AAC Practitioners
Certified Animal-Assisted Practitioners
The practitioners in this section have completed all academic and clinical requirements with their animal partners to earn the Certification in Animal-Assisted Counseling. If you would like to reach out to these practitioners, you can find their names and contact information from the cohort in which they graduated.
AAC Practitioners by Cohort
The following practitioners have completed the academic requirements of the AAC Academy. Practitioners who are not fully certified have a provisional certification by the AAC Academy to work with their animal partner with AAC supervision. If you are interested in finding a practitioner who is trained in animal-assisted counseling, you may contact any of these practitioners.
2021 AAC Academy Practitioners
Maggie Dou, PhD, LPC
and Dorothy
Therapist, Calming Storms Counseling, PLLC
San Antonio, TX
Nicole Harris, MS, LPC Associate
and Goliath
Therapist, Midland Rape Crisis and Children's Advocacy Center
Big Spring, TX
Cynthia Hodges, MEd, LPC
and Texas Red
Peace Alcove, PLLC
Kempner, TX
Alileah Hoke, MA, LPC
and Gracie
Counselor, Pflugerville Counseling Center
Pflugerville, TX
Kristina Kern, MEd, LPC
and George
School Counselor, Austin I.S.D.
Austin, TX
Renee Kinsey
and Hank
New Braunfels, TX
Teri Mills-Manuel, MED, LPC-S, RPT-S
and Clover
Play Therapist, Teri Mills-Manuel Counseling, PLLC
McKinney, TX
Joanna Subias, MEd
and Luci
School Counselor, Houston I.S.D.
Houston, TX
Crystal Perez-Morales, MSW, LCSW-S
and Neo
Clinical Therapist, San Marcos Treatment Center
San Marcos, TX
Krista Schultze, MS, MEd
and Snickerdoodle
School Counselor, New Braunfels I.S.D.
New Braunfels, TX
Melissa Trevathan-Minnis
and Torty
Therapist, Private Practice
Austin, TX
2020 AAC Academy Practitioners
Jalen Evans, MS, LPC Associate
and Loyal Robinson
Doctoral Student, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, TX
Diana Gibson, MAAT, MEd, LPC-AT, ATR-BC
and Sketch
Art Therapist, Creative Clarity Art Therapy
Burleson, TX
Kate Halinski, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S
and Moose
Private Practice, Kate Halinski PhD
Boerne, TX
Katherine Miner, MSW, LMSW
and Willow (Calvera not pictured)
Counselor, Fort Bend County Women's Center
Houston, TX
Adrianne Ortiz, MS, LPC, RPT
and Starlette
Counselor, West Texas Guidance and Counseling
San Angelo, TX
Marisa Ridley, MSW, LCSW
and Nimah
Social Worker
Ft. Worth, TX
Elizabeth Stein
and Rusty
Intern, Williamson County Juvenile Services
Georgetown, TX
Jennifer Morgan, MS, LPC, ACAS
and Jetta
Private Practice, Morgan Counseling
Houston, TX
2019 AAC Academy Practitioners
Amanda Arriola, MA, LPC
and Cleo
School Counselor, New Braunfels ISD
Hill Country Heart Counseling
New Braunfels, TX
Cindy Brackmeyer, MEd, LPC, RPT
and Charley
Counseling of Austin
Austin, TX
Kaitlyn Coffey, MA, LPC
and Stout
Mental Health Psychotherapist, Menninger Clinic
Houston, TX
Emily Ellis, MA, LPC, LMFT, RPT
and Sullivan ("Sully")
Private Practice: Ellis Group Counseling
Harker Heights, TX
Kimber-Lea Raef, MA, LPC, RPT
and Fyrenz
Private Practice
San Marcos, TX
Kimberly Scott, MA
and Mr. Pricklepants
School Counselor, New Braunfels ISD
New Braunfels, TX
Hilda Statz-Baida, MA, LPC
and Pierre
Therapist, Crisis Center of Comal County
New Braunfels, TX
Lori Washburn, MS
and Loki
School Counselor, Pottsboro ISD
Pottsboro, TX
2018 AAC Academy Practitioners
Jenny Jacobs, MS, LPC
and Oreo
Private Practice, Therapy for Families
The Woodlands, TX
Wanda Montemayor, MA, LPC-S, RPT-S, ATCS
School Counselor, Austin ISD
and Private Practice: Community Art Therapy
Austin, TX
Judy Pfeifer, MS, LPC-S
and Manny
Website: Lifetime Christian Counselors, LLC
San Antonio, TX
Morgan Rupe, MA, LPC
and Rio
Website: Morgan Rupe, LPC
Austin, TX
Holly Sadler, MEd, LCSW
and Stella
School Counselor
Leah Walter, MA, LPC, LMFT Associate
and Junior
Georgetown, TX
Supervised by Kelly McCabe, LPC-S, LMFT-S
2017 AAC Academy Practitioners
Kris Allison, MSW, LCSW-S, RPT-S
and Sansa
Owner & Therapist, Allison and Associates
New Braunfels, TX
Carla Calderas, MA, LPC
Therapist, Calderas Counseling
Houston, TX
Anne Esquivel, PhD
and Archie
Website: Mind Works
San Antonio, TX
Karen Lee, MA, LPC
and Daemon
Therapist, Private Practice
San Antonio, TX
Nicole Lozo, MEd, LPC
and Andy
School Counselor, Austin ISD
Austin, TX
Nicole Lozo, MEd, LPC
and Meeko (guinea pig)
School Counselor, Austin ISD
Austin, TX
Jennifer Smith, MA, LPC-S, RPT-S
and Harvey
Collaborative Care Counselor, Texas State University Counseling Center
San Marcos, TX
Mary Stone, MA
and Wilson
School-based Counselor
Wimberley, TX
Kim Sullivan, MA, LPC, RPT
and Gordon
Website: Heart and Soul Counseling
Georgetown, TX
2016 AAC Academy Practitioners
Nancy Asher, MA, LPC, RPT
and Sofie
Website: Among the Trees Counseling and Play Therapy
San Antonio, TX
Amy Hutchinson, MA, LPC, RPT
and Cocoa
Website: Olive Branch Counseling and Training
Boerne, TX
Sarah Moreno, MA
and Zeus
Texas State Graduate
Jillian Zuboy, MA, LPC
and Cash
Website: JZ Therapy
Austin, TX
Kristy Donaldson, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S
and Willow
Website: Hope & Believe Pediatric Therapy
Waco, TX
Celeste Johnson, MA, LPC-S, RPT
and Vera Wang
Private Practice, Play Therapy Conroe
Conroe, TX
Melissa Whitsett, MA, LPC
and Stella
School Counselor, Austin ISD
Website: MW Pawsitive Counseling
Austin, TX