Victoria learned finance and management skills through work experience in small non-profits and owner-run businesses. Leadership she learned as she joined groups of people creating intentional communities, cooperative schools, multi-town recycling initiatives, and mother-daughter groups. Her family lived in Chicago where her mother was an activist and her father was an advertising executive. Victoria learned both skill sets and applied them as she lived in a community of dancers/anarchists, practiced spirituality in circles, raised children by the frequent art-project theory, and studied Non-Violent Communication. She has been involved with Windhorse since 2000. Currently, for fun, she volunteers at a small town library, borrows young children (art projects) and reads many books per week.

Phoebe 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. In her 9 years at Windhorse IMH she has served as a Team Counselor, Clinical Mentor, Team Leader, Intensive Psychotherapist, Community Yoga Teacher, Addictions Group Leader and Admissions assistant. Phoebe’s Bachelors degree in Philosophy from Kenyon College and years of training in body disciplines 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 worked in gerontology and in public mental health as a therapist and/or outreach team supervisor for over 15 years. Cat has been a member of a peer counseling community since she was a teen and has taught cocounseling for over 25 years. She is originally from Eastern CT (go Huskies!), lived for almost a year in Denmark, and found a profound sense of personal and professional kinship at Windhorse.

Before joining Windhorse, Jeremy worked as a psychotherapist in urban and rural community mental health clinics. He has also done milieu work with children experiencing emotional distress as well as children and adults with developmental disabilities. He has been practicing meditation since 1997 and giving meditation instruction since 2006.

Jeremy has an MA in Integral Counseling Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies, and a CAGS from Union Institute and University. He has received in-depth training in AEDP, Contemplative Psychotherapy, Gestalt, and other experiential approaches. Along with a number of Windhorse colleagues, he is currently participating in Deb Dana’s Rhythm of Regulation polyvagal-informed psychotherapy 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.

Born and raised in the South, Elaine headed west after graduating from College of Charleston in 1993. A self-proclaimed vagabond, she settled in Oregon and received her Master’s degree in sociology at Portland State University in 2000.

Elaine taught sociology at the university level for a few years before heading back to the Carolinas to be closer to her tight knit family. She fell into marketing for mental health programs unexpectedly—working first as an Alumni Coordinator for a residential program for adults, while supporting the outreach efforts of the organization. A natural “people-person” who doesn’t mind travel to far-away places, outreach felt like a perfect fit. Over the years of experience, her passion for helping families find appropriate care during stressful and uncertain times has only grown.

Elaine lives in Portland, OR but her role supports outreach for the entire Windhorse nonprofit. When she’s not traveling for the organization, you can find her outdoors—either hiking with her husband, John and their German Shepherd, Max or in her yard digging in the dirt.

Eric Friedland-Kays is a Senior Psychotherapist as well as Development and Outreach Manager 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.

Greg received a Master’s in Counseling Psychology and Substance Abuse/Addictions Counseling from Antioch New England Graduate School in 2002. Prior to his current position at Windhorse, he worked for 11 years in community mental health, treating a wide range of presenting problems and concerns. Greg has had a daily contemplative practice for 15 years, and has found this essential in relating to clients and co-workers in a beneficial way; since 2005, he’s been an active member of the Pioneer Valley Shambhala Meditation Center. He enjoys spending time with his wife, two young daughters and the family Black Lab, Lucas.

Kate has a masters in clinical social work (MSW) from Simmons College. She is interested in attachment based therapy, relational therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches and has been practicing Theravada and Tibetan Buddhism for over twenty years.

Kate enjoys spending her free time with her husband and young daughter. Together, you can often find them hiking, eating at restaurants, and visiting independent bookstores in the Pioneer 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 story-telling 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 is also a certified yoga instructor and teaches a weekly class at Windhorse. Outside of Windhorse, Katherine enjoys facilitating writing workshops for inmates at a women’s correctional center, arranging flowers, and running half-marathons.

Kyla is a graduate of Smith College School for Social Work and was an MSW intern at Windhorse. She has worked in community mental health, residential settings, and with homeless youth. Her background is in dance and movement therapies. She has been teaching yoga since 2006, and has also been a dedicated vipassana practitioner for close to 15 years. She believes in the healing and revolutionary power of rest and teaches resting yoga and meditative practices for wellbeing. She loves being at the ocean or in the mountains.

