Three Strands Equus

Dr. Nancy Waite-O’Brien is a psychologist, educator and author with over 30 years of experience in psychology and addiction treatment both in the United States and in the Caribbean. In 2004, she was named one of the sixty most influential women in the field of addiction treatment by Counselor Magazine. She has co-authored texts on adolescent treatment and on women’s treatment, taught at Chapman University in Palm Desert, California; was adjunct faculty in the Equine Assisted Mental Health concentration of the Counseling Psychology department at Prescott College in Prescott, Arizona and published research on shame and depression in early recovery. Dr. Waite-O'Brien was associated with the Betty Ford Center for 18 years and in that capacity, oversaw clinical services and training for that organization. 

Currently she has a private practice in Rancho Mirage, California; provides Equine Assisted Therapy to a wide variety of clients including women veterans; and is a consulting psychologist for the ABC Recovery Center in Indio, California.  Her doctorate in psychology includes an emphasis on the treatment of addiction and she has specialized training in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, hypnosis, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy(CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and her work in trauma treatment is guided by training in Somatic Experiencing.

Leslie Vanderpool holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio and an undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at Austin. She is certified as a life coach, an equine coach, and is a global facilitator for TRE: Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises. Leslie has a private practice and is co-founder with Theresa Moore LCSW, LPC of “Three Strands Equus”, programs for individuals and groups designed to enhance and develop social-emotional skills for leadership, relationship, and building community.

With the gentle and often playful feedback horses provide, the potential of being enough, being confident and feeling calm is possible. Identifying patterns of behavior allow choices about creating the personal and/or professional life you want. Leslie helps individuals connect to their own insightful and creative truth. Leslie and the horses create an environment of acceptance and compassion that makes room for a fun and transformative experience.

Renee Sievert has over 30 years in the healthcare field, specializes in consulting, teaching, and coaching in the areas of leadership and team development. Renee has worked with senior leaders, executive teams, military and law enforcement teams, non-profit boards, and agency managers in the fields of education, finance, health care, behavioral health, criminal justice and clinical research. Her clients especially appreciate her equine-assisted team building workshops where members are introduced to a unique way of assessing their self-awareness, leadership presence, communication skills, and team dynamics as they interact with horses.

Renee is a Certified Master Coach and a Master Equus Facilitator. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology, is a Registered Nurse, and a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) in California.  She is a member of the International Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT), and provides training and coaching in Motivational Interviewing. Renee is also a Certified Daring Way™ and Rising Strong Facilitator, a qualified provider of Gallup’s Strength Based Leadership assessment, the VIA Pro: Character Strengths assessment, and she is certified in the Leadership Circle Profile(™) 360 assessment tool and the Leadership Circle System of leadership development.

Theresa Moore has over 30 years of experience in the mental health field. She holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Texas and a Certified Equine Coach.

Theresa was SAA's previous school counselor and  continues to serve as a private practitioner for adolescents, adults and families. Her passion is providing a safe place for others to explore and challenge old patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving in order to discover their unique gifts.