Donna Maglio Brooks, LCSW
I am a licensed clinical social worker - supervisor (LCSW-S) in Texas, Virginia, and North Carolina. I received my Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Rutgers University in 2001 and my Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania in 2003.
I have been trained in a variety of equine interaction models, including my initial certification through the Equine Assisted Growth & Learning Association (EAGALA) in 2006 and qualify as both the mental health professional and equine specialist on the team.
After starting out in the k-12 New Jersey public schools, I opened Trinity Psychotherapy in Chester, New Jersey in 2006. I then partnered with my father, Tony Maglio, to incorporate the horses into my practice and operated out of his stables in Long Valley, New Jersey, where he served as the equine specialist on our team.
In September 2009, I relocated to Northern Virginia to be a part of the team that stood up the Virginia Wounded Warrior Program in Region 2. I also partnered with Pam Milner, equine specialist and owner of Windover Farm in Middleburg. Together, we formed SPIRIT Serving Veterans, a 501(c)3 organization.
In 2014, I relocated to Jacksonville, North Carolina and served as an embedded military and family life counselor at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and as a faculty member for the UNCW School of Social Work. I also became certified in 2016 as an Equine Interaction-Mental Health professional through the Certification Board for Equine Interaction Professionals (CBEIP).
In 2018, my family relocated to Virginia Beach, Virginia where I offered both traditional office sessions and equine-facilitated counseling. During this time, I became certified to offer career assessments using the Greenwood System 120 and became a Certified Integrative Mental Health Professional.
In July 2021, my family settled in Montgomery, Texas where I am excited to continue serving clients both in person and virtually. I was able to enhance my equine interation skills in 2022 by completing the Fundamentals of Natural Lifemanship Level 1 training. I was also part of the team that stood up the BRAVE program within the Defense Health Agency.
In October 2023, a position was created for me within University Health Services at Texas A&M University to develop a resiliency program for the Corps of Cadets. Currently, as the liaison for the Veteran Resource & Support Center, I am running a pilot program to increase mental health and wellness services for student veterans and military dependents. During this time I also completed Phase 1 of Brainspotting certification.
While I have many clinical interests and am comfortable working with a diverse range of ages, identities, and ideologies, ultimately, my goal is always the same: to help facilitate positive change for those who are seeking to improve their lives.