Our Team
Our unparalleled, multi-disciplinary staff is comprised of professionals who are passionate about the natural wisdom of horses and their ability to promote human growth and change. All staff members integrate their certification in Equine Assisted Growth and Learning and the belief that deep self-understanding, and emotional intelligence are key components of happy, successful lives, relationships, and organizations.
Our invaluable team of Equine Facilitators come from a variety of backgrounds, rescued or rehomed to find their perfect place in the Stand InBalance herd. Each one helps people in their own special way as they bring their natural “horsenality” & “donkenality” to relating and connecting with humans.
Vallerie E. Coleman, PhD, PsyD (PSY12592) is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst who has been in practice for over 25 years. She is the founder, CEO, and Clinical Director of Stand InBalance and also maintains a private practice in Westlake Village, CA. Dr. Coleman combines her expertise in psychology, group dynamics, and systems with her love and respect for horses – maximizing the powerful capacity these magnificent animals have for facilitating human growth and development. Certified by both EAGALA and E3A [Equine Experiential Education Association], Dr. Coleman’s approach is grounded in a combination of attachment theory, somatic psychology, and object relations theory. She is passionate about the importance of Emotional Intelligence and helping leaders and teams create great workplaces and successful organizations.
In addition to speaking at conferences and leading workshops, she has been on faculty at Loyola Marymount University, the Newport Psychoanalytic Institute, and Antioch University. She was a guest expert on the Dr. Phil show and is a contributor in the book: Harnessing the Power of Equine Assisted Counseling.
Dr. Val's Ted Talk at TEDx Manhattan Beach
Dr. Val radio interview on Debra & Kellie, LA Talk Radio
Julie Sardonia, MA, LMFT (LMFT30656) is a licensed marriage family therapist who has been helping people improve their lives for 26 years. Following graduation from Pepperdine University, Julie was a Social Worker at Ventura County Children’s Protective Services, Program Coordinator for Vista Del Mar Hospital’s Assessment Services Department, and as a school therapist for The Thacher School and Ojai Valley School. From 2004-2015, Julie was the founder, director and therapist for Reins of H.O.P.E. (ROH), an Ojai based nonprofit serving at risk youth, active duty military, veterans, and their families utilizing Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Learning.
Since stepping down from ROH in 2015, she has been working as the Program Director for Veteran Farmers of America. A nonprofit serving our veterans and active duty military by connecting them to internships and job placements in the agriculture and farming industry. Most recently, Julie is a Primary Therapist at Passages Ventura Substance Abuse Treatment Center, and the Director of Integrative Insight services.
Libby Coufal, MSW, ASW (ASW111407)
and families. Libby has experience providing direct clinical services to youth and adults in various settings. Most recently, she worked
within the K-12 educational system providing trauma-informed individual
and group therapy to students and their families, as well as intensive
crisis intervention and grief support. Libby’s specialties and interests
include play-based therapy for children, trauma informed care,
experiential and somatic modalities, DBT, Narrative and Solutions
Focused therapy, work with the LGBTQIA+ community, and family systems
care.
Southern California and many of her fondest childhood memories are long
days working with the horses. With time, she began to recognize the
immense wisdom, healing power, and emotional insight that can occur
within the human-equine relationship; which lends itself beautifully to
the therapeutic process. Libby believes in a holistic, collaborative,
and anti-oppressive therapeutic framework. She utilizes a strengths-based approach to help each individual identify and move towards their own unique goals and find hope, health, and healing.
Juliann Crommelin, MA is a dedicated Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee on the cusp of completing her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy at CalSouthern University. Her academic journey has been fortified by a prior Master’s degree in clinical psychology from Ryokan University, complemented by certifications as an accredited ADHD coach and an alcohol and other drug specialist. Working in the mental health and addiction field since 2006, Juliann’s passion for understanding and supporting mental health led her to pursue specialized training and expertise in various areas of psychological well-being. With a profound dedication to her field, Juliann aspires to integrate her diverse skill set into her therapeutic practice, emphasizing a holistic approach to support individuals in their journey toward healing and growth. She works with individuals 13-65 years old, with a special affinity for working with those that are neurodivergent, adult children of alcoholics and new parents.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Juliann is deeply connected to the natural world and has a longstanding affinity for animals. A lifelong animal-lover, she discovered her love for horses at the tender age of 4, sparking a profound and enduring passion for horseback riding. Her devotion to understanding the human psyche is complemented by her understanding of the therapeutic value in the symbiotic relationship between humans and animals, which she is excited to incorporate into her practice.
