Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacqueline Lauko.
Hi Jacqueline, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I have always loved helping people through animals! Growing up with a single mom, we didn’t have many pets, so I would work at local farms and ride for free! I also had a dog walking business to have some “dog time.” Once I moved out at 18, I immediately got a boxer/pit mix (Skye) at the local shelter! This was the first therapy dog I trained myself and used in my first therapy job at age 25! When I started my practice in 2014, I named it after her “Skye.” In my last year in high school, I volunteered for the special needs department, which is when I fell in love with working with Autistic children! I became a special needs para educator and helped found a program called the SACS program for kids with Autism in the public school system of Wilmington, NC. I had to move away to AZ to attend my master’s program as my program at UNCW wasn’t accredited, so that was hard, but it all worked out!
I adopted my first 4 y/o rescue horse at age 21 and trained him myself as he had been severely abused and didn’t trust anyone. As a volunteer at the equine rescue, he came to trust me, and I was able to adopt him! He is my heart and soul, which is why I named my model of equine-assisted psychotherapy after him The Icarus Model, ts. I started my practice in 2014 after working as a head social worker at the largest free-standing psychiatric hospital. I was overworked and undervalued. I wanted to give the clients more of what they deserved, but I could not do that. Many of the therapists I reached out to help these clients didn’t call me back, so when I opened my practice, I strived to be cutting edge, non-cookie cutter, and on it! I founded Skye Therapy Solutions in 2014 and hired my first employee in 2016. Since then, I have become pretty successful in my area, typically holding a 6-month wait list due to demand in my specialty area. I specialize in anxiety, ADHD, Autism, and sensory processing concerns. I also practice neurodiverse therapy, so we don’t see the clients as “sick or needing to be healed”; instead, we see their strengths and work on those! Autism isn’t something we need to cure. It is something we need to embrace and understand better. It is just like everyone else in this world. We must figure it out ourselves before we can be happy and healthy!
In 2020 I founded my trade secret model of equine-assisted psychotherapy called The Icarus Model. Since then, I have trained new counselors, and life coaches around the US in this model. I am currently conducting a research study on this therapy model to prove its effectiveness scientifically. There is very little research in this field, so I hope to change that! I also run water retreats on paddle boards and hiking retreats in the winter. I have an Autism program where I work with clients on their social skills, job skills, life coaching, etc. I take them out into the public to assist with challenging situations. I also run therapy and social skills groups every week. I’m a board-certified clinical supervisor who also consults with other counselors.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Ha! Not at all! Financially it was so hard! I had to work full-time through college to pay all my expenses and then work to pay to move out to Arizona as a teacher’s aide, making 18k a year. That was hard for me. Once I moved to AZ, I had to work 3 jobs to pay for my lifestyle. I remember not having enough gas to get to my first job in AZ, so I had to use change in my car. My mom always believed in me and taught me to work hard, so I always thank her for that. When I was 5 she told me I would have an amazing life helping people and animals, and I did that!! So many kids don’t have the career support they need to pursue their dreams. I taught riding lessons, cleaned houses, ran riding clinics, pet sat, worked at the psych hospital, and even picked up overnight shifts to make more money. I also worked out and rode my horses every other day to stay in shape, as physical health is important to me! I like to say my ADHD helps with my energy! That was a struggle, too, as I wasn’t diagnosed until age 18. The new therapy I did help me to overcome testing and the trouble I had learning so that I could do better in college and grad school! I had to work and study much harder than most of my peers. I was able to pass the national boards the very first time, which was an accomplishment for me! I am now a nationally certified counselor!
I was diagnosed with EDS (Ehler Danlos Syndrome), which took a toll on me when I turned 30, so I had to enter into an exercise program to continue being active (riding horses and hiking). When I started my practice, many people didn’t believe I could make it work b/c I had so many far-out ideas. But today, I am living proof that I could make it work!! I am so lucky to have so many doctors, agencies, and clients support me!! I live the life of helping others through fun therapies, which is what I have strived to do my entire life, so these little struggles were worth it!
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Skye Therapy Solutions, PLLC?
We are a cutting-edge agency that strives to help our unique population in a neurodiverse way! We offer individual therapy, group therapy, life coaching, social skills groups, outings, retreats, parenting skills, consulting, and training in The Icarus Model of equine-assisted psychotherapy. We will do whatever our clients need to be successful. I have even hired certain guests for my group therapy and Autism program to meet the needs of the current clients. We have had personal trainers, horse yoga instructors, sound healing instructors, bird therapy, swim therapy, face your fears series, self-defense trainers, and a DJ. I also run a career day where I hire providers to come and talk about what they do for a living which lines up with what my clients are interested in, so they can ask questions and see if it is a good fit! The DJ came for 2 clients interested in becoming one, and the DJ ended up taking on one of my clients as her intern! I have seen so many positive outcomes with my clients that I can’t ever see myself retiring as I love this life. I say life b/c this isn’t just a job for me. It is my life! I only have 2 interns right now b/c it takes me a year to train my new employees to ensure they are a good fit and have the skills to offer this upper level of therapy. I also must ensure they are Empaths and can read our clients very well to help them! We work with children and young adults, so they must have the skills to read non-verbal cues and adjust themselves to what the client needs. I want people to know we go above and beyond and will get results! I am always honest about prognosis, and we do progress evaluations monthly to ensure we are getting somewhere!
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting.
Get a mentor, a great business attorney, and a support network! Don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do. Practice ethically and get a lot of professional advice. Get a lot of insurance for equine-assisted therapy as there is a lot of liability and the insurances you “need” are convoluted.
Contact Info:
- Website: skyetherapy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icarusmodel1/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skyetherapy1
Image Credits
Julie Freeman (horse, dog and me together and me hugging my horse on him), Eric VonBargen (most others) , Erin Perre (person in between 2 horses)
