Lisa has been on the forefront of mental health advocacy for much of her adult life. For instance, she helped galvanize support of the Oregon Mental Health Parity legislation that passed in 2006. Her passion for this work comes directly from her lived experience as a mother. Lisa researched dozens of community-based mental health options before embracing Windhorse as an optimal approach for healing and recovery for her son.

Lisa has been intricately involved in the Windhorse community for over a decade in multiple capacities. She served as a Windhorse board member before leading the start-up of the San Luis Obispo site in late 2010. A longtime resident of Portland and acutely aware of how underserved the Pacific Northwest is in terms of mental healthcare, she felt called to return to Oregon to create the Portland, OR Windhorse site in summer of 2015.  She has a deep love for creating therapeutic community, and has a special place in her heart for the clients and parents. She absolutely loves supporting clients and families during the admissions process.

Prior to Windhorse, Lisa’s education and career focused on business and human resource management at Intel, Sequent, and IBM. As a long-term cancer survivor, Lisa embraces holistic healing modalities, and after her career in high tech, she practiced massage therapy for 7 years with a specialty in trauma therapy.

In her free time, Lisa nurtures her spirit with nature, hiking, meditation, music, connecting with family and friends, and spoiling her regal Maine Coon cat. She believes in the power of humor to bridge connection and shorten the distance between two people. An unapologetic optimist, she feels grateful and honored to do this work. One day when she’s not completely consumed with Windhorse start-ups, she has a dream to travel.

A recent transplant to Portland, Daniel moved here with his spouse, Aika, and his energetic little mutt, Mochi, from Boulder, Colorado, where he spent the last seven years working as a psychotherapist, team leader and supervisor with Windhorse Community Services.  Prior to that, Daniel received his master’s degree from Naropa University.  There, he became grounded in the practice of meditation and the art of Contemplative Psychotherapy.

Daniel is interested in the Windhorse model as “relational medicine”—how being in genuine relationship with others can support one’s growth, mental health and overall well-being, for client and clinician alike, and how the contemplative aspect seats the work, especially when extreme states are involved.

Before dropping into the world of mental health, Daniel taught ESL in Poland and New York City and studied film production at Brooklyn College. He has a deep love and appreciation of movies, music, and literature and also loves to ride his bike around the city and take in all it has to offer, slowly.

Raised in New Jersey, Jenny graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Art History. In 2007, she received her Master’s degree in Counseling with an emphasis in Family Systems from San Francisco State University. Jenny’s lifelong fascination with people and her approachable nature led her to the study and practice of psychology. Even her childhood nickname was ‘the therapist,’ since family and friends knew she would always lend a compassionate ear.

Jenny began her career as a residential counselor at a group home for children ages 5-13 where she witnessed the profound effects trauma has on young children. In this reparative role, as a pseudo-mom, she began learning how to be with others through their pain and most importantly how to attune to what feels safest for people. Prior to joining Windhorse, Jenny continued her work in trauma and family systems in a variety of settings working with teenagers, adults and couples.

As an appreciator of the arts, Jenny enjoys going to movies, listening to music, attending local concerts and events, and wandering around the city, stopping to smell the roses and notice others in her community.

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.

Gabe is a clinical social worker with a particular interest in mindfulness and its relationship to well-being. Prior to joining the Windhorse team, Gabe worked for the Portland VA Medical Center for eight years specializing in mindfulness-based psychotherapies. Gabe has maintained a strong interest in meditation practice throughout his adult life, and lived for ten years as a residential Zen student at the San Francisco Zen Center before moving to Portland and pursuing a career in the mental health field.

A licensed clinical social worker, Scott has been working in the field since 2011. Prior to joining the Windhorse team, Scott provided therapeutic services for some of Oregon’s most vulnerable populations- most recently as child and family therapist supporting youth in Oregon’s foster care system, specializing in trauma informed care and attachment.

Scott brings a passion for social justice, equity and compassionate approaches to healing. He also brings over twenty years of experience in mindfulness and meditation. Prior to becoming a social worker, Scott lived at a monastery for seven years as an ordained Buddhist priest in the Zen tradition. Outside of work, Scott enjoys spending time with his family, making art and being active. He loves playing rugby, basketball and spending time on the many hiking trails in and around Portland.

Originally from Brooklyn, Fred spent his formative years in Florida and graduated from University of South Florida with a degree in English. Inspired after reading an article about Portland in Let’s Go Travel guide, Fred hopped on an Amtrak train and moved west 25 years ago.