Melissa Watte, MA, AMFT, APCC (AMFT142795, APCC15168)
Melissa is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist who is deeply committed to helping individuals, couples, and families overcome challenges and find healing for themselves and in their relationships. With a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary, as well as a Master’s degree in Intercultural Studies from Nazarene Theological Seminary, Melissa has a solid foundation in understanding different cultures and the importance of community. She has had over 12 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, both internationally and domestically, and has served in various roles such as direct client care, mentoring, and administration. Through these experiences, Melissa gained a deeper understanding of the unique needs and challenges faced by individuals from different and difficult backgrounds.
In her therapy practice, Melissa prioritizes creating a safe and non-judgmental environment where clients can explore their emotions and experiences. She places a strong emphasis on self-compassion and hope, believing that everyone has the capacity to heal and grow. Through utilizing equine assisted psychotherapy, Melissa aims to facilitate a gentle healing process for her clients. By taking this relational, somatic and experiential approach to trauma work and stress relief, Melissa recognizes the powerful connection that equines offer to restructure, retrain, reframe and restore our minds and bodies. Melissa holds a deep reverence for all that equines have taught her in her own life journey and believes that they are one of the best teachers for healing.
Hesper Colohan, lead equine specialist at Stand InBalance, is a certified Equine Specialist with Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) and a certified Life Coach with Life Coach Training Institute (LCTI). She also completed Co-Active Life Coaching curriculum through The Coaches Training Institute (CTI). Hesper has been working as a practitioner of Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) since 2012 when she worked with teenagers and adults in an in-house treatment center for drug and alcohol addiction and mental illness.
In addition to her mental health experience, Hesper has been a professional trail guide since 2004 working with a herd of between 60-75 horses (and their riders) in Griffith Park. While it was her own love of horses that brought her to that ranch, it was seeing the deep connection that her guests experienced with their horses that sparked her journey into life coaching through Equine Assisted Learning. Hesper is dedicated to helping people discover their most authentic selves through mindfulness, emotional congruence, and effective verbal and nonverbal communication. She is a firm believer that through guidance, support, and a little courage, horses can teach us how to navigate challenges on the pathway between our hearts and our minds.
Tiffany-Marie Austin, Office Manager
If you’ve called our main office line, you’ve most likely spoken with Tiffany-Marie. Tiffany couples her strong detail oriented organizational skills with her deep compassion towards others, and an effort to be as best of service as she can to our clients, upholding Stand InBalance’s mission to help make the world a better place one person, couple, family, and business at a time.
Associates:
Associates:
Natasha Filippides, PhD, Psy (PSY31549) is an EAGALA certified Equine Assisted Clinical Psychologist and a contributor in the book: Equine-Assisted Mental Health Interventions. Natasha spent her childhood around horses – beginning with the special relationship she had with her pony and progressing to training and competing in hunter/jumper and dressage disciplines. Her love of horses and human psychology are perfectly paired in her work at Stand InBalance.
Since she began working at Stand InBalance in 2009, Natasha has been an integral part of its growth and development. Her extensive background in Depth Psychology provides a unique approach, addressing underlying issues beneath symptoms to shift deeply entrenched patterns, behaviors and relational dynamics. Natasha’s particular areas of interest include working with adolescents and adults struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma (PTSD), social/relational issues, attachment related disorders, addiction and dual diagnosis. She specializes in helping clients that have found themselves stuck or plateaued in their journey of healing and growth. Natasha is currently accepting teletherapy clients and providing consultation services for clinicians seeking training in Depth Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (DEAPTM).
Debra Klumph is an EAGALA certified equine specialist who is also recognized in the world of equine wellness as a certified advanced level Equinology Equine Body Worker and Equitape Kinesiology Practitioner.
Debra integrates her knowledge of horsemanship and equine wellness to provide a wide range of learning for participants. She loves educating others about these magnificent, mystical beings and seeing the equines share their magic with clients in the arena.
An avid horsewoman and hunter/jumper competitor since childhood, Debra has a huge appreciation and respect for these amazing animals. She loves being able to help horses through her work as an equine wellness practitioner; it was in this work that Debra first found herself profoundly moved by the unique dimensions of the horse / human relationship and the healing benefits equines have to offer humans.
