Dr. Jaime Battestella-Williams

Licensed Professional Counselor

Dr. Jaime Battestella-Williams is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Trauma Therapist, and Certified Teacher specializing in Psychology and Equine-Assisted Mental Health. With over 30 years combined experience as an educator and therapist, Jaime combines principles of Psychology and Counseling with horse education to support goals for mental health and wellness at her farm counseling practice, Hit the Stars Learning with Horses. Jaime's work empowers people and horses to develop a strong sense of self and to strive to reach for their highest potential.

Prior to transitioning to a career as a Licensed Professional Counselor and certified Trauma Therapist, Jaime taught Psychology and English classes to many diverse groups of students in various settings. As a horse owner, Jaime became aware of the similarities of behaviors and experiences between horses and humans, particularly rescued horses and students struggling with adverse experiences. Jaime incorporated the connections between horses and humans into her Psychology courses to provide examples to further support learning and understanding of psychology content and principles, which inspired her passion for Equine-Assisted Mental Health and the creation of Hit the Stars Learning with Horses.

Each horse adopted by Jaime has experienced traumatic circumstances similar to those of many people who reach out for counseling services. Through connections with horses, humans can begin a healing journey to build self- esteem, worth, and acceptance to reach for their highest potential.