Welcome Emily Istvan, MS, OTR/L and PATH Intl. Certified Registered Instructor
Emily fell in love with horses at the age of 7 when her mother signed her up for a horse camp, and has been finding ways to "go out to the barn" ever since. In middle school, high school, and early college, Emily competed in amateur eventing and the local jumpers circuit in Pennsylvania with her horse, Auburn, and worked her way up the ranks in United States Pony Club, competing at the regional level and making lifelong friends.
When we asked Emily how she found out about therapeutic riding and PATH Inc. she said, “As part of my final year of high school (many moons ago!) we had to do a volunteer project. I grew up as a ‘horse person’ but hadn’t considered the field of therapeutic riding until I needed to find a place to do these volunteer hours! After week one, I was exhausted, muddy, and….I loved the work! All the instructors at this particular large center were PATH certified, so about 6 years after my first day as a volunteer, I went through my PATH training.”
While in college Emily realized that she wanted to become an Occupational Therapist and went on to receive a master’s degree from Thomas Jefferson University Center City Campus in Philadelphia, PA. She is now a licensed occupational therapist in New Jersey as well as a PATH Intl. Certified Registered Instructor. For the past 7 years Emily has worked in various settings including schools, medical daycares, outpatient pediatrics, mental health centers, and adult home health. Emily has specialty training in Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (an evidence-based intervention for managing Tourette Syndrome), and advanced training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Insomnia. Currently, Emily works as an OT in early intervention, building relationships with families of children ages birth to three, and walking alongside them as they work together to meet their goals.
As a horse-crazy kid….and now a horse-crazy adult who is raising a horse-crazy kid, Emily thinks the farm environment allows for so much growth and discovery that isn’t possible in the traditional clinic setting. This month Emily will complete the American Hippotherapy Association, Inc. Hippotherapy Treatment Principles – Part 1b.
We are excited to have Emily join our therapy team and she’s also excited to get to know the herd, volunteers, staff, and other therapists! Emily also smiled and said, “I’m looking forward to walking alongside my clients as they reach their full potential and gain new skills in a unique and dynamic environment!”
What does Emily do in her free time? Emily enjoys any opportunity to dust off her boots and get back in the saddle. She also enjoys hiking, running, camping, and spending time with her young daughter, husband, and rescue dog, Journey.
