Victoria Yoshen, Executive Director

vyoshen(at)windhorseimh.org

I grew up on the South Side of Chicago in the 60’s and 70’s, amidst the fear and turbulence of violence, while learning community organizing from my mother.  My high school was a “school without walls”.  I graduated college from Pratt Institute in New York City, where I truly learned how to see.  I then migrated to smaller cities and rural communities: The Interface Workshop Community in Boston, Apeiron Photography Workshops in upstate New York, back to Boston and the Boston Food Cooperative.  I found the cooperative dance scene and from that joined 9 people ready to build an intentional community in the western MA hills.  All of this time I was learning and using bookkeeping and management skills, a full spectrum of talents that small businesses need, contemplative as well as practical.  I was a co-founder of Earthdance, and then the Hilltown Cooperative Charter School, and many other civic endeavors (recycling, libraries, mother/daughter groups).  I joined the Windhorse organization in 2000, when Jeff Fortuna was the Executive Director, as the Administrative Director.  I supported two leadership transitions, with other jobs in between. 

Lisa Teague, Director, Admissions & Marketing

Prior to joining the San Luis Obispo team, Lisa was intricately involved with the Windhorse community for four years in various roles, including board member, parent of a client, and creator and director of a treatment team in Portland, Oregon, where she resided for 30 years. She has been actively engaged in mental health advocacy, fundraising and community building since 2005 and helped galvanize support of the Oregon Mental Health Parity legislation that passed in 2006. In her current role, she aspires to help raise funds for patient financial aid scholarships. From the perspective of both parent and professional, Lisa researched dozens of community-based mental health options before embracing Windhorse as an optimal approach for healing and recovery. 

Lisa's undergraduate studies focused on business and human resource management, in direct support of her 22 year career at Intel, Sequent and IBM. Her current educational pursuits have shifted to psychology, mindfulness and spirituality. She is especially captivated by the latest research in neurobiology and neuroplasicity and by the healing capacity of human relationships on the mind and the brain. Lisa is also a licensed massage therapist with a specialty in trauma, both physical and emotional. 

As a long-term cancer survivor, Lisa embraces holistic healing modalities, and she nurtures her spirit with nature, hiking, meditation, music, authentic relationships, and humor. She is an unapologetic optimist and feels grateful and honored to do this work.

Sherri L. Kimbell, M.A., L.P.C., PhD.c, Clinicial Director

Sherri grew up in the hills above Los Angeles. Within her family system she experienced the challenges of living with others who experienced “extreme states of mind” (commonly known as psychosis).

Sherri completed her B.S. in Conservation & Resource Sciences at the University of California at Berkeley in 1987, majoring in Environmental Law, Policy and Planning. She went on to become an environmental and social justice activist in the San Francisco Bay area for the following 10 years, leading Greenpeace U.S.A.’s Climate Change & Global Warming campaign out of the San Francisco office from 1989 to 1994.

During these years Sherri’s interest in counseling psychology developed further amidst the AIDS crisis and epidemic in the Bay Area. Sherri co-lead both short term and long term groups for HIV+ men for the AIDS Health Project in San Francisco from 1994-1998 as a result.

Meditation practice and the study of eastern philosophy was central to Sherri’s development since the age of 18.  During her years of environmental activism she studied amidst extended retreats with the Zen Master, Thich Nhat Hanh, her root teacher. Her desire to explore his teachings and “right livelihood” further led her to Naropa University’s Master’s of Contemplative Psychology (MACP) program in 1998. Sherri graduated from the department in 2001 and went on to Core Faculty on the Department Leadership Team and Co-Chair the department until 2008. During these years Sherri taught the Windhorse approach, based on Ed Podvoll’s root text “Recovery Sanity” to hundreds of student therapists in training. Concurrently, Sherri offered a private Contemplative Psychotherapy practice, specializing in diversity issues, which she continues to offer on a consultancy basis today.

