Rocking Horse Rehab
A Pediatric Rehab and Family Wellness Center
Read on to find out what's happening at Rocking Horse Rehab!
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NJ Family  Favorite Kids' Docs 2016

Congratulations to our RHR 
therapists  who have been voted 
NJ's Favorite Kids' Docs 2016!

Sheri Marino, MA, CCC-SLP
Kathy Lutz, LCSW, CADC
Michelle Geise, OTR/L
Jennifer Vill, MA, CCC-SLP
Fiana Bezpalko, MS, CCC-SLP


Message of the Month: 
My RHR experience
By Nicolette Manresa


The time I spent at Rocking Horse Rehab was one of the most memorable experiences I have ever been a part of. I was an intern at Rocking Horse from September 2015 until June 2016 and it was the most rewarding experience of my college career. 

In my time spent at RHR I was able to create relationships with the entire staff including the horses which enabled me to really be comfortable enough to build relationships with the clients as well. Working with these incredible horses allowed me to be more conscious of myself in many ways which helped me to grow both professionally and personally. 

I would recommend this internship program to any prospective student of psychology, social-work, speech and/or occupational therapy. All members of the staff truly care about the impact they make which shows in their work ethic. This inspired me tremendously to be more creative with the children and gave me ideas of career paths I could build upon. There simply are just some things that cannot be learned in the classroom and of course nothing compares to hands-on experience. Whether I was grooming Small Fry or helping one of the children to do so, I found all the work at RHR to be extremely rewarding. This internship was a challenge that I learned a great deal from and I could have not been more grateful to be part of such a team!
  
Horse of the Month
Doodles

We started using Doodles a little over a year ago.  Since then, she has become our go-to Essex-owned horse.  Doodles has become a favorite among our staff because she is always willing to do what is asked!  She has a nice forward walk which gives a lot of input to our clients.  She loves to get groomed and have her neck scratched!  Doodles has been a great addition to our program and we are lucky to be able to work with her!
Staff Member of the Month
Georgia

Georgia started working for Rocking Horse Rehab in May 2015.  Since then, Georgia has become an amazing part of our staff, and has always been willing to come in when we need her!  She also grooms for Essex during the week.  Her favorite pony to lead for sessions is Doodles.

Georgia graduated from high school at the beginning of the summer.  She is taking classes at a local college for the year, while continuing to work with us.  Georgia has become an irreplaceable part of our team!

Georgia has grown a lot in her horse-handling skills since she started with us.  We are very lucky to have her!!
Hero of the Month
The Kid's Wish Network 

The Kids Wish Network has chosen Ashley to be the Hero of the Month!  Through her sessions with Small Fry and Que Boy, Ashley has been working hard to improve her attention, focus, and mood regulation skills.  She's been doing a great job - we are so proud of you, Ashley!  Congratulations!
Volunteer of the Month
Jackie

Jackie was one of Kathy's mental health interns back in the fall semester of 2015, coming to us from Montclair State University.  That year was a tough one; our interns had to survive one of the worst winters ever!!  Regardless of all the snow they had to endure, Jackie always had a smile and brought positive energy to our sessions.

Jackie loved working with our clients and brought so much positive energy to their treatment sessions.  We wish Jackie good luck in her future!!

To become a volunteer, email:

We are hiring!

Rocking Horse Rehab is looking for staff to join our team!  We are currently searching for speech, occupational, and physical therapists to take on some hours.  For more information contact  

Grant Money Available!

RHR is a recipient of a generous grant from the Italian Welfare League, an organization which assists children of Italian descent who are ill or have suffered an emotional trauma. Since 2001, they have raised and distributed over $1,500,000 to hundreds of children and organizations which provide services to children.  Their grant helps us to provide services for children of Italian descent who otherwise would not be able to afford our services.

Their recipients have many different diagnoses, such as brain injuries, autism, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome.  For more information on how to receive a grant for our services, please email us at:  carey@rockinghorserehab.com
Check out our partner: The Autism Think Tank

The Autism Think Tank, NJ  is designed to provide a multidisciplinary team approach to the identification and treatment of the complicated medical comorbidities of autism. The Autism Think Tank is comprised of leading  experts in autism from renowned teaching hospitals including Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital and UCLA. 

At the Autism Think Tank, the medical experts collaborate from around the U.S. in a video conference with local physicians and families to develop a cohesive plan of care for individuals with medically complex cases of autism. Medically stabilizing a child facilitates greater outcomes in behavioral, therapeutic and educational interventions. The Autism Think Tank  has a global reach as we are serving families internationally with the use of telemedicine.

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University Partners

Thank you to the following universities and colleges for providing us with wonderful student interns. We are honored to help influence their futures in the health professions as fieldwork educators.

County College of Morris
Delaware University
Eastwick College
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Felician College
Kean University
Montclair State University
New Jersey City University
New York University
Philadelphia University
Queens College
Rutgers Univeristy
Salus University
Seton Hall University
St. Catherine's Univeristy
Tauro College
University of Scranton
William Paterson University



  To complete an internship at RHR, email:

School field trips and individual treatment times available!

Rocking Horse Rehab is open 
Monday-Friday 10am-6pm 
and Sundays from 9am-5pm.

We have immediate openings for speech therapy on Sunday and Thursday  afternoons and occupational therapy on Monday afternoons. 

SCHOOLS: TO BOOK A SUMMER FIELD TRIP, CALL US NOW!

To request a client registration packet, email:

Mission Statement

Rocking Horse Rehab is a pediatric rehabilitation and family wellness center located within the Essex Equestrian Center in West Orange, NJ. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of individuals with special needs and their families by offering innovative opportunities for clinical, educational and social development. Our philosophy is to treat the "whole child" using equine assisted therapies with the expertise of our highly specialized staff.
 
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About our Founder
Sheri A. Marino, MA, CCC-SLP

Sheri founded Rocking Horse Rehab in September 2001. She is a pediatric speech-language pathologist who specializes in autism spectrum disorders. Sheri oversees program development and daily operations for RHR with the support of a dedicated, professional staff. She is the Executive Director of The Autism Think Tank, NJ, a non-profit, medical videoconferencing team for individuals with medically complex autism. Sheri  works directly with the Autism Think Tank families and physicians and  manages all fundraising, marketing and family events. In addition, Sheri is a consultant to the Focus For Health Foundation which is dedicated to promoting advocacy, education and research to combat chronic health issues around the world. 


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12-22 Woodland Ave. West Orange, NJ 07052