Victoria started life and learning in an urban neighborhood in Chicago.  Then she followed her interest in art to 2 years at Pratt and walking all over NYC.  Then she followed her interest in less tension and moved to Boston, where she discovered dance and spiritual communities while being a bookkeeper. She was part of a group of contact dancers who moved out to Western MA and started an intentional community and dance center.  This community led to starting other projects – regional recycling, evolving consensus decision making, a charter school, expanding a library.  Windhorse has been her work journey since 2000.  She moved from fiscal manager to interim leadership to executive leadership when WIMH expanded.  She and Phoebe practice emergent leadership and all voices heard. During personal time: books, volunteering at a library, art, young children, walks, friends, music and films fill her hours.

Phoebe (she/her) received a Master’s in Dance/Movement Therapy and Counseling Psychology from Antioch New England Graduate School in 2003. In 2001 she was the first graduate student to intern at Windhorse IMH. Phoebe has served in many roles over the course of her 20 years at Windhorse IMH. She has been the Clinical Director since 2012. Phoebe completed the first 2 year training in Open Dialogue and Dialogical Practices offered in the US in 2013, as well as a 3rd year training to become a trainer of Dialogical Practices in 2020.  Phoebe’s Bachelors degree in Philosophy from Kenyon College, years of training in body disciplines, and deep interest in the healing potential of genuine dialogue, inform her daily practice of developing compassionate awareness, action and relationships, within the community of Windhorse.  

Cat received her Bachelor’s in International Studies from the School for International Training and Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Vermont College. She has been a member of a peer counseling community since she was a teen and has taught cocounseling for over 40 years and worked in public mental health as a therapist and/or outreach team supervisor for over 25 years. Having found a profound sense of personal and professional kinship at Windhorse, Cat particularly relishes working with Open Dialogue and other dialogic practices with families and other groups. Recently trained in the Safe and Sound Protocol, Cat’s work is also informed by Internal Family Systems, Polyvagal Theory and Motivational Interviewing.

Growing up in Colorado, Marcus developed a strong connection with the Pacific Northwest when he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington. Marcus served as a minister for 29 years where he developed a deep compassion for families in need and an ability to help them through times of crisis. This experience served him well when he transitioned to outreach and admissions work for several residential treatment centers. Marcus enjoys helping individuals and families discover resources that make healing possible.

Now living with his family in Oregon, mountains and music continue to inspire and refresh him. Marcus loves to explore the world and to write music about the wonders he discovers on that journey.

Jeremy grew up in Virginia in the northern region of the Shenandoah Valley. He has an MA in Integral Counseling Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies and a CAGS from Union Institute and University. Jeremy has received in-depth training in Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), Contemplative Psychotherapy, Gestalt, Polyvagal Theory, and other experiential approaches Jeremy is a Level II AEDP therapist, a co-trainer with Deb Dana’s Foundations of Polyvagal-informed Practice program, and he is currently in his first year of Hakomi professional training.

Mary began studying Buddhism and Psychotherapy at Naropa Institute in 1975, and received her Master’s in Social Work from Columbia University in 1991. She also spent three years on retreat at Karme-Choling. After receiving her MSW, Mary moved with her family to Amherst and began working at Windhorse in 1994.

Mary enjoys spending time with her children (now young adults), as well as reading, painting, photography, and yoga quests.

Eric Friedland-Kays is a Senior Psychotherapist as well as Outreach Coordinator at Windhorse, where he has worked since 2000. He earned a Master’s degree from the School for International Training and has been a psychotherapist for many years trained in Intensive Psychotherapy, Polyvagal Theory, Psychosynthesis, and Contemplative Psychology. He is also a Co-Trainer and Consultant with the Polyvagal Institute. Eric has been a meditator deeply connected with Vipassana Meditation, in the tradition of S.N. Goenka, since the early 1990s. He spent several years living in Japan and has traveled throughout the world. He is devoted to his life in Western Massachusetts with his wife and daughter, where they continue to further cultivate both self-reliance and a beloved community.

