Our Clinical Director
Terry A. Lewis, LCSW-C
Clinical Director, Therapeutic Riding Instructor, Psychotherapist
Terry was trained as a psychotherapist and has over 20 years of experience as a therapist and horsewoman. She received her Masters in Social Work from New York University and did her training at New York Hospital Cornell. She also worked at Yale Psychiatric Institute and specialized in treatment resistant adolescents, before moving on to doing outpatient community mental health work. After that she moved on to administration in Prince George's County, here in Maryland. Her experience working for Prince George's County included program development and oversight; planning, collaborating, and research of mental health services to children and adolescents county wide. She has written successful grants at the local, state, and federal (HUD) level.
Terry is a North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) certified therapeutic riding instructor and has presented at Horsepower, the premier national conference on equine facilitated mental health. In 1998 she was appointed by the County Executive to serve on the Montgomery County Commission on People with Disabilities, where she served two terms. Active in the Equine Facilitated Mental Health Association (a section of NARHA) she has also presented several workshops at national conferences on therapeutic riding and served on the national Standards Committee for equine facilitated mental health.
As if this weren't impressive enough, Terry completed a year-long apprenticeship with Linda Kohanov in November of 2005 called the EPONA Apprenticeship Program. Linda Kohanov is the internationally renowned author of the New York Times Bestseller The Tao of Equus. She is also a celebrated speaker, riding instructor, horse trainer, and innovator in the field of Equine Experiential Learning. Learn more at: Epona Equestrian Services .
Terry founded Great Strides in 1999 to fill a growing gap in the field of mental health services and address the need for creative solutions to the mental health crisis in our area. Since that time, she has been a leader in the field, an inspiration to her staff, and a powerful healer for those in need.
Terry is a deeply insightful and talented therapist and individual. Using her knowledge and understanding of the nature of the horse, Terry has helped hundreds of individuals, families, and groups work through their issues, gain new insight into their goals and desires, develop emotional agility, and rediscover hope, joy, and creativity.
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