About Our Licensed Therapists
Erin Vaillancourt , PT, DPT, HPCS
Founder/ Treating Physical Therapist
Erin’s passion for horses and horseback riding started at the young age of 7 years old and has continued throughout her life. She also became very involved with Special Olympics and working with the disabled in high school while volunteering with her sister, Megan’s, Special Olympics teams.
While performing her undergraduate studies at Azusa Pacific University she heard about Hippotherapy, and it was a perfect fit; a job that would combine her love for helping the disabled and passion for horses and being outdoors. Erin received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy degree in 2005 from the University of the Pacific, and has been practicing in the Gardnerville/Carson City area. She also performed a 6-week internship at the National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy during her studies, where she received intense training in the use of Hippotherapy as a treatment strategy. She has completed her Level I and II Hippotherapy coursework from the American Hippotherapy Association and completed her certification as a Hippotherapy Certified Specialist in 2014. This clinic wouldn’t be possible without the love and support of her husband, Chris, and her family. You will often see Erin’s entire family at the ranch helping with sessions. In their spare time, Erin and Chris are enjoying teaching their children Haley and Matthew how to love animals and the outdoors. Some of their favorite hobbies (besides horses of course) are rock climbing, skiing, and kayaking. The thing Erin loves about being apart of the Kids and Horses team is being a part of a team that is passionate about helping others through the use of a horse. Erin says, “It really doesn’t feel like work, and I love the entire team here.”
Erin and her horse, Cash
Erin Ontiveros
, PT, DPT
Erin was raised in San, Diego California. Erin graduated from Chapman University in 2006 with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT). As a young child she started riding horses. Her main events and disciplines were Hunter/Jumpers and Dressage. Erin and her husband moved to Gardnerville for the fresh air and the beautiful scenery, as well as it being the perfect place to raise their children with a simpler lifestyle. She has grown to love the people and especially loves having all four seasons! Erin joined the team at New Light Therapy in August 2019 and also works part time at Nevada Early Intervention treating children 0-3 years old.
Ali Latincsics, OTR/L
Ali was born and raised in Connecticut. She graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor's degree in allied health sciences and a minor in psychology. She spent 2 years working in special education, where she became passionate about child development and invested in pursuing a degree in occupational therapy. She graduated from Bay Path University in Massachusetts with her masters of occupational therapy in 2019. She is enthusiastic and committed to providing therapy services that allow for individuals to meet their goals towards independence through functional and meaningful activity. After finishing her coursework, she made the life altering decision for a change of pace and moved to the west coast. She now resides in South Lake Tahoe, California, where she enjoys all outdoor activities, yoga, hiking, and rock climbing in her spare time.
Cherlyn Ellis OTR/L
Cherlyn received her Bachelors of Science Exercise and Sports Science from University of Wyoming, 1996 and then received her
BS in Occupational Therapy from Colorado State University in 2003.
Cherlyn has a love for animals and has been around animals all her life growing up in Indiana, South Dakota and Colorado. She also has a passion for helping kids and has been a Special Olympic and high school coach, youth volunteer and foster parent. Cherlyn is now combining her love for animals and kids, as an occupational therapist, working for New Light Therapy at Kids and Horses. Fun Fact: Cherlyn loves the water! Her favorite animal is a shark, she enjoys being in or near water and spending time with her own little mermaid, Ariel, her cat. We are excited to have her be apart of our team!