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Hello!
I'm Kathy Shepard.
For much of my life, I tried to be who I thought others wanted me to be. In shaping myself to fit in, I lost connection with myself. Over time, dishonesty, distrust, and the lack of conflict resolution I witnessed in relationships left me questioning what was safe. and trustworthy
My search for healing led me into massage therapy, life coaching, and eventually equine-assisted (Equus) life coaching. It also led me into a deep spiritual search through the study of scripture. That study provided a moral compass and helped ground me in a clearer understanding of who I am and the kind of person I want to be. Along the way, I discovered that by questioning my thoughts and beliefs, I could shift my perspective, reconnect with my body’s wisdom, and begin rebuilding trust with myself.
Working with horses deepened this process. Horses cannot pretend, and they hold no bias about who we are. Their responses offered a clear and honest reflection, allowing me to see myself with greater awareness and compassion.
Through this work, I began to experience something that had long felt out of reach — an understanding of the relationship I was having with myself and how deeply it influenced every other relationship in my life.
I had never been taught that it was okay to honor and nurture that relationship. For much of my life, I believed care and validation needed to come from outside of me, and that treating my own needs as important was selfish.
What I came to understand instead was that it is possible to honor yourself while still caring deeply for others. In fact, tending to your own well-being often allows you to show up with greater presence, compassion, and authenticity in the relationships that matter most.
For more than thirty years, my professional life has been rooted in the healing arts — first through bodywork, and later through life coaching and experiential work with horses. My work today brings these experiences together, creating spaces where people can slow down, reflect, and begin to see themselves and their lives with fresh perspective.
I don’t claim to have life all figured out. I continue to walk this path myself. But I have experienced the meaningful shifts that happen when we begin to question old beliefs, reconnect with the body, and listen more closely to the wisdom that emerges through awareness and experience.
It is an honor to partner with individuals who find themselves in a season of change — offering a grounded, compassionate place to pause, explore, and move forward in a way that feels more true to who they are becoming.
Inspired by the transformative nature of this work, I pursued Equine-Assisted life coach training as follows:
2019 Koelle Institute for Equus Coaching | Certified Equus Life Coach
2020-21 Certified Equine Wisdom Integration Method Life Coach
2022 The Center for Equus Coaching | Certified Master Facilitator
Mission Statement
To facilitate healing for the body, mind, and spirit. To assist individuals in finding clarity, confidence, and a new perspective when addressing the challenges holding them back from leading an authentic and intentional life.
I believe that life is happening for us, not to us and that obstacles are opportunities for us to rise above our current circumstances through growth and healing. Because when we know better, we can choose to do better.
A Few Fun Things About Me
I have been married to the love of my life since 1983, we have 3 amazing children who have blessed us with 5 biological and 4 bonus, amazing grand children.
My husband, Dean and I choose to take a 5000 mile, 3 week motorcycle trip to the east coast to celebrate 40 years of marriage.
My happy places are with my family, being around fresh water, the smell of a horse and hearing the laughter of a child.
With over 30 years of experience as a licensed, board-certified massage therapist, I’ve worked with major corporations in the Kansas City area and with professional and collegiate-level athletes.
"The horse is not here to reward your ego, to compete with you, to punish you, to control you. The horse responds to who you are, how you feel, what you think and what you do. The horse is here to enable you to learn how to be a better you—and that is a blessing."
- Joanne Verikios