After experiencing a life-altering event while working on a train in Alaska in his early 30s, Fred was drawn to Zen Buddhism and meditation to deal with chronic pain. He found the practice helped quiet his mind and provided much needed community in his life. While working with kids at Dharma Rain Zen Center, his teacher recognized his relational approach and encouraged Fred to return to school. He graduated from Portland State University with an MSW degree in 2015. Since then, Fred has worked as a Student Advocate with at-risk youth, as a Crisis Counselor at Project Respond and as a Child and Family Therapist at Trillium Family Services. Grateful for his path, he views social work as a way of giving back to the community.

A published poet, Fred spends his free time writing and creating abstract paintings.

Linnea received a double major in Literature and Sociology from ­­­Westmont College in 2007. Endlessly fascinated by the human story and experience, she continued learning through direct practice work across many systems and in 2013 earned her MSW with a concentration in Community-Centered Integrative Practice from University of Washington. At UW she focused her research on the impact of relational and ecological permanency in foster youth outcomes and developed an increasingly critical lens of the mental health system. 

Prior to Windhorse, Linnea worked for the Early Assessment and Support Alliance (EASA) for over 5 years; first as a therapist for those experiencing First Episode psychosis and later as the Clinical Supervisor in their EASA and Transition Age Youth program. Passionate about early intervention, she partnered with EASA participants and alumni to educate the community about psychosis and share their lived experience.

A student of the peer and psychiatric survivor movement, and holistic and radical mental health approaches, Linnea is dedicated to look beyond the orthodox medical model. Her personal values as well as training has oriented her towards an anti-racist, anti-oppressive practice, knowing that her growth is never finished.

Outside of work, Linnea loves creating and discovering new things, exploring the natural world, and spending time with her friends, spouse, baby, and pets.

Born and raised in Missouri, Eric earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Missouri in education and counseling psychology, respectively. He continued his studies at Binghamton University and received a master’s degree in social work in 2017.  Eric spent four years in New York City, working first as a frontline social worker, and then as a supervising social worker in the field of criminal justice. Eventually Eric, his wife, their dog, cat, and an unsettling number of house plants moved to Oregon seeking wide open spaces and a more outdoorsy lifestyle.

Though Eric has a serious bent to him, deep down he’s the silliest person you’ll ever meet and traces his charm and social niceties to his Midwestern roots. His therapeutic style is warm, curious, gentle, and encouraging. Eric strives to be a lifelong learner who synthesizes his training and experiences into genuine and helpful healing practices. To this end, clients have been his best teachers. In his free time, Eric enjoys running, hiking, board games, and anime.

Born in the foothills of the Blueridge Mountains in South Carolina, Mariah has bounced her way from coast to coast in her quest for education and a good story.  She received her BA in sociology from the College of Charleston.  It was while participating in an internship through the college working with people living in poverty and/or lacking permanent housing that Mariah found her path.  With the deeply held belief that every person has the right and need to have their stories heard, Mariah set off to get her Masters degree in mental health counseling from Lewis & Clark College in Portland.

Mariah completed her Master’s Degree in 2020, specializing in addictions, and with practicum experience working in community mental health.  Mariah’s own nontraditional background fed her desire to understand the wheres and whys of client’s lives, and in doing so, find a place of genuine warmth and trust with each person she encounters.  Mariah started as a counseling intern at Windhorse, but fell in love with the organization’s connective and empathetic approach to therapy, so stayed on to become a team counselor after she graduated.

Mariah is an avid reader and an amateur author.  She enjoys comedy, dancing, deep conversations with friends, and exploring Portland with her Seeing Eye Dog, Kiki.

Laura, a native of Silicon Valley, transplanted to the greener and more relaxed state of Oregon in 1998.   Long interested in the behavioral sciences, she studied psychology (biological and cognitive processes) and humanities at San Jose State University, earning a BA in 1991.  In her subsequent work in outpatient mental health and residential settings, she became increasingly interested in trauma and attachment as related to development.  After completing a MS in Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education at University of Oregon, her work focused on therapy primarily with children and families in the child welfare system, and later in community counseling.  Her continued frustration with prescriptive and often punitive systems of care helped give rise to her personal practice of mindfulness, acceptance and self-compassion, and a search for more holistic, client-centered services.  She is thrilled to have found Windhorse.

