Sunlight Valley Farm

About the farm and us…

My name is Christy. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in working with children and adults who have survived trauma. We started Sunlight Valley Farm out of a passion to provide a place where beauty and purpose arise out of ashes.

Multiple times per week, I have the absolute honor of loving children and adults who amaze me. Trauma survivors are true Superheroes. Have you noticed? Picture one or more of your own heroes. Chances are, they have survived and grown through life shattering trauma. The more profound our struggles, the greater our potential for impact and purpose.

As a child, I watched my sweet mom overcome her own childhood trauma. Throughout her teen years, she lived on the streets in order to escape violent abuse which occurred in her childhood home. Fear ruled her world until the age of 16 when Mr. and Mrs. Hunt took her and her toddler son into their care. Through the Hunt’s my mom and numerous others found life changing love and healing. Her pain resulted in purpose and passion, kindness and a resolve to love others with the healing love she’d found.

Today, I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. David and I have 7 children. We share a dream to offer hope to child trauma survivors through animal assisted therapy. Most of our kids came to us through the gift of adoption. Following my husband David’s stroke in 2021, we’ve learned deeper resilience. Profound loss, trauma, and neurodivergent challenges, have deepened our resolve to offer hope.

Why Animals?  

Often, child trauma survivors learn that it is unsafe to connect emotionally. For a brain which has survived trauma, people may represent a source of danger. Animals can be a nonjudgmental place to experience emotional safety. Animals often sense our emotions and children can begin to learn how to recognize and respond to bids for connection from animals.

At our little farm, we have horses, pigs and a Newfoundland dog named Humfrey. Each has their own story. Stella, our newest addition, is a horse we adopted from Milly’s place- an equine rescue. (Check out their IG account here: Milly’s Place.) Stella is also a trauma survivor in the early stages of learning to connect and feel safe.

Why Equine Assisted Psychotherapy? Horses, being prey animals, instinctively recognize and mirror the “fight or flight” responses in trauma survivors. This natural intuition fosters a sense of felt safety, trust and healing, allowing participants to learn relational skills and emotional regulation through interaction with them. Horses provide an immediate, non-verbal connection that helps bypass some barriers to healing. They teach us about boundaries, communication, and trust—lessons that translate beautifully into human relationships.

Animals provide a safe place for children to learn to trust and connect- often for the very first time.

What SVF offers:

– Individual Sessions: Tailored to meet the unique needs of each child (or adult). We aim to build trust, self-esteem, and connection. I use art therapy, play therapy, and Animal assisted therapy and traditional Trauma-informed CBT.

– Parent training and support

Mindset:

At Sunlight Valley Farm, we believe everyone has the capacity to heal and grow. Whether you’re a parent seeking support for your child, an individual looking to find peace, or a professional interested in further growth, we invite you to explore with us how light can indeed shine brightest in the shadows.

Contact Christy:

Email: sunlightvalleyfarm@gmail.com

Text/call: 949-636-1020

Located in Valley Center, CA

Current availability: We are not accepting new clients at this time.

Due to safety and therapeutic considerations, we work with clients ages 9 and older

Support the mission:

If you believe in our mission and want to contribute to bringing more light into the lives of those who need it, consider volunteering, donating, or spreading the word about Sunlight Valley Farm. 

We look forward to meeting you and helping you—or your loved ones—dream again.

Experience with us how Light shines brightest out of the shadows.