Dimitri grew up on the central coast, attending the University of California, Santa Barbara and California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, for his B.A. and M.S. degrees in psychology, respectively. After school, he worked for a number of nonprofit organizations in the area utilizing mindfulness and resiliency-focused model of therapy to enhance a client’s life experience and life meaning. He has also worked in a local private practice where his approach has been, above all, to create a supportive, soulful place where people can tend to their lives in a way in which they feel fulfilled and nurtured.

Dimitri believes in relationship as the foundation of healing and attempts to integrate this into his work and everyday life. He finds a stability and sense of grounding in the beauty of the landscape of the central coast, integrating the ocean and the coastal mountain range into his practice of mindfulness and sensory awareness, as well as utilizing these as a resource for helping individuals find their own roots and balance.

Dimitri is blessed with three active boys and a wonderful wife who help remind him not to take life so seriously, to show up with his true presence, and to enjoy being in relationship with others.

As a California resident for her entire life, Dana enjoys and appreciates the natural beauty and wonder the intimate central coastal community of San Luis Obispo offers. Dana received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California Davis, conducting research on emotional intelligence and attachment, along with the impact trauma may have on the mind, memory, and perception. Dana later went on to receive her Master of Science degree in Clinical Psychology from California Polytechnic State University, in San Luis Obispo. With the knowledge and wisdom, coupled with her genuine tender heart, Dana went on to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist; providing compassionate care and intensive psychotherapy to individuals suffering with and recovering from extreme mind-states and trauma related experiences.

After several years working at non-profit organizations, and opening two private practice offices on the central coast, Dana’s appreciation for the importance of deep connection and community led her to the Windhorse community. It was here, within this therapeutic community, that Dana was able to more fully integrate her academic background, years of clinical and psychotherapy experience, and her personal contemplative study and practice.

Dana has a strong contemplative approach to interpersonal relationships, engages in ongoing personal and professional study in the field of contemplative psychology, and maintains a deep commitment to her own personal self-reflection and growth through her contemplative practice. Dana believes having compassion for self, and being willing to understand one’s own mind, allows for a greater capacity to recognize another’s suffering and therefore provides a deep compassionate presence to others. While immersing herself in her community, both personally and professionally, Dana’s family has grown over the years, as she is a wife and mother of three young men. It is with her innate appreciation and respect for community, intimate connection, and family, that Dana has chosen a lifelong path of personal and professional growth and healing.

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, marketing 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.

Having discovered the mental health benefits of both hiking and gardening; you can find Elaine in her spare time somewhere deep in the woods with her husband, John and their German Shepherd, Max or in her yard digging in the dirt.

Gerry Marr has been immersed in the healing arts since the early seventies. A product of experimental education since high school, he studied Gestalt and Polarity Therapy as well as metaphysics. He was an instructor of various Body Therapy modalities for years. As founder of the Touching Aids Massage Project, Gerry trained Massage Therapists to work with people living with Aids, providing hundreds of individuals with massage at no charge for nearly a decade. Gerry has studied and practiced Tai Chi Chuan for over 40 years, teaching since 1980. He offers a weekly Tai Chi group for the Windhorse community.

Ongoing studies of Polarity Therapy ultimately led to pursuit of a Masters Degree in depth psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. Gerry worked at CALM, Child Abuse Listening and Mediation, for ten years. His traineeship included individual, group and family therapy for survivors of abuse and domestic violence. He provided Intensive In-Home Therapy and worked with the Spirit Wraparound Team in conjunction with Santa Barbara County Children’s Services as a Child and Family Specialist.

The contemplative approach and spiritual environment drew Gerry to Windhorse. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist.

Michael Harris was raised in San Diego California. After completing high school, he moved to the gorgeous country of Panama, where he was able to engulf himself in a different culture and experience. It was there that Michael contemplated his future goals and aspirations, which led him to pursue his education in Psychology. After returning from Panama, he completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. He is currently studying at Cal Poly, as a second year student in their Master’s Program. Although Michael’s goals are directed at completing his schooling and becoming a professor in Psychology, he still finds the time to explore the stunning central coast of California, and soak in the benefits of being part of the great outdoors. It is along the California coast were Michael is able to find balance and peace away from his daily stresses.