Angela moved to Western MA from Vermont in 2006, completed an MSW through Smith College School for Social Work in 2014, and has worked with children, young adults, and families in community mental health before joining Windhorse. Angela enjoys reading, playing board games, hiking, being near water, learning to cook new things and make new crafts, and wandering around New England with their little dog, Conner.

Kevin is a graduate of the Smith College School for Social Work and has been working in the field of human services here in the Pioneer Valley since 2014. Professionally, Kevin is interested in trauma recovery, neurobiology, gender expression, and depathologizing the human experience.  Personally, Kevin is an enthusiastic father, and during his free time he loves playing with his child and partner.  He practices qigong and engages in standing meditation.  Kevin also enjoys the outdoors, gardening, making art and music, and is excited to bring his skills and experience to the Windhorse community.

Elise received her Bachelor’s in Psychology at Mt Holyoke College and has over a decade of experience at Windhorse. She facilitates both the Hearing Voices and seasonal Gardening groups. She has practiced in Shambhala and Insight Meditation traditions, and has training in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. She loves mandalas, all things dog, growing flowers and food, walking and swimming.

Scott graduated from the University of Massachusetts in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. His questions about the mind and the human condition led him to meditation and other contemplative practices. He has since trained to be a RYT® 200 yoga teacher and a qualified teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and has spent the last few years offering mindfulness-based strategies to recovering addicts and alcoholics. Scott’s other interests include martial arts, robots and the future.

Ryan graduated in 2005 from Burlington College with a B.A. in Transpersonal Psychology. He has been a dedicated meditation practitioner for over a decade. He has worked as a hospice caregiver and formerly as a licensed nursing assistant 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 worked as a massage therapist for several years. He comes to Windhorse with an interest in becoming a LMHC, which he will be working towards at Westfield State University’s Mental Health Counseling graduate program.  He enjoys making music and finding stillness in nature.

Jonathan received his Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing at UMASS Amherst in 2008, and has specialized in mental health nursing. He has a previous BA in sculpture from Syracuse University which he received in 1991. He has been a massage therapist trained in deep tissue and shiatsu, Upledger CranioSacral Therapy I and II, and provided body-mind counseling and education based in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Levels I and II, which he completed in 2000. Jonathan has worked as a body-centered therapist and in support services since 1998. His work as a nurse and educator draws from these various body-centered disciplines, as well as dance movement, contact improvisation, authentic movement, tai qi yang style, and insight meditation. Jonathan continues to enjoy activities such as hiking, cycling, Pilates, and gardening. He also pursues photography, kiln-fired glasswork and sculpture.

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 and an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Southern New Hampshire University in 2018. He also has certificates/licenses in Psychosynthesis, WRAP, Peer Advocacy, and from the Boston University Recovery Workshop. 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 and Peer Social Hour, was a DMH consumer initiative grant recipient, trains peer counselors, and is completing Shambhala graduate level training.

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 recreate his own mind, first in the Windhorse community, and eventually in the wider world. He attended vocational training to become state certified as a nursing assistance and worked caring for the elderly for several years. Eventually, he found his way back to Windhorse where he now works as a Peer Counselor. He has returned to school and is working to build a career in mental health through education, passion, and firsthand experience. 

Bio forthcoming.

Andi has been with Windhorse since 2012 and is thrilled to be a part of an organization that has a strong focus on the individual, a strong community and superior leadership. When she is not working she is spending time with her family, singing, or playing in the outdoors.

Annie brings with her over 20 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 and currently volunteers there as a prayer chaplain. 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.

Liz moved to the Pioneer Valley to attend school and began working at Windhorse in the summer of 2016. Though she has since moved to Connecticut, the Northampton-area, with its rich culture, diversity, and access to nature, continues to be a favorite place of hers. She values the supportive role she plays to the staff of Windhorse and appreciates the strong sense of community and focus on mindfulness that are a part of the organization. In her free time, Liz enjoys knitting, reading, baking, hiking, and spending as much time with animals as possible.

Elycia, a recent grad from Elms College started 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.