Meet Kristi Miedecke

Expanded Board Candidate Profile

Candidate Responses

Expanded Board candidate application responses.

What professional experience/s has/have most shaped who you are today?

My experiences in law enforcement, mental health, and equine-assisted psychotherapy have each shaped who I am as a professional. Working as a police officer, including in Psychiatric Emergency Response, taught me the importance of meeting people in their most difficult moments with calm, compassion, and without judgment. Becoming a therapist allowed me to build on that experience and work more intentionally with trauma, first responders, veterans, and families. EAGALA has further shaped my understanding of connection, safety, and the power of experiential work. Together, these experiences have shaped a clinician who values authenticity, collaboration, and creating spaces where people feel understood.

Please share any experience serving on nonprofit, association, corporate, community, or volunteer boards—or other leadership roles you feel have prepared you for Board service.

My leadership experience includes serving as a Field Training Officer in law enforcement, where I was responsible for training, mentoring, and evaluating new officers while modeling professional standards and decision-making in high-pressure environments. As Clinical Director of Gaits to Healing, I have helped build and develop the organization from the ground up, including establishing clinical processes, developing programming, supporting volunteers and staff, and helping shape the organization’s mission and direction. These experiences have strengthened my ability to collaborate across disciplines, communicate effectively, make thoughtful decisions, and take responsibility for both day-to-day operations and long-term organizational growth.

What inspired you to consider serving on Eagala’s expanded Board of Directors?

I was inspired to consider serving on EAGALA’s Expanded Board because I believe deeply in the model and in the impact it can have when it is thoughtfully and intentionally applied. As a dual-certified Mental Health and Equine Specialist working primarily with first responders, veterans, and their families in Southern California, I have seen the value of experiential work firsthand. Building Gaits to Healing from the ground up has also given me a strong appreciation for the responsibility that comes with growing and representing an organization. I would welcome the opportunity to bring my clinical, first responder, and organizational leadership experience to EAGALA while continuing to learn from and contribute to the larger EAGALA community.

Looking ahead five years, what do you believe is Eagala’s greatest opportunity?

Looking five years ahead, I believe EAGALA’s greatest opportunity is to expand awareness and access to the model while maintaining the integrity of what makes it unique. I also see significant opportunity to invest in and support further research on EAGALA’s outcomes and effects. A stronger evidence base could increase credibility, inform best practices, strengthen partnerships, and expand access to populations who could benefit. Thoughtful growth grounded in research, quality training, and the core principles of the model can broaden EAGALA’s reach without losing what makes it unique.

What unique experiences, perspectives, or strengths would you bring to the Board?

I bring a perspective shaped by working across law enforcement, mental health, and equine-assisted psychotherapy. As a former law enforcement officer and Field Training Officer, I understand the culture, challenges, and barriers that can affect first responders seeking support. As an LMFT and dual-certified Mental Health and Equine Specialist, I bring both clinical and experiential perspectives to the work. As Clinical Director of Gaits to Healing, I have also helped build an organization from the ground up, giving me experience with program development, collaboration, leadership, and organizational growth. I would bring these intersecting perspectives to the Board while remaining grounded in EAGALA’s core values.

Describe a time when you worked with people who held viewpoints that differed from your own. What did you learn from that experience?

As a therapist, working with people whose viewpoints, values, experiences, and beliefs differ from my own is a fundamental part of my work. I regularly sit with clients who see their relationships, circumstances, or life experiences very differently than I do. My role is not to convince them to see things my way, but to understand their perspective, remain curious, and collaborate toward their goals. This has taught me to listen without becoming defensive, recognize the value of perspectives different from my own, and stay focused on shared goals even when there are meaningful differences. I believe those skills translate directly to effective board service.

What does stewardship mean to you?

To me, stewardship means being entrusted with something bigger than yourself and taking responsibility for protecting, strengthening, and thoughtfully growing it. It means honoring the mission and values of an organization while considering its long-term sustainability and impact. As a Clinical Director who has helped build Gaits to Healing from the ground up, I have learned that stewardship requires listening, collaboration, accountability, and a willingness to make decisions that serve the organization as a whole. I see board service as an opportunity to be a thoughtful steward of EAGALA’s mission, the integrity of its model, and the community it serves.

Is there anything else you would like us to know about you that isn’t reflected elsewhere in this application?

I bring both professional experience and a genuine investment in the EAGALA community. I care deeply about the continued growth and integrity of the model and would approach board service with curiosity, humility, and a willingness to do the work. I would be honored to contribute my perspective while learning from others who share a commitment to EAGALA’s future.

Areas of Experience

The candidate selected the following areas of meaningful knowledge or experience: