Aligning Heroes' Strengths with Horses’ Freedom for Healing
Soul to Soles Connection, a 501 (c)3 organization, is dedicated to reducing the impact of trauma in America’s active-duty military, Veterans, first responders, and their families. We provides FREE ground-based counseling, with horses, at our farm in Mooresville, NC.
America’s heroes and their families have made innumerable sacrifices for our freedoms. Soul to Soles Connection strives to never turns away someone who has the courage to ask for help. Participants, suffering from trauma, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) or Military Sexual Trauma (MST), are offered the time and space to heal.
The experiential nature of working with horses, engages the active/retired military and first responders in their own healing process, reaching solutions that meet them squarely on their own terms. This approach reduces the symptoms of trauma, while rediscovering confidence, compassion, and trust.
What makes this work POWERFUL & EFFECTIVE for military clients?

NOVEL & ENGAGING
Nature is a non-traditional setting that helps service members and first responders move beyond the preconceived stigma that can be associated with talk-only therapy and office visits.

BREAKTHROUGHS
Horses are highly-in-tuned animals, who offer safe reflection and compelling feedback for the anxieties that military clients may be facing. This unique sensitivity helps clients understand their own internal processes more readily than hours of talk.

HERD DYNAMICS
Horses live in herds. Observing the herd dynamics can help clients better understand the dynamics of their own family, military unit, and community. This provides immediate feedback and a positive model for collaboration, support and trust.

FOSTERS RESILIENCE
Mental health with horses provides opportunities for service members, first responders and their families to rediscover their inner resources and strengths. They can overcome perceived obstacles and grow in their unit, communities, and homes. The experience is felt throughout the entire body allowing for healing!
ON THE RADIO:
PUTTING THE PIECES BACK TOGETHER PODCAST – EPISODE 17: KATIE STANKIEWICZ WITH SOUL TO SOLE CONNECTION
Putting the Pieces Back Together is a radio show hosted by Veterans and seeks to provide a space where Veterans and communities can connect, be heard, grow, heal, and ultimately put the pieces back together. Join John Gallina and Brad Borders of Purple Heart Homes every Tuesday morning on Putting the Pieces Back Together!
DONATE TO SOUL TO SOLES CONNECTION
America, especially the active and retired military, is entrenched in a mental health crisis that demands ACTION. When service members return home, all have experienced some level of trauma, with less than half receiving adequate mental health treatment. The number of Veterans receiving mental health care has increased 90% from FY 2006-2019. Yet, approximately 22 veterans die by suicide every day, which is 2 times more likely than civilians.
Soul to Soles Connection is committed to respecting the integrity of those who fought and continue to fight for our freedom. We are driven to “Stomp the Stigma” around mental health, specifically within the military and first responders, through individual/couple/family counseling sessions, closed groups, and retreats. Clients have NO cost for their sessions, as we receive funding from donors, sponsors and grants.