Dr. Kathleen Broughan - Founder & Executive Director, Clinician
Dr. Kathleen Broughan is a clinical and sport psychologist, licensed in South Carolina and Tennessee. Dr. Broughan has over 30 years of professional experience, including 20 years of EAP practice. After earning her PhD from the University of Tennessee, she began her professional career with the Helen Ross McNabb Mental Health Center. She subsequently founded Child and Adult Clinical Associates, a large private practice she owned and managed for over ten years.
In 2005 Dr. Broughan moved to South Carolina and paired her two passions- psychotherapy and horses in the creation of Lowcountry Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy, a 501 {c} 3. She has continued in the capacity of the Executive Director and service provider since that time.
Dr. Broughan has worked with a wide variety of client populations, including adults, at-risk children and teens, and families. She has extensive experience treating a range of psychological difficulties, including trauma, PTSD, ADHD, Attachment issues, Depression, Anxiety, and Eating Disorders. With a specialty in trauma treatment, Dr. Broughan is a provider for the Lowcountry Firefighters Support Team. In that capacity she provides services for emergency personnel and their families. Additionally, she has recently developed a specialty in military services, providing mental health services to active duty military, veterans, and their family members.
Dr. Broughan served as a forensic expert and expert witness to the state and federal courts in a variety of criminal and civil cases. She developed a particular expertise in the area of domestic violence and presented the first ‘Battered Woman Syndrome’ testimony allowed into evidence in the State of Tennessee.
In addition to her skills as a psychologist, Dr. Broughan is an accomplished horsewoman. She has been riding and training horses since high school. In 1998 she was awarded the United States Dressage Federation’s Silver Medal. In 1999, she was a credentialed equestrian sports psychologist at the European Championships in Holland. In 2000, she served as the team psychologist for TEAM ISRAEL in Israel’s bid for an Olympic spot. Dr. Broughan was featured in the My Life column in the May, 2006 issue of Practical Horseman Magazine.
Rex Kingsley - Equine Specialist
Rex initially began working with Lowcountry Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy as a volunteer 3 years ago. In the Fall of 2019 he was certified as an Equine Specialist by EAGALA and then attained his EAGALA Military Designation in 2020. Retired from the Navy after serving 27 years, Rex is well acquainted with the culture and pressures of military life and is keenly interested in providing quality services to Veterans and their families.
Rex is an essential member of the LEAP Military Services Team, and due to his years of military service, he is highly credible with our veteran population. In his capacity as a Master Chief, Rex managed a large number of sailors - he is now able to use his experience and expertise in working with our adolescent clients as well. Rex is unique in his ability to be practical and get things done, while still being highly sensitive to the feelings and needs of others. His many years of leadership and management experience in the Navy has carried over into his role as an equine specialist, as he understands the importance of creating motivation and better strategic thinking in our clients.
Rex is an equine specialist with a lifetime of experience with horses. His sensitivity and ability to connect with our therapy herd lends itself to an affinity for working with them effectively in a therapeutic setting.
As a volunteer, Rex quickly transformed our ‘adequate’ facility into a highly functional and aesthetically pleasing treatment facility. Rex continues to volunteer his time and resources to maintain our stables and grounds (he can fix anything!), and plans and supervises specific projects.
Dona Kingsley - Clinician
Dona is a retired US Navy Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman. She completed 23 years of active-duty service. After retirement, Dona went back to school and completed her undergraduate and graduate studies in counseling, and then became a Licensed Professional Counselor. Initially, Dona provided services in the areas of domestic violence and substance abuse, then found her ‘dream job’ as a Military Life Counselor. In this capacity she worked with active-duty military personnel and their families around issues arising from their experiences secondary to being in the military during a time of war. As an MFLC, Dona had the opportunity to travel the world and work with her first love, the Military. It was like being back home!
While pondering her second retirement, Dona met Dr. Kathleen Broughan at LEAP and was introduced to equine-assisted psychotherapy. Returning to Okinawa to work with the Marines and their families, she researched Equine Therapy and was fascinated by the work that was being done. Upon her return to the states, Dona joined her husband Rex and became certified by EAGALA in order to join the LEAP team. She subsequently was designated as a Military Provider through EAGALA and is now an integral part of the LEAP Military Services Team.
Although Dona had little experience with horses when she joined LEAP, and has a healthy respect for them, she quickly learned to work with them as therapeutic partners. Experiencing first-hand their powerful potential to help clients access internal issues and to facilitate change, she is now able to incorporate them in doing what she has always felt is one of the biggest purposes of mental health- to help people find their own unique answers and solutions to their challenges. The horses are experts at this and Dona is amazed and impressed every day at the beneficial effect that working with the horses has on our clients.
Jana Freston-Mendenhall - Equine Specialist
Jana was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. She grew up around horses and was a barrel racer as a teenager. Jana graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Utah, where she also played softball. She later attained her Master of Arts in Architecture from the University of Utah and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.
Jana ‘migrated’ to Santa Cruz, California, where she raised her four children. During that time she managed and co-owned a trail riding business which featured gaited horses.
Jana was certified as an Equine Specialist by EAGALA in 2004 and worked with Dr. Beverly Kane of Horsesensei in the Bay Area. Jana has a background in Natural Horsemanship. When Jana moved to the Lowcountry, she connected with Lowcountry Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and recertified with EAGALA. Jana has also recently become a certified Equine Specialist through ARCH (Arenas for Change).
Jana has been an integral part of the LEAP team for several years. She previously served as the barn manager where she trained and managed the LEAP volunteers that care for the therapy herd. Today, she continues to serve LEAP as an Equine Specialist with the LEAP treatment team and assists in caring for the LEAP horses.