Sarah Lauchnor, MS
Sarah has always been an avid equine enthusiast who enjoys helping people and animals. In her free time, she volunteers with the Horsense Riding Camp at MacDonald’s Ranch. She enjoys riding her 4 horses Reese, Georgia, Delilah and Dutch. She has worked and trained in the equine industry since 2016 and currently helps at Reata Horsemanship. Sarah also has a little Brussels Griffon/Pug mix named Toby that she enjoys spending time with when she is not working with her horses. He is currently training to be a therapy dog! She started interning with Skye Therapy at the end of 2022 and hopes to be full time once she is licensed. Prior to training, she was a high school science teacher working with an alternative population in Downtown Phoenix. She is non-judgmental and compassionate with a down to earth personality. She is great at building relationships with neurodiverse populations as she really takes the time to understand each client. Sarah has been trained in Equid Nexus IFS Equine Engaged “parts work” and somatic experiencing.
Sarah has a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Professional Health Sciences with a Minor in Anthropology from Arizona State University. In addition, she has a Master of Science in Biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling At GCU. She is passionate about working with children and young adults with anxiety, ADHD and Autism utilizing her dogs and horses through Skye Therapy. She currently assists with group therapy, retreats and individual sessions. If you are interested in booking a session with her for behavioral modification, please contact us.
Her rates are from $100 – $150 for animal assisted sessions. Her location is at Horne & McKellips Rd, in Mesa, AZ.
Alaina Thomas, LAC
Gilbert
Alaina is a Christian Licensed Associate Counselor with a passion for helping clients while engaging horses. Alaina grew up immersed in the equestrian world through 4-H and her high school and college equestrian teams. Over the years, Alaina has developed a deep understanding of horse behavior and the unique connection between humans and horses which facilitates healing & insight she brings into her equine-assisted therapy work.
Alaina earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an emphasis in Child and Adolescent Psychology from Grand Canyon University. She specializes in anxiety, ADHD, and Autism in children and adults. Her other passion is to be competent in effectively treating eating disorders and body dysmorphia so she can help a special population.
Alaina started out in 2020 as a special needs substitute teacher at a public school in Washington. She has a passion for working with children in a group setting with a background in running small groups at her church for 4 years. Most recently, she was leading intensive outpatient therapy for adolescents at Transitions Counseling and Consulting with a focus on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills. She is currently being trained in The Icarus Model of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP). She has former training by Calm OCD to effectively treat various forms of OCD. Lastly, she has been certified as a trauma professional including parts work.
Alaina believes each client is the expert of their own life. She creates a supportive space where clients can connect with both themselves and the horses to explore their strengths, build emotional awareness, make new neural connections and develop insight.
In her free time, Alaina enjoys exploring the outdoors through hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, and running. She also loves road-tripping, baking, and spending time with her cat, Axel.
Her rate is from $120 – $160 per hour.
Sara Moran-Gutierrez, LMSW
Queen Creek
I am a California native, married with 2 neurodiverse adopted children. This has shaped my lifelong commitment to supporting neurodiverse children (ages 5+) and their families. I am an energetic, compassionate, and highly trained licensed clinician who has a desire to help as many children and families as possible! I was raised around horses, and ever since, I’ve been trying to find my way back to them. They are such resilient creatures and have so much wisdom to share with us!
As a foster parent, I was inspired to return to school and pursue a career in service to children and families. I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Human Services from the University of Phoenix, followed by a Master of Social Work from Campbellsville University. Since graduating, I have gained experience in private adoption, behavioral health, and conducting foster and adoption home studies. For the past four years, I have worked as a school social worker—a role I’ve found deeply fulfilling. Now, I feel ready to take the next step in my journey: helping children heal through one-on-one engagement with horses, combining therapeutic support with the unique bond between humans and animals.
My experience as a foster parent has provided me with profound insights into the impact of trauma and its lasting effects on the body at a cellular level. I currently serve as a liaison for the ACES Consortium and hold several trauma-informed certifications. Additionally, I am working towards becoming certified in AutPlay Play Therapy for neurodiverse children. I am working toward becoming competent in neurodiverse affirmative therapy. Currently, I am being trained in The Icarus Model™ of equine-assisted psychotherapy. My passion has been to combine horses into my practice because of their amazing ability to make the therapy process a little more fun and transformative. We currently have a miniature horse and several full-size horses to engage in sessions when the clients are ready.
Her rates are $100 – $150 per hour. Her location is at Sossoman & Queen Creek Rd. Her direct line is: 909-772-3997.
Emily Puhl, BHT
In-home Behavioral Support
Emily is a passionate Behavioral Health Technician (BHT) with over 3 years of experience in child care. She earned her associate degree in Applied Sciences and will go on to finish her bachelors. She holds a deep understanding of child development and behavior. Emily’s work focuses on creating environments that foster children’s and families’ well-being and development, aiming to empower them to thrive through supportive and nurturing approaches.
In addition to her expertise in behavioral health, Emily has been professionally trained in the Gottman Method of parenting, which focuses on fostering healthy, positive relationships through emotional connection and communication. She is also trained in Low Demand Parenting, a cutting-edge approach that promotes less pressure and more understanding in parenting to help children feel more comfortable and engaged. Her approach emphasizes patience, empathy, and respect, enabling children to navigate their emotional worlds with confidence.
Beyond her professional qualifications, Emily has a strong connection to horses, having been involved with them from a young age. She began formal riding lessons at the age of 17 and finally reached her dream of finding her equine companions in 2019. She is currently being trained to conduct Equine Assisted Learning sessions for children with ADHD, Autism, anxiety & sensory deficits. Her passion for horses allows her to integrate animal-assisted interventions into behavioral health care, offering a unique and holistic approach to child and family dynamics to achieve goals faster at a lower rate than traditional therapy.
With a well-rounded skill set and a commitment to create lasting positive change, Emily is dedicated to helping children develop emotional resilience and healthy relationships, both with others and themselves. She also offers parent coaching with the help of her supervisor Jacqui Lauko, LPC. She is available for in-home in the East Valley or farm based behavioral modification at her farm in Lehi, Mesa at a rate of $75-$100 per hour.
Melissa Simard, MSc, LAC
Tucson Area
Melissa’s passion for horses began at age 5 when she first started riding. As she spent her adolescence immersed in the equestrian world, she recognized the profound therapeutic benefits horses provide. This realization led her to combine her love of horses with counseling.
Melissa earned a bachelor’s degree from Southern New Hampshire University, graduating Cum Laude with a focus on child and adolescent development. Melissa received her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Grand Canyon University. She has 5 years of experience working with trauma and substance abuse at a local residential treatment center as she worked on her master’s degree. Her approach is future-oriented and solution-focused, empowering individuals to transcend their past traumas and unlock their hidden strengths through the healing power of horses. As an Internal Family Systems informed therapist and somatic experiencing practitioner, she is able to incorporate this into her virtual and in-person sessions.
In 2017, Melissa became certified in the EAGALA model of Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAP), drawn to its experiential approach, which allows individuals to process through direct interactions with horses on the ground rather than traditional talk-based therapy. She specializes in trauma, ADHD and anxiety in children and adults up to age 75.
Driven by her commitment to advancing trauma-informed care, Melissa obtained certification as a Clinical Trauma Specialist-Addiction from the Trauma Institute and a Clinical Trauma Professional II from Evergreen. She is also an active member of ARCH (Arenas for Change), furthering her expertise in equine-assisted coaching and psychotherapy. She is currently training in The Icarus Model™ of EAP which is a sensory-based model to complement her somatic approach.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Melissa finds fulfillment in spending time with her family, riding horses, and embracing the outdoors. She prioritizes holistic well-being through fitness and mindfulness—principles that mirror her therapeutic philosophy. Her lifelong dedication to equine-assisted interventions not only defines her career but also enriches her daily life, reinforcing her belief in the healing power of horses.
Her rates are $100 – 180. Her location is Deer Run Rd & Kachina Ln in Benson, AZ.
Beloved Therapy Dog
This practice is dedicated to Kona! He was a loyal therapy dog for 10 years. He helped this practice thrive and dedicated most of his life to helping clients. He lived a long life but passed of bone cancer in 2023 just shy of age 12. He will always be in our hearts and his love will last decades to come… “I loved you for all of your life and I will miss you for the rest of mine.” Thank you to all of my clients for loving him and helping him to thrive for the time he had on this Earth! He truly loved his job and chose to work up until the week he passed.
Skye Stables for Jacqui’s services
Elliot Rd & Lindsay Rd
Sarah’s Services
Horne & McKellips Rd
Sara M’s Services
Sossoman & Queen Creek Rd
Mailing Address
PO Box 1456
Gilbert, AZ 85299-1456
480-818-9754
skyetherapysolutions@gmail.com
manesandminds@gmail.com
Mon-Thu: 8:00-7:00
Fri: 1:00-6:00
Sat: TBD
Sun: Closed