Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Carlino.
Hi Jackie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
It all started a long time ago when I was 12 years old and laid my hands on a deaf man, and he could hear again. I won’t bore you with the many details in between that, but I always felt in my heart that I was meant to help people. Unfortunately, I was trafficked by a man when I was young, and I had a lot of trauma in life that affected me. In my early adult years, I made some pretty bad decisions trying to deal with that trauma. Until one day, when something hit me, and I got help. That life-changing story will be shared in an upcoming book. In my twenties, I struggled as a single mom to finish college. In my thirties, after this wake-up, I went back to college and completed my master’s in counseling. I saw firsthand how much counseling could help change a person’s life. I wanted to help people who struggled as I had in the past. After college and many years of therapy myself, I got my degree. During my internship, I worked alongside Safe Harbor Counseling and saw so many teens and adults who struggled with ADHD, just like myself. I quickly realized that sitting in an office all day was not for me, and that many other people felt the same way. I started looking into equine therapy and even took a few courses on it. Then, since I already had a small 3-acre farm, I felt God telling me, when your internship is over, you need to start what I have called you to do. I already knew from age 12, and many other situations, that God’s calling for me was to help people. So shortly after I finished my internship, I opened Joyful Ranch Counseling. In the past two and a half years, God has truly blessed Joyful Ranch, and we have tripled in clientele and outreach to the community. Joyful Ranch Counseling is truly my calling in life, and I really enjoy helping people work through trauma in a unique way.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Some of the struggles of opening Joyful Ranch Counseling were that I had little to no start-up money. Just getting out of my internship, money was tight. I also had never owned a horse before. I started with one rescued horse, and some training classes, and now we have 4 rescued horses. The hardest thing for every non-profit charity is funding! Funding is something that creates a daily struggle. It is also very hard to get grants when your non-profit is less than 3 years old, I have been told. We do hold events to raise money. We have also tried to attend several events to achieve our goal. It is sort of a myth that all CEO’s of non-profits make good money. The truth is, we do not make any money unless we raise enough money. That has also been a challenge for my husband and I.
We’ve been impressed with Joyful Ranch Counseling, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Joyful Ranch Counseling offers a low sliding scale fee to make counseling affordable for everyone. We are so proud to offer services that help people manage today’s economy and get the help they need. We also rescue animals to use during the counseling session. We currently have 4 rescued horses, 2 rescued pigs, 10 rescued ducks, and many other animals that were donated to us. We strive to help people work through trauma, anxiety, depression, and more alongside these animals. We use the animals to help people feel connected in a way that mthey ight not have in the past. We also use the animals stories to help people through hard times. Jackie, the owner/counselor at Joyful Ranch Counseling, specializes in trauma and anxiety. Jackie has multiple certifications in trauma therapy and equine-assisted therapy.
We are known for having our 2 little therapy dogs, Max and Elle, with us at all of our events. Even in the Hulen Mall! People love to stop by and pet the dogs and talk to us about what we do! If you see bright colors, horse pictures, or small dogs, it is likely us! We are colorful, loud, and proud of what we do and how we are able to help others at a really affordable price.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Yes! The tapping solution is a great resource for anyone who is struggling with mental health. I personally have used this resource myself. I am also trained in EFT Tapping. I would also recommend Samaritans Well podcast on YouTube!
Our pastoral counselor, Kellie Ann, also has a podcast on YouTube called Graceful Warrior Ministries
Pricing:
- Low Income Individual session $40
- Regular Individual Session $60
- Group Equine Therapy $20
- Pastoral Counseling $40
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joyfulranchcounseling.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joyfulranchcounseling
- Other: https://givebutter.com/okByAB
Image Credits
All of these pictures were taken by me as a hobby photographer.