Stand InBalance Facilitators are EAGALA Certified. You can read about our team values here: values
Portraits by JennKL Photography & Gentile Images
Our invaluable team of horses and donkeys come from a variety of backgrounds, rescued or rehomed to find their perfect place in the Stand InBalance herd. Each of these amazing equines helps people in their own special way as they bring their individual uniqueness to relating and connecting with humans.
We pledge to honor and respect our equines as invaluable, sentient beings and team members.
Meet LUCIUS
He’s the big, handsome guy who loves to be noticed. Lucius has been with Stand InBalance since the beginning. He loves to play games and as our lead “stallion” he wants to have a say in anything and everything that is going on here at the ranch. His specialty is testing boundaries and checking to see if you really mean what you say and are worthy of mutual respect. Once you’ve earned his respect, he’s a sucker for a good scratch if you can find just the right spot.
Meet LADY
Lady is known as “The Great Teacher”. Her mystique lies within a soft heart, a coat black as night, and a presence that will captivate any soul who catches her eye. She has stepped into her role as our Lead Mare with grace, patience, persistence and a sage wisdom all unto her own.
Lady teaches us to pay attention and to listen; which was something she desperately needed in her previous life. A rescued Off-Track Thoroughbred (OTTB) Lady came to us with a significant amount of physical and emotional trauma. She can, and will, use her boundary cues in order to understand who you are and what you want from her right up front. Her wisdom teaches us about slowing down, acknowledging fears, practicing patience, showing respect and not judging a book by its cover. Once Lady sees that you’re willing to listen, acknowledge your own feelings and clearly communicate what your intentions are, then trust is possible, but not something to be taken for granted.
Meet COLBY
Colby wins the hearts of many. His sweet and willing disposition will have you communicating and having fun with each other in no time. He’s sensitive and can be a little nervous about the world at large, often looking to humans for reassurance. He likes to feel the connection with his human partners and once you let him know that you’re with him and will lead him to do fun things like walking or a good groom, he’s all yours. He teaches us about courage, boundaries, overcoming anxiety, and just being present in the connection.
Meet COOPER
Cooper is our Golden Boy and, despite his small stature, is a high ranking member of our herd. He speaks softly which can sometimes be misunderstood or not taken seriously – but make no mistake if he senses uncertainty or incongruence he will firmly plant his feet and stand his ground. Cooper often teaches people about clarity and the amount of energy needed to be effective. He also loves to show people how we can still be connected energetically even when not connected physically. Cooper is very patient and often will wait for people to figure out what’s really going on inside before reacting or making a move. For example, if you are working on setting boundaries by asking him to move away but his charm has taken over your heart, he will patiently wait for you to realize that even though your physical actions may be saying for him to move away, your heart is actually wanting him to stay.
Meet MISTY
Misty is our newest member of the herd and we are so happy to have welcomed her to the Stand InBalance Team! Misty comes from a racing background. She is what’s known as an Off-Track Thoroughbred (OTTB). What Misty has shown us in a short amount of time is her ability to be respectful while setting her boundaries and a willingness to learn new things. Integrating a new horse into an already existing herd can be tricky but Misty exemplified respect for the lead members, challenged some of the lower ranking members and ultimately made peace with everyone. Her ability to thoughtfully connect with the other horses and with people has been wonderful. As an older horse, her willingness to learn new things about being part of a team, a herd, and a family says a lot about her wisdom and the benefits of support she received since joining us.
Meet MAYBELLINE
Maybelline has a very nurturing and motherly nature. She loves to be loved on and will sometimes tell the others to go away in order to have all of your attention! She likes it when you are confident and sure about where you’re going, otherwise she will lead you some place else. Working with her is a great way to build up your courage and confidence and learn how to let go of worries and ground yourself before starting on the path together. She also loves hoola hoops and has been known to adorn herself with one if given the opportunity.
Meet BUBBA
Have you ever met someone who knows how to charm their way into your heart? …then you’ve met Bubba! One of our more outgoing Donkeys, Bubba is keen to see what you’re made of and whether you can have good boundaries and be loving at the same time. He’s curious about his human companions and will undoubtedly see if he can move you around or convince you to go the opposite way you thought you were headed. It’s a game for him and he LOVES to have fun! He knows how to smile, give hugs, and whisper sweet nothings in your ear. Bubba teaches us about how and where we get stuck and what it takes to get moving again.