At home, Laura enjoys reading, experimenting with kombucha recipes, playing piano, and snuggling with her 14-year-old cat, Travis.  She also enjoys a regular yoga practice, which offers balance to the rigors of her late-discovered passion for roller derby.

Gabby grew up in Spokane, WA in a community deeply impacted by mental health. As a consequence, she’s had a lifelong desire to learn more about the experiences of others. Prior to Windhorse, she worked with adolescents at Trillium Family Services as a skills trainer.

Gabby earned a theater arts degree from Western Washington University in Bellingham in 2014. After graduating, her curiosity for expression and connection led her to study mindfulness and movement. Dance and yoga reconnected Gabby with her body and opened her mind to the intersection between one’s somatic nervous system and psychological trauma. She plans to return to school to study this connection more closely.

In her free time, Gabby enjoys hiking adventures, freestyle dance, creating art, reading novels about witches, and playing with animals of all kinds.

Originally from Virginia, a powerful draw to the Pacific Northwest brought her out west by way of Denver, Colorado and Northern California. A lifelong advocate for mental health awareness, Francesca received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Humboldt State University in 2013. While in school she worked with adults experiencing developmental delays, and was a research assistant under the guidance of Dr. William Reynolds, the chair of the Department of Psychology. Since graduating Francesca has worked in a wide variety of fields ranging from direct services in health services to hospitality and administration. In all aspects of life, she seeks to bring a sense of grounding compassion and honest connection.

In her spare time, Francesca likes spending time outdoors, listening to music, playing on aerial silks and lyra, and bonding with her cat, Kaya.

Jenn was born and raised in Northern New Jersey and has been in Portland for the last 15 years.  Jenn graduated from Felician University in Rutherford, NJ with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Art. She has a background in health supportive cooking and collaborated with holistic practitioners in designing menus and dinners that support the impact food has on mental health. Jenn has held counseling positions for mental health organizations where she was drawn to advocacy in workplace and provider wellness.  Currently, Jenn is studying somatic mindfulness psychology, with the Hakomi Institute.  She recognizes the power of getting curious about mind-body holism and that through loving kindness, slowing down, turning to and gently exploring the contours of consciousness, there is oftentimes the possibility to catalyze transformative change. Jenn is looking forward to co-creating safe spaces for others’ rhythms of care and pillars of wellness to be nurtured. Jenn enjoys engaging with literature, film and stand-up comedy. She can be found practicing the art of living simply with her partner and their golden retriever, Clyde.

Originally from the San Joaquin Valley in California, Trent attended Pepperdine University and graduated with a Bachelors in Business Administration.  Initially having his sights set on a career in agricultural operations, the tide shifted and through his own mental health challenges, decided to enter the mental health field as a Peer Support.  He enjoys listening to music, drinking tea, and playing rugby in his free time.   

Born in Honolulu, Lee was raised in the central coast of California. Seeking adventure, he headed South to work on a private yacht in Cabo San Lucas. As a teenager, Lee began working towards his goal of flying, first washing planes and then taking classes. He earned his pilot license at 17 and for a decade was a Gold Seal flight instructor. A lover of nature with an entrepreneurial spirit, Lee also co-owned a business selling eco-friendly products.

Lee began his career at Windhorse as a housemate in San Luis Obispo before moving to Portland to help launch the third location. With an eye for detail, Lee spends free time drawing.

David Cook received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, with a focus on contemporary dance, performance, and history. That experience gave rise to his belief that art (like recovery) is best done in community. David has co-taught performance with his twin sister ​as members of the mixed-ability dance company Buen Viaje. He has also been a Shambhala Buddhist practitioner for eight years and currently hosts a group for Young Meditators at the Portland Shambhala Center, facilitating practices in meditation and embodied listening. He loves to cook, bike, write poetry, and encourage others on their journey.

Ana was born in Israel and moved to the Portland Metro area when she was a toddler, where she has resided since. She completed her BS degree at Portland State University and her Master of Public Health at the Oregon Health and Science University. When she isn’t helping coordinate the office, she likes to make and play music around town with friends, as well as discover new delicious brunch spots and pet any cute dogs that may grace her with their presence.

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.

Originally from Southern California, Kelsee moved to Portland in 2011. Growing up, she had a natural affinity towards math, finding the definitive nature of math satisfying. A lifelong fan of Rubik’s cubes, Kelsee’s collection has surpassed twenty.

When she’s not crunching numbers, Kelsee and her partner, Charlie spend their free time with their newborn baby and their two kitties.