Jess Fry

Master's Level Intern; Level 1 Trained in Natural Lifemanship (Trauma-Focused Equine Assisted Psychotherapy)

“There will always be a reason why you meet people. Either you need them to change your life or you’re the one that will change theirs.” ~Angel Flonis Harefa

Jess’ family has been around horses for many generations. Growing up on a farm, she was always exposed to horses, particularly rescue horses, and witnessed them recover from their own personal traumas in a safe environment. As she rode horses when she was young, she felt a sense of security and regulation. 

 

Being around animals in general has always given her a sense of peace. When she started her counseling career, she knew that she wanted to incorporate animals into her counseling sessions. The world of equine assisted therapy is one that is quickly growing, and it immediately piqued her interest. She started to learn about the biological and somatic experiences that equine assisted therapy provides for people and found that she really enjoyed these different techniques compared to regular office sessions. She believes that equine assisted therapy offers a whole new approach to healing and recovery by helping individuals create safe and healthy bonds with horses. These bonds become extremely powerful and provide an immense sense of comfort as people are in their most vulnerable state of mind but also help people reflect on their healing journeys and personal growth.

 

Jess graduated from Elizabethtown College in 2020 with a BS in Biology and a concentration in education. She started her career out by teaching high school biology and forensics; Jess decided to transition into the mental health field and currently attends Lebanon Valley College to earn her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. In addition, she is in the process of earning a trauma counseling certification through LVC and Natural Lifemanship certification.  Jess is passionate about counseling teenagers and young adults, particularly those with trauma-related, depressive, anxiety, and bipolar disorders.

 

To contact Jess, email her at Jess@TakeHeartCounseling.com, or call/text 717-473-7754.

What Horses Did For Me...

Horses really helped me reflect on my personal growth throughout life. They have shown me that I am a strong, capable, and confident person.

Going through Natural Lifemanship, I began to value the connection and relationships even more and understand why I felt such security around them. The horses at Take Heart have helped me appreciate the feeling of a true animal-human bond. To me, feeling this bond is one of the most wholesome experiences because it makes you feel so attuned with the natural factors around you. It is a humbling experience to recognize when horses have chosen to make a connection with someone outside of their herd, and even species.