With 13 years of direct work as a Senior Clinician with Windhorse Community Services in Boulder, Colorado, it is with delight that Sherri has now relocated to San Luis Obispo to become the Clinical Director.

  Sarah Carr, MA, Senior Clinician / Team Leader

I grew up in rural Massachusetts where I learned the healing and wilding aspects of nature amidst woods and cornfields at an early age. I obtained my B.A. in economics, with a minor focus in spirituality, from Holy Cross College in 1987. It was there that I began to see the relationship between the inner and outer worlds. Having been raised Catholic, I became inspired to study liberation theology and to work in the social justice movement at homeless shelters and amidst migrant farm workers. I traveled to Central America in 1989 with Witness for Peace and helped with fundraising for an international development agency. At this point, I migrated my attention toward creating change at the personal level and enrolled in Lesley University's Master of Counseling Psychology program. I graduated from there with my M.A. in 1993, a map in hand for the vast territory of mind and relationship.

My career path these past 18 years has been an interweaving of counseling, psychology, coaching and business administration. My work in the counseling arena has included at risk youth, single moms, trauma survivors, substance abusers, and those dealing with chronic mental distress in residential treatment settings, schools, private practice, and finally with Windhorse for 4 years at the Northampton, MA office. In the midst of that time, I discovered a deep avocation and passion for dance and other somatic practices and began to weave those into my counseling practice as well. I also developed an ever deepening contemplative practice that has greatly informed my inner and outer world views. Via these movement and stillness practices, I have discovered the profound power of community to heal and hold. I am grateful to be able to be part of the new community and dynamic healing conversation we are building here on the West Coast.

Stacy Schutten, Psy.D., MFT - Team Leader

Stacy Schutten, Psy.D., has studied and collaborated with a diverse community of healers, with a specific focus on intermodal therapies and group dynamics. She completed her Master’s degree in Psychology from California State University, Chico and her Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Psychology from Meridian University. Her Doctorate Clinical Case Study focused on adolescent anxiety and the implementation of intermodal therapies. Professionally, her last ten years were spent working within the residential intensive inpatient, school, and private practice settings.  She has done extensive expressive arts therapy groups and offered engaging staff workshops.
 
Stacy is passionate about her professional goals to increase the use of intermodal therapies in the healing arts and create a sense of community among healers and clients that invites collaboration, reflexivity, self-care, expressive arts, and creative ritual.
 
Stacy maintains that she continue her own growth just like she asks her clients to do.  Her personal growth involves continued work on reflexivity and also self-care, which involves hiking, drumming, singing, biking, health foods cooking, and travels.  She is committed to an ever-evolving implementation and research of new healing interventions and believes that collaboration and community are key to a joyous and peace filled life.

Coraline Robinson, LMFT, Team Leader 

 Upon completion of her B.A. at U.C. Berkeley, Coraline worked with the Veteran’s Workforce at Oracle Corporation and remained in the area for a few years conducting research on violence prevention in Oakland.

After returning from several years of wilderness exploration in the Southern Alps of France, Coraline continued her education at Cal Poly State University with a M.S. in Clinical Psychology where she conducted research on the evolution and practices of wilderness therapy for distinct populations.  Over the course of her seven years of residency here in San Luis Obispo, Coraline has worked in a group home for adults suffering from extreme states of mind, as well as at an outpatient clinic with those suffering from grief, trauma and addictive compulsions.

Introducing nature as a partner in healing, through wilderness retreats and daily mindfulness exercises in the outdoors, Coraline hopes to share balance and purpose with others while invigorating the senses.

Melodee K. Quiroz, MACP, Team Counselor

Melodee received her B.A. in Recreation Therapy from the University Of North Dakota, and just graduated with her M.A. in clinical psychology from Antioch Graduate Institute Santa Barbara.  Melodee has worked in the area of mental health for the past twenty years with a primary focus in the corrections and forensics population.  Her most recent work experience came from working in a community based organization with adults diagnosed with chronic and persistent mental illness.