Kate received her Masters degree in Clinical Social Work from Simmons College. She has advanced training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Polyvagal Theory, and her work is also informed by attachment theory and mindfulness-based approaches. She has been practicing Theravada and Tibetan Buddhist meditation for over twenty-five years.  

Kate enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and dog Clover. You can often find them hiking, eating at local restaurants, and visiting independent bookstores in the Connecticut River Valley.

Currently a Team Leader, Katherine has played several roles at Windhorse over the years, including Housemate, Senior Housemate, and Stillpoint Co-manager. Katherine combined her interests in creative writing and psychology and how they intersect by simultaneously earning an MFA in Creative Writing and an Advanced Professional Certificate in Counseling Psychology from Lesley University. Katherine has also completed trainings in Polyvagal Training and Psychosynthesis. Katherine is a certified yoga instructor and avid practitioner, and she teaches a weekly class at Windhorse. Outside of Windhorse, Katherine enjoys arranging flowers, hiking, and combing antique stores and flea markets.

Ryan received his MA in Mental Health Counseling from Westfield State University. He has been a dedicated meditation practitioner for over 15 years. He has worked as a hospice caregiver for many years, supporting patients and their families through the dying and grieving process. He also has a certificate from the Psychosynthesis Life Coaching program and has previously worked as a massage therapist. He is a facilitator of an interpersonal meditation practice called Circling which he has introduced to the staff.

In his free time, Ryan enjoys making music and finding various ways to enjoy nature.

Sarah received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Bennington College. Since 2014, she has been dipping her toes in life at Therapeutic Communities including CooperRiis, Spring Lake Ranch, and Inner Fire. Sarah has had the unique perspective of living and working on the property at each of these communities, giving her deeper insights into the challenges and joys of the daily work that residents encounter on their journeys. Her work often includes animals, whether caretaking farm animals alongside residents or bringing her dog, Zoe, to join in community life on the weekends. She has enjoyed leading groups in her pastimes of knitting, drawing, writing, and hiking. Sarah is passionate about the work being done at Windhorse and grateful for the community.

Amy Hoopes (she/her/hers) grew up in a rural town in Northern Massachusetts.  She attended Hampshire College for undergrad, and quickly fell in love with the Pioneer Valley, where she returned to receive her master’s degree in clinical social work from Smith College.  Amy has experience working with clients of all ages from a diversity of backgrounds, primarily in long-term practice.  She has worked in inpatient, outpatient, and school-based settings and approaches her work with a social justice and trauma informed lens.  Amy utilizes relational and narrative theories to inform her clinical relationship and to center clients as experts of their own healing.  Drawing on insight from her own journey through the mental health system, Amy believes in sitting with, rather than fixing or medicalizing suffering, which means slowing down the pace and practicing self-reflection in all of her relationships.

When Amy is not working, you can find her hiking and skiing in the mountains, experimenting with new baking recipes, and playing with her kitten.

Jay (they/them) is a clinician and illustrator with a passion for creative, co-constructed approaches to learning and healing. After graduating Simmons College in 2015 with an MSW, they worked for seven years in community mental health, most recently as the Director of Community Services at the Brookline Center for Community Mental Health. They bring experience managing teams under pressure, advocating for social change, building adaptive programming, and cultivating a compassionate and trauma-informed environment.

Their meditative self-practice draws from Jewish tradition, including Chasidut, Kabbalah, and Yiddishkayt.

In their spare time they enjoy watching survival reality television, drawing, and picking up insects and amphibians while hiking. They currently reside on occupied Nipmuc/Pocomtuc land/so-called Florence, MA with their partner and two cats.

Nick (he/him) lives in Northampton with his partner, son, and two dogs. His colleagues describe him as “kind-hearted,” “honest,” and able to “hold all perspectives at once.” He loves walking very slowly in the forest, playing music, rock climbing, reading, sitting in meditation, and having spirited philosophical conversations about pretty much any topic (preferably over a long, delicious meal).

