Paula has a Masters degree in Social Work and 17 years of experience doing psychotherapy with children and adults, families and groups.  She is certified by NARHA as a Therapeutic Riding Instructor.  She also has a CEIP - Mental Health certification. 

Paula began her life-long interest  in horses while growing up in Pennsylvania with a pony named Billy.  After marrying and becoming a mother of two, she received her Masters from the Aurora University's George Williams School of Social Work.  For many years, Paula worked for various agencies and a private practice in the suburbs of Philadelphia that employed close to 50 therapists.  At the time, she was driving 30 miles three times a week to ride her horse Ilsa.  After logging hundreds of miles and seeing hundreds of clients, Paula thought it would be great to combine occupation and avocation.

At the time she discovered the brand new discipline known as Equine-Assisted Therapy and the Allens bought a horse property in the North Country and Pray Road Stables came to be.