Brite Beginnings Focuses On:
Walking With You Through Grief
We may not be able to erase the pain, but we can help guide you from feeling “stuck” toward a place of relief and renewed strength. Grief isn’t limited to loss through death—it can emerge after a divorce, the loss of a job, a beloved pet, a significant move, or any life-changing transition.
Grief recovery is not about forgetting—it’s about moving forward, one step at a time, through your unique journey of healing.
I will walk beside you - through the pain, the doubt, and the quiet moments in between.
Pet Loss Support
One of my areas of focus is helping individuals navigate the deep grief that comes with losing a beloved pet. I understand firsthand the profound bond we share with our animal companions and the heartbreak that follows when they are gone. Pets are family, and their loss can leave an emptiness that is often underestimated by others.
Polyvagal Theory with Horses: Regulation Through Connection
At the heart of my work is the belief that healing begins with safety and connection—and few beings model that better than horses.
Polyvagal Theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, helps us understand how the nervous system responds to safety, danger, and disconnection. It explains why we might shut down, become anxious, or lash out—even when we don’t want to. More importantly, it shows us the path back to calm, connected presence.
Horses, by nature, are highly attuned to nervous system cues—their survival depends on it. Because of this, they respond not just to our actions, but to our internal states. This makes them powerful co-regulators and mirrors for what's happening in our bodies, often before we're consciously aware of it.
In our sessions together, we use ground-based (unmounted) interactions with horses to explore:
What safety feels like in the body
How to recognize when your nervous system is activated or shut down
How to shift from stress or shutdown into connection and calm
How your body communicates—without words—through posture, presence, and energy
How horses reflect back your nervous system and help you find balance
With guidance and support, these moments of awareness become opportunities for growth. You’ll learn how to “map” your own nervous system using tools like Deb Dana’s Polyvagal Ladder and practices from the Polyvagal Equine Institute. Over time, you’ll build the capacity to respond to life’s challenges with more clarity, connection, and compassion—for yourself and others.
Whether you're navigating grief, trauma, anxiety, or simply seeking deeper self-awareness, this work invites you into a space of non-judgmental presence, healing, and embodiment—with a horse by your side.
8-Week Polyvagal Ponies Program
This unique 8-week program blends Polyvagal Theory with equine-assisted practices to help participants build a stronger connection with their own nervous system through the powerful presence of horses. Grounded in the work of Dr. Stephen Porges and Deb Dana, this program offers a tangible, experiential approach to nervous system awareness, regulation, and healing.
Each session takes place in a calm, nature-based setting and includes guided interaction with therapy horses, mindfulness practices, and psychoeducation about the nervous system. Participants will learn to recognize their own physiological states (based on the polyvagal ladder), cultivate safety and connection, and develop personalized strategies for nervous system flexibility and resilience.
Core focus areas include:
· Understanding the autonomic nervous system and the polyvagal ladder
· Developing somatic awareness and emotional regulation
· Building safety and connection through co-regulation with horses
· Practicing grounding and presence through nature and movement
· Shifting patterns of fight, flight, or freeze into curiosity and calm
· Strengthening boundaries, trust, and self-compassion
This program is ideal for individuals experiencing anxiety, trauma-related symptoms, chronic stress, or anyone wanting to deepen their self-awareness in a supportive and embodied way. No prior horse experience is necessary. All work is unmounted and guided by a licensed therapist.
Grief recovery is not about forgetting—it’s about moving forward, one step at a time, through your unique journey of healing.
I will walk beside you - through the pain, the doubt, and the quiet moments in between.
Why Choose Me:
Therapy doesn’t have to happen in a sterile office or under fluorescent lights. My practice is rooted in a peaceful, nature-rich setting—with a quaint office nestled in the woods and the calming presence of animals close by. Whether we’re walking under the trees, sitting with a horse, or talking beside a therapy cat, the space is intentionally designed to foster regulation, connection, and a deep sense of emotional safety.
Clients often describe our space as "magical" and tell me they feel seen, grounded, and safe here—many for the first time in a long time.
If you’re looking for something different, something deeper, and a place where healing unfolds naturally—you’re in the right place.
I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 20 years of experience guiding individuals through some of life’s most complex emotional challenges. After earning my degree in Mental Health Counseling, I began my career in community mental health, supporting individuals struggling with addiction. I then spent eight years working within jail systems, providing care to incarcerated populations, before opening my private practice in 2018.
My greatest passions lie in grief counseling—particularly around pet loss—and in helping clients regulate their nervous systems to foster lasting emotional resilience and healing. I integrate animals into my therapeutic work, including horses, mini horses, donkeys, goats, dogs, and cats. I’ve personally experienced the profound calm, connection, and unconditional love animals offer, and I deeply believe in their power to heal. Throughout my life, animals have been a steady source of comfort and safety—especially during times when human connection felt out of reach. Their presence offers a unique, grounding connection that supports nervous system regulation, emotional release, and a deeper sense of peace.
I’ve trained with the Polyvagal Equine Institute, the Grief Recovery Institute, and EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association). I’m honored to walk alongside others as they navigate loss, trauma, and the many transitions life brings—helping them find meaning, regulation, and healing along the way.
Meet Heather:
Brite Beginnings Origin Story:
On January 1st, 2018 our community experienced yet another devastating loss in law enforcement. In an instant, countless lives were altered—some forever. And this pain… this “why”… is exactly why I am opening the gates to the next chapter: Brite Beginnings.
Named in honor of Dan Brite, whose story lit the path forward for me, Brite Beginnings offers equine-assisted psychotherapy and animal-based grief support to law enforcement, first responders, and their loved ones.
Bring us your sorrow, your silence, your exhaustion. Let our compassionate team—dogs, cats, goats, minis, horses, and me—help you rediscover the peace and connection that trauma may have taken from you. Let us walk beside you as you learn to believe again: that you can face each day with peace… and even joy.
Contact Us
Our Client Promise:
We promise to walk beside you—through the pain, the doubt, and the quiet moments in between. At Brite Beginnings, our mission is to create a safe, compassionate space where healing feels possible.
We are committed to helping you grow through life’s struggles, rediscover your strength, and gently move toward the life you envision. With the support of our team—two- and four-legged—you won’t be on this journey alone.