With her experience in massage therapy, Melodee has mastered a variety of techniques such as, polarity, deep tissue, pre-natal, and acupressure, which has gifted her to be in touch with our bodies and sensitive to listen closely when they speaks to us.

She grew up in Minnesota and moved to California in 1998. Melodee has two boys with whom she spends most of her free time with. They each have a great love of the outdoors, animals, mountain biking, and camping which keeps each of them very busy.

Melodee has always been drawn to the practice of mindfulness and healing through relationship, and is very excited to be part of the Windhorse organization.

Pär Andréasson, Team Counselor

My family moved from Sweden to California when I was three years old.  I grew up immersed in both cultures, enjoying the diversity of traditions, languages, and ways of life.  I received a BA in Cultural Anthropology from UC Santa Barbara in 2000.  After graduation, I worked as an early elementary school teacher at a Seattle private school.  Working as a teacher inspired me to I follow my passion for psychology and the inner workings of the mind and relationships.  This led me to work for a year at a Camphill therapeutic day center and home in Trondheim, Norway.  The clients I worked with in Norway had a variety of different relational, substance abuse, and psychological challenges.  I found the supportive environment and beautiful surroundings to be extremely therapeutic for clients and co-workers alike.  After returning from Norway I worked for a year in Honduras as a first grade teacher, taught drum and guitar lessons, and worked as a carpenter and cabinetmaker.  Although I have enjoyed the variety of work I’ve been engaged with, I find working closely with clients in a therapeutic and supportive environment like Windhorse to be the most rewarding.   
 
I am currently finishing up my MS in Psychology at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.  I am writing my master’s thesis on the topic of self-compassion.  I also integrate contemplative practices in therapy at the Community Counseling Center where I work as a therapist-trainee.  I am very happy to be working as part of the Windhorse team!

Henry (J.R.) Chapman, Team Counselor

JR was born and raised in Maryland, right outside Baltimore and Washington D.C. He attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County where he received his Bachelor's in Psychology. Since graduating he has volunteered with Trauma groups in Baltimore City, and more recently worked as a case manager for a day program for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. A short time ago, he relocated to California with his girlfriend and Basset Hound. While on the West Coast, JR is hoping to further pursue Graduate School for an LCSW. He looks forward to learning more and becoming part of the Windhorse model and family.

Stu Wetherbe, Housemate Coordinator

Stu has worked at Windhorse since the fall of 2005. In addition to his role as housemate, he has been actively involved in training, supporting and advocating for housemates within the Windhorse organization.  Prior to his work at Windhorse, Stu established and ran three different businesses in the field of photography. He was a commercial photographer for 8 years before opening a commercial photo lab that he ran for 18 years. He left the photo lab to begin a career as a trainer and consultant in Photoshop and has taught throughout the northeast

Stu  survived 10 years of chronic depression and understands first-hand the recovery process.  Following his own recovery, he experienced a transformation that redirected his life towards growth and awakening through conscious relationship. His confidence in the reality of recovery combined with his focus on presence and healing through relationship form the motivating foundation of his work at Windhorse.

 Stu has a strong background in contemplative practice and has facilitated a  monthly dialog group for over 6 years.  A father of two and grandfather of one, he enjoys watching the Celtics play basketball, drinking chai in the cafe and playing video games.

Dana Franz, Office Manager 

Dana is a native of California, having been born in the San Joaquin Valley and moving to Orange County, at the age of 12, where she spent her teen and early twenties. She returned to the San Joaquin Valley to raise her two, now grown, son and daughter in a slower paced environment. She moved to the Central Coast in 2009, missing the ocean and admiring the soul, and healthy lifestyles of the people who also care deeply for each other, wildlife, and the environment. In her spare time, you can find Dana volunteering, traveling,  running,  yoga,  hiking,  cooking, wake-boarding, skiing, wine tasting, listening to music, attending concerts and spending quality time with her friends, family, and myriad of animals.

She is grateful to find employment with an organization that is truly passionate about its work for its clients, and employees!