Before joining Windhorse in the Fall of 2021, Nick was completing his Ph.D. in philosophy at the University of Utah. His dissertation, which he hopes to someday adapt into a book, examines the ethical, logical, and practical relationships between biological explanations of extreme mental states (particularly addictive and substance use disorders), self-concept, social attitudes, treatment outcomes, and prevention strategies. He’s been a certified philosophical counselor since 2019 and is trained in harm reduction psychotherapy with a special focus on integrating challenging psychedelic or spiritual experiences. He continues to teach philosophy to university students with the same spirit of compassion and collaboration he brings to his work at Windhorse.

Lucy graduated from New York University in 2019 with a BS in Applied Psychology. She is currently continuing to pursue her education in Craniosacral Therapy and Herbalism through local apprenticeships. Lucy is passionate about care work that is radically centered in compassion and presence. Before joining the Windhorse community, she worked in several middle and high school settings, advising students and teaching classes based in arts, embodiment, and connection to land.

In her free time, she loves to dance and sing in community and take wanders in nature. 

Authentic  ‡  Big-hearted  ‡  Like a brother

Jeremy moved to the Northampton area in 2010 to attend Hampshire College. In the middle of his third year, he took a medical leave of absence to address his long-standing issues with depression, self-abuse, and anxiety. As part of that process, he found himself as a Windhorse client and worked for several years to heal, first in the Windhorse community, and eventually in the wider world. As part of that healing, he attended vocational training to become a state certified nursing assistant and worked caring for the elderly for several years. Eventually, he found his way back to The Windhorse Community as a Peer Counselor. More recently Jeremy has worked for Windhorse as the Community Coordinator, where he helps run events, groups and create opportunities within Windhorse for clients to develop work experience. He returned to school and finished his BA in psychology in 2023 and is currently making plans to attend grad school to continue his education in the mental health care.

In his spare time, Jeremy enjoys a wide range of activities such as cooking, video games, graphic novels, powerlifting, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Maya Janson brings more than 30 years of mental health nursing and 20 years of dharma practice to Windhorse. She is also a published poet and a lecturer in the English Dept. at Smith College. On the weekends during warm weather you can find her learning to sail on Narragansett Bay.

David earned a Bachelor’s from Princeton University in Psychology/Linguistics in 1987, an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Southern New Hampshire University in 2018, and a CAGS in Education from Northern Vermont University in 2021. He also has certificates in Psychosynthesis, WRAP, and Peer Advocacy, is a certified peer specialist, and is also certified as a Psychiatric Vocational Rehabilitation Practitioner through Boston University. David has been on the Board at Windhorse since September 1997 and Peer Educator since 2014. David was Windhorse Associate’s first client. He wrote “Sanity Recovered” in House Calls and “The Will To Recover” in the Psychosynthesis Quarterly. He has worked at a warmline, facilitates the Windhorse Writing Group, was a DMH consumer initiative grant recipient, and trains peer counselors. In addition, David has presented several times at ISPS-US conferences, the United States chapter of the International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis.

Lynn comes to Windhorse with over twenty years of nursing experience.  She also has great interest in the field of phenomenology and holds a master’s in psychology in existential/phenomenological psychology. Outside of Windhorse, Lynn enjoys  swimming, gardening hiking and dancing.

Colorful  ‡  Fun-loving  ‡  Swimmer and Bird Watcher

Annie lives in Northampton, MA but her role as fiscal manager supports the entire nonprofit. Annie brings with her over 30 years of fiscal experience gained from working in a variety of for-profit and nonprofit settings. She has served on the board of directors of her church. You might also see her contra dancing, selling her own unique line of handmade skirts, or singing for peace and freedom in the Amandla Community Chorus.

Elycia, a recent grad from Elms College started working at Windhorse at the beginning of 2019. She loves working in the Amherst/ Northampton area and becoming a part of a strong uplifting community. Working at Windhorse has given her the opportunity and support to excel in her new found career. When she’s not working she enjoys reading, enhancing the beauty of others through cosmetology, spending time with loved ones and making people smile.