Lifeline Equine Therapy Services (LETS Program) 

Lifeline's LETS Program incorporates rescued horses into our Team to facilitate the healing of veterans, military personnel, VA caregivers, and first responders who may be suffering from a host of debilitating mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, moral injury, MST, suicidal ideation, and survivor's guilt. We offer Equine-Assisted Services, including EAGALA-Model psychotherapy, certified professional life coaching, health and wellness coaching, trauma-informed yoga, decompression, and team building. We provide subsidized services to veterans and military personnel, thanks to funding from the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs and other sources.

We offer individual, couple, family, and group therapy in Montgomery County at Greystoke Farm, located at 22600 Robin Ct, Gaithersburg, MD.

LETS is certified as an EAGALA Military Services Program. We currently have in-house four EAGALA -certified Equine Specialists and two Mental Health Professionals. LETS adheres to EAGALA standards. More information about EAGALA may be found here: http://www.eagala.org/works.

 

We are excited to add a BLM Mustang gentling program involving veterans and active military servicemembers. 

Executive Director:
Leila Hertzberg is an Eagala-certified Equine Specialist with Military Designation, Certified Professional Life Coach, PMP Certified, and professional horsewoman with over 45 years of experience working with horses. She is the founder and Executive Director of Lifeline Horse Rescue and the LETS Program.
Leila has a deep understanding of military culture and community. She is Lead Volunteer for Alpha Company 175th Infantry Regiment, Maryland Army National Guard Family Readiness Group. Leila is also an Outreach Assistant with Military OneSource, where she regularly briefs servicemembers, transitioning veterans, and their families. Leila has a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from George Washington University and a Master's Degree in International Affairs from George Washington University.
 

Mental Health Providers:

Jesse T. Logan, Ph.D., EAGALA-Certified Mental Health Psychotherapist (Military Designated), is licensed in Maryland as a professional counselor and as a marriage and family therapist. He believes that some of the benefits of therapy include, understanding your emotions better, enjoying satisfying relationships, the ability to transform life’s challenges into personal strengths, and, maybe enjoying improved sleep. He employs a strength-based approach when working with people in order to help them find solutions and grow through the issues of life.

Logan and his father rescued and rehabilitated a quarter horse when he was in middle school. His love for horses was one of the best gifts his father gave to him. Logan says that “to be able to help people grow and to work with horses at the same time, is a dream come true.”

Jesse’s reason for being is to “help people be as happy and healthy as they can be.” This purpose statement has guided him in his work with individuals and couples. Logan served on Active Duty in the US Army. After being Honorably Discharged, he worked in pastoral ministry for 20 years. Since 2005, he has worked with Active Duty and Retired service members at Walter Reed as a psychotherapist. His areas of expertise include, trauma, grief, human relationships/sexuality, as well as, mood and anxiety disorders.

Dr. Logan earned a Master of Science degree in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northcentral University. 

 

Deidre Everist, MS, LCPC, CCMHC, NCC, is a Licensed Psychotherapist, Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, EAGALA-Certified Mental Health Therapist, and Eco-Therapist. Her training includes mindfulness, self-compassion and resiliency practices with a focus on the healing and restorative power of nature. She is experienced with addictions, mood disorders, anxiety, depression, suicide prevention, couples therapy, active duty military, dual military couples, parenting, workplace issues, organizational counseling, gender issues, spirituality, attachment, trauma, and grief and loss.

 

Leah Eden Chiaverini, LCSW-C, is an EAGALA-Certified Mental Health Therapist experienced working with children, families, and seniors. Leah has a Master of Social Work, Clinical Social Work (Mental Health Specialization) from the University of Maryland School of Social Work and a Bachelors in Psychology from Christopher Newport University. Her volunteer experience includes work with Dream Catchers Therapeutic Riding Center and Montgomery Hospice.

