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.
2023 AAC Academy Practitioners
Samantha Clements, MA
and Mabel Jean
Round Rock, TX
Karen Jones, MEd, LPC-S
and Deuce
Golden Paws Counseling Services, PLLC
Austin, TX
Shannon Hamrick, MSW, LCSW
and Maggie
The Center for Integrative Counseling and Psychology
Dallas, TX
Connie Hernandez, MSW, LCSW
and Rose
Eliana's Healing & Counseling Services
Houston, TX
Claudia Ikonomopoulos, PhD, LPC-S
and Nala and Simba
Nueces County Juvenile Justice Center
Corpus Christi, TX
Jennifer Grant, MSW, LCSW-S
and Tucker
San Antonio College
San Antonio, TX
Melanie Lawson, MSW, LMSW
and Gertie
Olive Branch Counseling & Training
Helotes, TX
Haileigh Pettigrew, MA, LPC Associate
and Zoey
Houston ISD
Houston, TX
Rosalie Piedra, MA, LPC, RPT
and Teddy
Mindful Connections Counseling
Austin, TX
Gayle Rice, LPC
and Cooper
Hope Hospice
New Braunfels, TX
Kaylynn Schrandt, MSW, LCSW
and Rigby
Hays CISD
Buda, TX
Mistie Seawell, PsyD
and Cooper and Henry
Story to Heart - Narrative Therapy Solutions
San Antonio, TX
Jordan Ward, MEd, LPC Associate
and LuLu
Hope Counseling Center
Amarillo, TX
2022 AAC Academy Practitioners
Amy Blasingame, MEd, LPC
and Stanley
School Counselor, Dallas, TX
Diana Chavez, LCSW
and Sadie
School Social Worker
Austin, TX
Cindy Hammonds, MA, LPC-S, RPT-S
and Luci
Therapist, Spring, TX
Tiana Rapp, PsyD
and Luna
Psychologist, Acton, ME
Crystal Reese, MEd
and Benito
School Counselor, Manor ISD
Manor, TX
Heidi Schilling, PsyD
and Denali
Psychologist, Austin, TX
Heather Trupia
and Ahsoka
School Counselor, Hays ISD, Buda, TX
Kristen Turpin, MED, LMSW
and Hank
School Counselor, Manor ISD, Manor, TX
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
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< MA, LPC Associate
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, RPT™
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, RPT™
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, RPT
and Andy
School Counselor, Austin ISD
Texas Taproot Counseling, PLLC
Austin, TX
Nicole Lozo, MEd, LPC, RPT
and Meeko
School Counselor, Austin ISD
Texas Taproot Counseling, PLLC
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-S, RPT-S™
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: Premier Neurofeedback & Counseling Services, PLLC
Waco, TX
Celeste Johnson, MA, LPC-S, RPT™
and Vera Wang
Private Practice
Conroe, TX
Melissa Whitsett, MA, LPC
and Stella
School Counselor, Austin ISD
Website: MW Pawsitive Counseling
Austin, TX