About Us
Hi! I’m Haileigh Pettigrew
MS, LPC, NCC, CSC
the owner of Zoey’s Friends, LLC in Houston, Texas. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, play therapist, and also a school counselor in HISD. I provide individual, group, and animal assisted counseling to children, teens, parents, and young adults. It is my goal to provide a space for my clients where all feel safe and comfortable. I believe in an encouraging approach that is collaborative, empathetic, and respectful. I integrate play, activities, and my animal partner, Zoey, to assist my clients in their goals as well as cultivate growth, change, resiliency, authenticity, and healing.
Woof! I’m Zoey,
Haileigh’s certified therapy dog! I am a 6-year-old german shepherd, husky, pit bull, and blue heeler mix. I partner with Haileigh on certain days to work with clients and help them in their counseling journey. I am available to work with children, teens, adults, and groups. I have been trained alongside Haileigh at the Texas State University Animal-Assisted Counseling Academy. I am loving, playful, intuitive, and always up for some belly rubs!
“Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them, and filling an emptiness we didn’t ever know we had.”
– Thom Jones
What is Animal Assisted Counseling?
Animal-Assisted Counseling (AAC) is a process in which a trained therapy animal works in partnership with a mental health practitioner to help clients resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve growth using experiential and expressive techniques. AAC is utilized in counseling when the animal is a part of working toward a client’s clinical goals. This can be achieved by involving the therapy animal in an intervention, such as the client teaching the therapy animal a new skill, or the therapy animal providing comfort and support when the client is sharing something personal or challenging. AAC is used to enhance and complement the benefits of traditional therapy.
Qualifications
I am Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified School Counselor, and play therapist. I am currently hold professional memberships with the American Counseling Association (ACA), the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), and the Association of Play Therapy. I received a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas State University in 2013. I spent 5 years as an elementary school teacher in Dripping Springs ISD and Lewisville ISD. During and after those years teaching I pursued and received a Master of Science in Counseling degree from Southern Methodist University. During my time at SMU, I worked with college undergraduate and graduate students for career counseling and planning. I have since been an elementary school counselor in Coppell ISD (located in DFW), and in Houston ISD, where I continue to work today. While working as a counselor in schools, I have pursued training and credentialing in play therapy (credentialing soon to come). Additionally, myself and my therapy dog, Zoey, have been trained and evaluated through the Animal Assisted Counseling Academy at Texas State University.
This experience has led to me to my work with Zoey’s Friends to work with children, teens, parents, and young adults (ages18-30). Life at any age can be hard, with unforeseen challenges at any step, but I believe in your resilience. My role as your therapist is to help all you feel fully seen by offering an empathetic and non-judgmental space. I strive to create an environment that is warm, compassionate, and supportive as well as foster a space that welcomes the diversity that each of my clients bring. I enjoy collaborating with my clients to explore their life circumstances, feelings, challenges, and experiences so that they can come out of the other side feeling encouraged, confident, fulfilled, and connected.
“Dogs leave pawprints on our hearts.”
Unknown Author
Services
children
Play therapy is a developmentally appropriate approach that uses play for children to express their emotions and experiences. Play gives us the opportunity to support children by fostering an environment of connection and understanding. In play therapy we use toys, art, music, and activities.
Common Challenges
social skills
emotional regulation
self-esteem
limits & boundaries
problem-solving
anxiety & depression
trauma
grief
parental divorce
ADHD
friendship
teens
Common Challenges
relationships
transitions
parental divorce
anxiety & depression
grief
trauma
limits & boundaries
problem-solving
self worth
college & career exploration
moving
sexual/gender identity
self-esteem
ADHD
eating disorder recovery
Teen years can bring on new challenges. I am extremely passionate about providing a safe and reliable space for teens to develop resiliency and overcome their challenges. Counseling with teens can help improve their mood and cope with life’s stressors, as well as be an outlet for them.
parents
Are you struggling with how to support your child or teen? I can support parents alongside their children to provide optimal growth for everyone involved. Additionally, I provide advocacy services within public schools. My knowledge in school counseling, 504, and SpEd can be helpful when attending these meetings and help parents understand these processes.
Common Challenges
communication
setting limits & boundaries
emotional regulation
teen experimentation
ADHD
social skills
support & balance
tantrums
parental pressure
independence
navigating school SpEd, 504, and counseling processes
young adults
Is adulthood not all it was cracked up to be? Young adulthood can be a time of transition, newness, challenges, and finding balance. Therapy can help during these times where life seems too hard to handle and can provide a space to help learn balance, confidence, and bring clarity and connectedness to your life.
Common Challenges
transitions
career planning/ changes/loss
stress & finding balance
anxiety & depression
navigating relationships
emotional health
social & coping skills
trauma
grief
familial changes & demands
anxiety & depression
adult ADHD
limits & boundaries
withdraw & loss of motivation
Groups
I offer group therapy for children, teens, parents, and young adults. Groups provide a space for clients to discuss and explore their struggles together. Being a part of a group can create a sense of connectedness, interpersonal learning, provide opportunities to support one another, a decrease in feelings of isolation, and instill hope in times that seem hopeless. Groups will run periodically throughout the year targeting different areas of struggle. Look here to learn more about current group offerings.
Rates
Individual Sessions
$150 per 45-50-minute session.
Group Sessions
$100 per group session
Billing
Sessions are billed using a HIPAA-compliant credit card processing software for therapist. Your credit card will be stored on file and automatically billed for sessions.
To learn more about how billing will work, check out The No Surprises Act Good Faith Estimate & Consent Disclaimer for Health Care Goods and Services.
Insurance
I am an out-of-network provider for any insurance company and do not bill insurance. I can provide you with a “superbill” which you can submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement. All insurance companies are different, I suggest checking with your provider to know more about your mental health out-of-network benefits before scheduling an appointment.