 

 Maggie Mojab  is a Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor with experience working with children, adults, and seniors. She has experience treating individuals with bipolar I and II disorders, PTSD, substance use and recovery, anxiety, ODC, panic disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and ADHD. She is passionate about using evidence-based practices to help clients navigate their challenges. Maggie's therapeutic interventions include psychodymanic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, trauma systems therapy, and internal family systems therapy. Maggie is also a certified yoga teacher. She integrates mindfulness-based techniques into her practice to enhance her clients' therapeutic experience.

 

Equine Specialists:

Program Director:

Emma Hertzberg is an EAGALA-certified Equine Specialist and Professional Health and Wellness Coach. She is experienced working with the veteran and military community. Emma is also a horseback riding instructor and specializes in helping riders achieve relaxation and mindfulness when riding. 

Emma has a Bachelor's degree in Nutrition from the University of Maryland and is founder of Best Body by Nature. (1) Best Body by Nature | Facebook  

 

Nathan Hertzberg is an EAGALA-certified Equine Specialist. He has vast experience working with the military community and with horses. Nathan has a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.

 

 

 

Kris Inman, PhD, is an Eagala-certified Equine Specialist with a military designation and has 40 years of experience working with horses, including horsemanship and equine health. Kris grew up on a horse farm in California, where her parents raised Spanish Barbs, Haflingers and draft mules. Kris is a civilian counterterrorism professional with 15 years of experience working with the Department of Defense, Intelligence Community, USAID, and State Department. She deployed to Afghanistan as the lead counter threat finance analyst in Kandahar and has spent time on the ground in many conflict zones around the world, often working alongside the US military. She holds a PhD from the University of California, Davis and teaches part time in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. 

 

 

Katie Brewer is an EAGALA-Certified Equine Specialist with years of equine care and management experience and facilitating group recreation activities for children and adults. She and her husband have been involved in Civil War reactment for several years.

 

 

Michelle Bess George is a Military Designated EAGALA-Certifed Equine Specialist with years of experience working with injured and wounded veterans and supporting adaptive sports programs.

Michelle was a Clinical Affairs Specialist for Sigma-Tau Pharmaceuticals for more than a decade and has therapeutic experience in rare diseases, First In Man studies, and PK/PD studies, BA/BE studies, and Food Effect studies.

 

LETS Program in the news!

See story by WUSA9 reporter Kimi Fleming which aired October 22, 2023.

https://www.wusa9.com/article/life/animals/lifeline-equine-therapy-services-horses-veterans/65-00edf051-26f8-4aa7-b059-82d2517a9693 

 

Story by CNS:

Rescued horses help veterans on their path to healing – CNS Maryland

 

LETS COVID-19 PEER SUPPORT GROUP:
Lifeline Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation's equine-assisted therapy program, Lifeline Equine Therapy Services (LETS), hosted a FREE weekly peer support group on Zoom for those who were experiencing fear, anxiety, economic pressure, and/or other concerns during the worldwide coronavirus pandemic. We understand that the unknown may be unsettling and anxiety provoking. Our goal was  to support anyone who is feeling the strain of the times. This support group began on Wednesday 4/15/20 and ran weekly. Thank you to all who participated and made this a useful platform for dealing with the pandemic.

 

If at any time you may be having thoughts of self-harm, please call 988 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. 

 

Vet Center

  https://www.vetcenter.va.gov/

 

Veteran Crisis Line

https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/

No.  988 then Press 1

VA Welcome Kit

https://www.va.gov/files/2023-01/vawk-color.pdf


Lifeline Horse Rescue and Rehabilitation

 

22600 Robin Ct

Gaithersburg Maryland 20882

+1 301-318-1686 +1 301-318-1686

 

Donating in memory of Dianne Dieuaide Mechlin (Dee Dee) Driscoll? Please feel free to let us know.

Dianne Dieuaide Mechlin Driscoll | Barnesville MD | Hilton Funeral Home (hiltonfh.com)

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© Lifeline Horse Rescue And Rehabilitation, Inc. 2017
501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
Tax ID 82-1507101