I've always loved horses. Without them in my life, I wouldn't be the person I am today. Horses have been my friends, as well as teachers, and it is my belief and experience that these beautiful creatures can be wonderful teachers and helpers to just about anybody. Born in the UK, I began riding at age three, a hobby that absorbed me throughout my childhood and teens. I came to Canada to work as a cowgirl on a ranch in BC's interior, and I immediately fell in love with this part of Canada and decided to stay. After many years in the world of business and media, I realized my true calling was the field of counselling.

In 1988 I began my journey of education and skill building in this field. My community work initially took me into the areas of crisis intervention, addictions, both substance and non-substance abuse. I then worked with survivors of sexual abuse, those transitioning from incarceration, and those dealing with depression and suicidal tendencies. My private practice was focused on people in transitional situations, those feeling stuck, and also struggling with healing from some of the above issues. Shamanic healing also became a major part of my practice.

It was acquiring the land that is now Lothlorien Farm that changed the direction of my work. I finally had the space to have a horse of my own, and from the first moment I stepped onto the land, I saw horses here. One year later Leslie, her partner Rolf and I had purchased a one-year old filly, but as yet we had no fences and we did not live here full time. However, I kept seeing horses here. Eighteen months later, my husband and I moved to Lothlorien, and Leslie and I brought four horses here. Windhorse Centre was born.

Leslie and I have co-led many workshops and retreats focused on Celtic Shamanism, Dreaming and Dancing, and now working with horses. I have also co-led retreats in Mexico for women who wished to create a five year vision for their lives. I have also taught Celtic Shamanism and Women in Celtic Myth courses at Western Washington University's Fairhaven College and Langara College in Vancouver.

My formal training includes a BA from Western Washington University in Theoretical and Applied Approaches to Mental, Physical and Spiritual Health, with a minor in Psychology. A three year intensive training in Gestalt Therapy as well as training in family systems and Process Work; specialty training in depression issues as well as working with survivors of sexual abuse; extensive Shamanic healing practices through The Foundation for Shamanic Studies and others; Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, Ecstatic Dance, Corporeal Mime, Celtic and Greek Mythology and dream work. In terms of my horse therapy skills, I am currently completing an internship with "Adventures in Awareness", an Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy Program run by Barbara Rector and Ann Alden.

My ongoing personal spiritual training includes meditation, Tibetan Buddhist practice, yoga, chi kung, prayer, vision questing and the Ontogony, (self realization) teachings of Carlos de Leon of Mexico.

I aim to marry my passions with my disciplines in my work. My focus is to create a diverse range of experiences in which my clients explore a deepening awareness of the mind, body and spirit connection. My belief is that we all have a brilliance within and my role as a therapist and facilitator is to support people to find that inner light so that they can become more of who they truly are. This allows each of us to have greater personal freedom, creativity and happiness.