ABOUT S2S | HealingWithHorses

Learn About S2S & What to Expect

This work is client driven, meaning clients take the lead! There is always a licensed mental health professional, a certified equine specialist, and the horses in each session. Their role is to ensure physical and emotional safety, while setting up experiences, supporting clients, and facilitating the learning process.

During the sessions, the professional facilitators may step away from the clients and move around to observe the horses’ interactions, behaviors, shifts, and patterns. The observations may be discussed with the client during debrief resulting in personal reflection and insight. Horses take what is held inside of us and translates it into tangible experiences. Horses are the agent of change! When our stories change, we change!

We are in pastures with freely moving animals so closed toe shoes are required. Dress according to the season and weather forecast.

Vision & Core Values

Soul to Sole Connection is committed to respecting the integrity of those who fought for our freedom and offering them their time to heal. We strive to never turn away anyone who has the courage to ask for help.

We Value:

COMMITMENT | INTEGRITY | TRUST

We Honor:

HONESTY | OPENNESS | NATURE OWNERSHIP | RESPECT

Discover Your Options

KATIE STANKIEWICZ, CPC
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & EQUINE SPECIALIST

Katie has always had a passion for horses and a deep desire to see people succeed. She understands the desire for authentic relationships in life, which horses naturally offer.

Katie founded Willow Equine, in 2012, to serve civilians seeking counseling, personal growth, and optimized leadership capabilities. In 2017, she founded Soul to Soles Connection. The vision and commitment to wellness, nature and horses are the foundation for Soul to Soles Connection and Willow Equine.

Katie is a Reiki Master, an Advanced Eagala certified equine specialist with her Eagala Military Designation and has her ARCH Designation in mental health, military, and coaching. She supports clients to look beyond “their limiting box,” break through their walls and onto their higher self. Her intuitive ardor lies with embracing Horse Medicine for Higher Purpose and Balance. Katie’s unique skill sets, combined with the power of the horses, drive clients across the finish line in life.

MARIA RUSSELL, LCMHCS - CLINICAL DIRECTOR & THERAPIST

Maria has always had a passion for helping individuals, couples, and families cope with difficulties in their lives. Her desire is to help clients experience healing and life change. Maria is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor, the Clinical Director for Willow Equine and Soul to Soles Connection. She has worked with children, adults, and families in a variety of settings utilizing a trauma focused, root causes, cognitive-behavioral, systemic model, and assists clients with a variety of emotional, behavioral, personal, and relational problems. Maria is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Restoration Therapy, and utilizes the Enneagram in treatment. Maria is an Advanced Eagala certified mental health professional with her Eagala Military Designation as well as her ARCH Designation in mental health and the military.

JULIA ROSE, LCMHC - THERAPIST

Animal assisted therapy has been a passion of Julia’s since earning her master’s from the University of North Carolina. She has been working professionally with horses since 2014 and enjoys working with animals to help people understand and cope with their trauma or situations. Julia has seen what it has done not only for others, but herself. Sharing this type of healing experience with clients, is not only exciting but an honor.
Julia works with adolescents, young adults, and adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses, domestic violence, and relationship challenges. She is co-owner of Davidson Family Therapy in Cornelius, NC and has a therapy dog named Boone. Julia is an Eagala certified mental health professional with her Eagala Military Designation as well as her ARCH Designation.