Meet Our
Care Team
Our clinical staff is dedicated to the well-being of veterans, active-duty service members, and first responders. By integrating trauma-informed EMDR with the healing presence of horses, we provide a safe harbor for those processing complex trauma and seeking profound emotional resilience.
Ann Marie Lewis, M.A.
Founder & Clinical Coordinator
A Licensed Psychologist since 1993, she is an EAGALA Certified professional with 40 years of expertise in trauma and military mental health.
Marica Ramey, M.Ed., LPC
Specialist in Military Resilience
As a Licensed Professional Counselor, Marica offers a heart-centered approach built on her lived experience supporting her husband’s healing after he was injured in Iraq.
Roxann Nole Graham, MS LPC
EMDR Therapist
Our Treatment Approach
PTSD Therapy
At Equines for Freedom, we believe that trauma shouldn’t define the rest of your life. Our therapy focuses on the unique needs of veterans and first responders, utilizing Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in a non-traditional, outdoor setting. This approach allows individuals to process distressing memories in a space that feels grounded, safe, and supported by the presence of our equine partners.
Success
Success at Equines for Freedom is measured by the renewed hope and resilience found by our clients. Many report a significant reduction in the symptoms of PTSD, including improved sleep, decreased anxiety, and a stronger sense of emotional regulation. Our model of care has helped hundreds of heroes successfully navigate the path from surviving to thriving.
“After decades of suffering the nightmares are totally gone. He now has a life he never thought possible. Best of all, as Eugene sat beaming, he stated, ‘I finally have my smile back.’”— A grateful veteran
Treatment Approach
Our treatment model is structured into five distinct stages designed to foster gradual healing and long-term stability:
Stage 1: Safety & Stabilization – Establishing a secure environment and teaching grounding techniques with equine assistance.
Stage 2: Preparation & Resourcing – Developing the internal coping mechanisms necessary for deeper trauma work.
Stage 3: Desensitization & Processing – Using EMDR to process traumatic memories while maintaining a connection to the present through the horse.
Stage 4: Integration – Connecting new insights and emotional shifts into daily life and identity.
Stage 5: Future Templates & Resilience – Preparing for future challenges with a renewed sense of empowerment and purpose.
Horse Care Team
Lindsay McLafferty
Barn manager and Equine Specialist
Lindsay McLafferty is a 2017 graduate from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science - Business Management and a minor in Equine Science. She found her way to Equines for Freedom in January 2022 when the organization was in need of a barn manager for the newly formed herd.
Lindsay oversees the health of the herd, and works closely with a wonderful team of veterinarians, farriers, and other industry professionals to ensure the 7 horses are receiving optimal care. She ensures that each horse stays up to date on their training to maintain a safe environment for the clients and treatment team.
Emy Kurilla
Equine Specialist and Secretary Executive Board
Emy Kurilla is a professor of communication studies at Lackawanna College and is passionate about helping people become better communicators.
She has spent the last twenty years studying communication and the human animal bond. An animal lover and rights advocate, she has volunteered with Akita Rescue, the Humane Society and Dogs Deserve Better, helping people understand and better their relationships with our canine friends. It was her volunteer work with Akita Rescue that led her to pursue training in animal behavior and body work.
Emy is a certified Eagala equine specialist, equine and canine body worker, fitness and yoga instructor and Reiki practitioner. Her post graduate studies are in conflict resolution and communication, and mental health studies. In her spare time, she works as a consultant helping businesses build communication strategies and interpersonal connections for all organizational levels. She is the daughter of a career Army officer - and Vietnam Veteran. She is an avid horseback rider and horse lover
Cindy Lempicky
Equine Specialist
Cindy started with Equines for Freedom in May 2022, working with founder, AnnMarie Lewis as an Equine Specialist. Cindy's background with horses started when her daughter was 6 years old and asked for a dog. Because she worked full time as a corporate tax accountant, she felt it was not fair to have a puppy penned up in a crate for hours while they were at work, so her husband asked if their daughter would like to take horseback lessons. For the next 25 years she was a groom for her daughter as they went from horse show to horse show, loving every minute and learning how the trust between a horse and a person can become a strong bond and a lifelong appreciation for each other.
Cindy was trained as an Equine Specialist by Sarah Jenkins through her Equine Assisted EMDR training course in 2024. Being an Equine Specialist, she is responsible for the "Team", the therapist, the client, herself and the horse. Cindy is very familiar with all 7 horses on the property, and her job is to make sure every team member is safe at all times.
Robbie Long
Equine Specialist
Robbie Long is a Equine Specialist. He was trained in an Equine Assisted EMDR Course for Equilateral approved by EMDRIA. He has completed 1st International Symposium Compendium, part one ,also trained in a horse behavioral course and EAGLA training . Robbie has been with Equines For Freedom since 2016 .