Born and raised in San Luis Obispo County, Lacey graduated with her Master’s Degree in Psychology from California Polytechnic State University. She moved south and began her career in San Diego County, where she had the opportunity to grow and experience a wide range of clinical opportunities. In addition to offering psychotherapy to adults, Lacey has worked with children and adolescents, providing educationally-based wellness counseling in the schools of San Diego County.

Her strong love for her family and home county of San Luis Obispo eventually brought her back to the central coast in 2012. Since returning, Lacey has maintained a private practice and has worked within the Foster Care system and Conditional Release Program. Lacey holds a strong belief that having even one single, supportive, and loving relationship can make all difference in the world. This enthusiasm for healing through relationship is what ultimately led Lacey to the therapeutic community of Windhorse. Ask Lacey about her professional home and she’ll tell you it is here, at Windhorse.

When she’s not working, you can find Lacey playing with her nephew, running her goldendoodle, Tyler, and spending time with family and friends.

Born and raised in San Luis Obispo, Janine received her BA in Communication Studies from Cal Poly and her MA from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychotherapy.

She has a strong affinity for living creatures. She “re-homes” spiders, and has yet to pass a dog she hasn’t attempted to befriend. Janine enjoys being outdoors, hiking, and going for runs. She also likes to read, craft and arm-knit misshapen blankets. But there is nothing Janine enjoys more than being witness to her adorable daughter’s laugh.

Janine believes true healing is a journey that begins and ends in safe relationship with others. She is thrilled and proud to be a part of the Windhorse community.

Bio Forthcoming

Raised in Long Beach California, Michael moved to San Luis Obispo for college in 2004. While pursuing his B.S. in mathematics, Michael started practicing Tai Chi at the Wushu Tai Chi Center. After graduation, he traveled multiple times to China to practice Tai Chi and later traveled through Europe and Asia attending various meditation retreats to study Buddhism.

After his travels, Michael returned to San Luis Obispo and worked for the Youth Treatment Program as a Residential Youth Counselor. It was during this time, that Michael began his career at Windhorse– first as a therapeutic housemate. Inspired by Windhorse’s compassionate approach, he returned to university and is currently working towards a Masters Degree in Psychology at Cal Poly.

Liz grew up on the Central Coast and received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from San Francisco State, where she emphasized coursework in holistic health, dance, and Africana studies. She received her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute. During her time at Pacifica, she studied the impact of trauma on the developing personality and discovered an even deeper passion for Somatic Psychology.

Liz joined the Windhorse community over two years ago with the intention of gaining experience towards her Marriage and Family Therapy licensure. She has since found an appreciation for, and commitment to, the Windhorse model that influences her both professionally and personally. She has held the position of a housemate, and is currently a team counselor.

Bio forthcoming.

Born and raised in San Luis Obispo County, Marissa chooses to call the Central Coast home because of the strong sense of community she feels. She graduated from nursing school in 2017 from Cuesta College and has loved being a nurse ever since. Grateful to be at Windhorse, she appreciates working with others and is always looking for ways to grow.

Marissa is married with three beautiful children. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, exploring, camping, gardening, and most of all just spending time with her family.

Bio Forthcoming.

Susannah Fletcher grew up on the Central Coast. She has been working in the healthcare field for the last ten years. She often can be heard singing in the office. She loves life, people, music, and her goose. Yes, she has a pet goose named Jemmima. Many Windhorse details go through her loving hands.

Annie lives in Northampton, MA but her role as fiscal manager supports the entire nonprofit. 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.

Kat’s family lived for a year in an ashram, her first meditation class was at age 13. Over the years, she continued her spiritual studies in a myriad of ways.

Passionate about living holistically, she has taken classes in herbalism, Reiki, soul collage and public speaking. While she has extensive bookkeeping and administration experience; Kat thrives professionally in settings such as Windhorse when she is able to combine business and avocation. She was involved with a holistic recovery home for women sitting on their founding Board and became the COO.

Kat facilitates transformation through word, ritual, art and play. Beach walks and hiking in the local beauty replenishes her batteries. She is a word-nerd and is currently writing several books. She enjoys dancing, cooking, and singing. She relocated from San Diego in 2014 and is excited that she gets to meditate at work and be a part of the Windhorse community.

avannah de Martimprey is the Community Coordinator/ Administrative Assistant who works with bringing the organization together in community and uplifting the environment.

Savannah believes living in community benefits our individual and collective growth. Windhorse is filled with a compassionate community that is dedicated to the well-being of our organization.

Savannah grew up in the Central Coast on her families farm. She loves spending time outdoors and with others.