Meet MILLIE & BELLA-ROSE
These two are often referred to as the “twofer” — two for the price of one. Where one goes, the other one (usually) follows. Sometimes they act like friends, a married couple, or siblings. They may be small, but each are mighty in their own ways. Bella likes to be the leader and has a little more of an outgoing “donkanality”. In the herd, BELLA has no problem standing up for herself should one of the bigger 4 legged’s want to push her around. She knows how to get her point across, especially at feeding time, even if she has to “yell” it across the yard. MILLIE, on the other hand, is a little bit shy and often looks to Bella for reassurance. However, she may surprise you – Millie has no trouble moving her little body to make her opinion known when she feels strongly about something! It can take a while to gain her trust and respect, but once she feels comfortable with a kind and gentle leader, she’ll feed off of that confidence and willingly team up with you, with or without Bella-rose at her side.
Meet LUNA
Our spotted pony of endless wonder. Luna loves to explore new things. Curious about the world around her, she is courageous and happy to try new things. Luna is also known for her naps…especially when it’s time to go to work. She has no problem trusting in the safety of her human partners to the point of literally laying down on the job right next us, talk about trust! She teaches us about the value of timely breaks and quiet solitude as measures of self-care, as well as the fun and excitement that can be had in new adventures of exploration.
Meet THELMA
AKA “Little Miss”. She may be tiny but she is MIGHTY! Thelma came to us as a rescue from a ranch that burned down during the Woolsey fires of 2018. She is an excellent communicator and uses her endless charm to get her wants and needs met. Thelma shows us that being assertive is necessary when living in a world of giants, and that it’s ok to be in connection without a lot of affection. She may look like a stuffed animal that is just there to hug and cuddle, but Thelma prefers a mutual understanding that cuddles aren’t the only thing that defines a relationship, before getting close to you. Once you show her that you respect her initial “no” signals, she’ll go anywhere you take her. Although she’s great at setting healthy boundaries, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have a lot of heart! Thelma is constantly being struck by cupid’s arrow when it comes to Colby. Where he goes, she goes…much to Colby’s dismay and delight! Thelma is amazingly fearless and she expects the same from all of us.
Meet Lucas, Wyatt & Taco!
Why have just 4 donkeys when you can have 7?
In 2022, we welcomed 3 miniature donkeys that we lovingly call “The Boys”. The trio has also been referred to as “pure love” because of how much they love being around people and each other. They are known to surround you looking for pets and ear scratches. Being surrounded by their love and support can feel like magic.
Meet Lucas: Lucas, the brown donkey, is the brother from another mother out of the 3 and he is not shy about getting his needs met. Typically he’s the first one to come and greet anybody and everybody who enters the arena with his subtle yet effective way of putting his head just under your hand showing you where you can start the petting. He’ll also “moonwalk” towards you for a butt scratch. He’s very clear. But what he’s most known for is tormenting his brothers with a cone trying to get them to play with it – which they often do!
Meet Wyatt: Wyatt has spots and can be the shyer one of the group…unless there’s food involved. He generally takes his time when getting to know someone. He’ll usually wait to see what his brothers think first before joining in. Despite his shyness, once he feels comfortable with you if you happen to be sitting down on his level, you might find yourself with a donkey resting his head on yours. He often rests his head on his brothers back and if he rests his head on yours, you know he feels safe with you. He’s the ultimate cuddler when he feels safe enough to be himself and he REALLY gets into a stretch whenever he naps on the ground.
Meet Taco: Taco is the epitome of “The Middle Child”. He’s not as shy as Wyatt but not as outgoing as Lucas. He reminds us to slow down on the approach when looking for connection. He’s the emotional support for his 2 other brothers. He’s the back Wyatt rests his head on most and is the first to respond when one of his brothers calls out. Taco can be outgoing and reserved at the same time. Often found next to his “twin” Wyatt he’ll still break away from him and seek out connection with someone else on his own, too. Often you’ll find him moving his brother Lucas out of the way in order to enjoy your pets.
In Loving Memory of Condina
Visit Condina’s Memorial Page here.
In Loving Memory of Cosmo
Visit Cosmo’s Memorial Page here.
