for horses and for helping others. These passions brought her to New Mexico, and ultimately to Horses for Healing. It has been such a rewarding experience to witness how horses are powerful sources of healing and growth. 

She has learned, through scientific research and hands on experience, how our thought patterns, emotions, and behavior are interconnected. Hattie uses a combination of multiple therapeutic modalities, combined with the individual needs of each client, to facilitate a safe and healing environment.

Therapist

Nichole Umbarger

Nichole Umbarger is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over ten years of experience serving the Albuquerque community. As a New Mexico native, Nichole combines her deep love for the people and landscapes of her home state with her lifelong passion for horses to support individuals on their healing journeys.

Nichole believes that each person holds the inner strength and wisdom needed for growth, healing, and self-discovery. Her approach to therapy emphasizes helping individuals find their voice, build confidence, and reconnect with their own resilience. She weaves mindfulness into her work, helping clients slow down, tune into the present moment, and deepen their self-awareness.

Nichole’s journey with Horses for Healing began when she was seeking peace and a greater sense of mindfulness in her own life. This experience inspired her to deepen her work by incorporating horses into the therapeutic process. Nichole is committed to creating a safe, supportive space where individuals of all ages , including children, adolescents, adults, and families, can explore their emotions, develop meaningful connections, and discover their own paths to healing through the unique partnership with horses.

Outside of her professional work, Nichole enjoys crafting, spending time in nature, and sharing good food with friends and family. She believes healing is not only possible, but already present within each of us, sometimes we just need the right support (and maybe a horse or two) to help us rediscover it.

Therapist

Zandria Van Hoose

Zandria has a background in healthcare and has worked in critical care with individuals of all ages since 2014. After earning her Master of Social Work degree from New Mexico State University in 2024, she began her clinical journey at an agency in Albuquerque before joining the team at Horses For Healing.

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Born in Colorado and raised primarily in New Mexico, Zandria considers both places home. She was drawn to Horses For Healing because she wanted to offer her clients a deeper, more meaningful connection in their healing process. The environment at HFH brings her comfort and peace, and she is honored to be part of something that offers that same sense of healing to others.

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Zandria’s clinical passions include supporting clients through end-of-life challenges and helping individuals heal from trauma through equine-assisted therapy. She has a strong love for learning and spends much of her time expanding her knowledge to better serve her clients. Outside of her work, she enjoys being outdoors, watching and playing sports, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Intake Coordinator

Kathryn 'Katie' Saiz

Katie has been the Intake Coordinator since 2023. She loves being the 1st voice our clients talk to while getting them started on their healing journey, handling phone calls, referral forms, and general support for clients and the agency.

Katie previously did 16 years of veterinary  medicine as a small and large animal technician. She was born and raised in New Mexico, has been married for 21 years, and has one daughter. Katie owns horses, cats, a dog, and a fish! Her hobbies include fishing, scenic drives, bird watching and nature walks, cooking and baking, canning, and team mom for archery tournaments.

Barn Manager

Siobhan 'Siv' Watkins

Siv joined Horses For Healing as our barn manager in January 2025. Siv LOVES taking care of horses. She has been lucky to work with lots of different horses needing specific types of care, including neglect cases being brought back to health, and retired racehorses in need of physical and mental rehabilitation.

Before becoming an equine professional, Siv had a career spanning 17 years in the academic sciences, and has a Ph.D in Biology. Her love of science and dedication to horses has fostered a deep interest in equine research, and she spends a lot of time reading up on new discoveries.

Siv is particularly interested in equine rehabilitation and fitness, and owns a small business which trains folks techniques for keeping their horses in good shape! She first learned how to work horses in the New Mexico wilderness, and that’s where she developed her understanding of how powerful the relationship between horses and humans can be. She is thrilled to be able to support the Horses for Healing herd in their work.

Yoga Instructor & Horse Trainer

Calle Poindexter

After ten years of developing and teaching several equine-assisted activity and therapy programs for children and adults of all ability levels, PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Calle Poindexter decided to combine her two passions of horses and yoga and completed her 200 hours of Yoga Teacher Training through YogaZo in Albuquerque, NM.  While promoting independence through Horsemanship and empowerment through Yoga, her program curriculum, Ashva Yoga (“Ashva” meaning “horse” in Sanskrit), is focused on the client as an individual, their ability levels and personal goals both on and off the mat. 

Using the foundational principles of yoga in combination with horsemanship skills, Ashva Yoga helps to calm and strengthen the mind, body, and soul. Each individually tailored lesson begins with a yoga practice and transitions into working with the horse, implementing the yoga principles from the mat, to the arena, and into daily life.

Visit Ashva Yoga website

She is the founder and owner of High Point Nonprofit Services, a company that provides specialized services to nonprofit organizations to promote growth, development, sustainability and increase their impact on the community. 

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Check out Calle's business

High Point Nonprofit Services.