TEAM LEADERSHIP
Marcia “Annie” Prescott, PhD, CCS, CACII, CCJTS, HTCP, is a licensed Clinical Psychologist with the following credentials:
Certified Clinical Supervisor, Certified Addiction Counselor; Level II, Clinically Certified Juvenile Treatment Specialist and Healing Touch Certified Practitioner.
Dr. Prescott has been a clinician since 1979, starting her career as a Recreational Therapist. She has extensive clinical experience working with Adults who have been challenged with mental illness and substance abuse disorders. Further understanding how these issues have impacted families, Dr. Prescott wanted to help children and adolescents who have been exposed to trauma, neglect, and/or abandonment as a result of mental illness, domestic violence and/or substance abuse.
Dr. Prescott’s history with working in hospital settings, both inpatient and outpatient, along with her own private practice since 1993, has contributed to her expert clinical judgment by treating an array of stress related disorders impacting the human spirit. Because of her interest with helping children and adolescents who have been traumatized, it is her hope that she can provide guidance, support and inspiration, at an early age, before long term, acute mental health issues develop.
One of Dr. Prescott’s first passions was her love for animals. Being raised with dogs and horses, she developed a keen intuitive sensitivity that has contributed to her caring, compassionate nature for others. Providing a safe sanctuary here at Oakhill, participants can hopefully experience a connection with themselves in the presence of animals and within the beauty of nature. By using an integrative approach to psychotherapy, individuals have an opportunity to increase their self-awareness in a holistic way.
Adventure-based therapy to promote mind, body, and spiritual healing has been an aspect of recreation therapy. Dr. Prescott’s early vision to use horses in psychotherapy eventually was termed later as Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy or EFP, or Equine-Assisted Therapy. Oakhill offers EFP as an adjunct therapy to other modalities such as Psychomotor Therapy, Gestalt, Transactional Analysis, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness and Psychotherapy, Energy Psychology, and other meditative approaches such as Yoga, Tai Chi, and Chi Qong. Dr. Prescott’s unique integrative approach has helped many individuals find healthy ways to cope with life’s crisis or “opportunities” , leading them to experience a peaceful mind and a peaceful heart.
Donna McLemore Watkins is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist. She believes persons who are pursuing an improved quality of life can make cognitive and behavioral changes while developing an awareness of self and change self-defeating thoughts by tapping into innate strengths.
Her mission and passion is to share the experience of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, experiential therapy, and traditional approaches to improve the quality of life of others of all ages. Donna utilizes modalities such as Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, creative/play therapy, Child-Parent Psychotherapy, mindfulness/meditation, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, and Transactional Analysis. She utilizes metaphorical therapies such as sand tray, puppet, and art therapy.
Donna found her passion for horses 27 years ago. While nurturing this passion, she was able to experience the healing power of the equine experience while developing her interested in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy. She has extensively studied this and is certified by the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA). Donna is also a Natural Lifemanship practitioner. She has facilitated equine assisted learning and psychotherapy with adults, children, and adolescents through the juvenile justice system, members of the military through the Wounded Warrior Project, and clients with substance abuse issues.