Authors in our Online Archive
Edward Podvoll’s thousands of articles, recordings, and letters are the foundation of the Legacy Project’s archive. This includes some conversations and/or correspondence with interesting thinkers of Ed’s generation such as Studs Terkel and Oliver Sacks. We also hold over twenty-five years of recorded materials from many other practitioners of the Windhorse approach, many of whom are profiled below.
Anne Marie DiGiacomo, MSW, LCSW
Anne Marie is director of admissions for Windhorse Community Services (WCS). She received her MSW from the University of Denver. She spent the first 18 years of her career working in both community mental health and non-profit settings. In 1996, she relocated to Northampton, MA, and began her work with Windhorse Associates. She served as the clinical director from 2001 to 2005 as well as the interim co-executive director from 2002 to 2003. She returned to Boulder and WCS, Inc. in 2006 as a senior clinician and became director of admissions in fall 2007. From 2011 to 2019, she was co-director and co-owner. She continues now as co-owner (with Jamie Emery and Chuck Knapp) and continues her work for WCS in admissions and doing clinical work. Anne Marie was an adjunct faculty member from 2006 to 2013 for the Contemplative Psychology Program at Naropa University and has co-authored a book chapter describing the Windhorse approach.
Blake Baily, MA, LPC
Blake has worked and volunteered in the mental health field, on and off, since 1987. He earned his BS in psychology from the University of Iowa, and was a nursing assistant in the University of Iowa Hospital’s acute care psychiatric facilities early in his career. After a three-year period of teaching, study, and travel in Asia, Blake returned to earn a master’s degree in contemplative psychotherapy from Naropa University, where he continued to teach for eight years after graduating. He is a Naropa University certified mindfulness instructor and has completed the Windhorse two-year Intensive Psychotherapy (IP) seminar, as well as the one-year Team Supervisor seminar. He has also taught the IP seminar to senior clinicians at Windhorse Integrative Mental Health in Portland, OR. He lives in Boulder with his wife and two daughters.
Chuck Knapp, MA, LPC
A student of Chogyam Trungpa and graduate of Naropa University, Chuck worked closely for many years with Dr. Ed Podvoll, co-originator of the Windhorse approach. Chuck was a founding member and later director of Friendship House, a publicly funded collaboration between Boulder County Mental Health Center and Naropa, providing residential treatment for people with extreme mental states, utilizing the Windhorse Approach. In 1990 he co-founded Windhorse Community Services in Boulder, Colorado, where he served as a Co-Director until 2019, and currently works as a senior clinician. Through his published writings, presentations at conferences, and as co-founder and Editor of the Windhorse Journal, Chuck continues to share his interest in exploring mindfulness-based therapeutic environments for both individual and social wellbeing.
David Stark, MS
David earned a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University in psychology/linguistics in 1987 and a master’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. He was a DMH consumer initiative grant recipient, and has written “Sanity Recovered” in Housecalls and “The Will To Recover” in the Psychosynthesis Quarterly. David was Windhorse Associate’s first client, and he has been on the Board at Windhorse Integrative Mental Health since 1997. He has been a peer counselor since 2000, and a peer educator since 2014. He has worked at a warmline, facilitates the Windhorse Writing Group, Peer Social Hour, and trains peer counselors.
Dimitri Egan, MA, LMFT
Dimitri has been a part of the Windhorse treatment community for nearly a decade, starting as a clinical team leader before transitioning into a leadership role. Dimitri brings a rooted psychological practice and background, as well as a contemplative and mindfulness-based practice. As a clinical team leader and psychotherapist, Dimitri focuses on helping a person find their sense of balance and health within themselves to draw upon, while living their lives as fully as possible. As director, Dimitri is passionate about providing this same type of healthy, fun, and peaceful environment for both staff and those that they serve. Dimitri is dedicated to continuing to learn and to provide opportunities for others to learn and to contribute to the Windhorse philosophy, vision, and mission.
Dimitri studied psychology in both his undergraduate and graduate endeavors and is currently engaged in a number of projects to enhance accessibility of resources, provide educational teachings, and development of alumni support programs.
Dimitri is blessed with three active boys and a wonderful wife.
Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche
Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche grew up in a monastic environment, receiving extensive training in Buddhist doctrine. In particular, he received the teachings of the Nyingma lineage, especially those of the Longchen Nyingtik, from his root teacher His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. Rinpoche also studied extensively under Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche, and Khenpo Rinchen.
In 1989, Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche moved to the United States with his family and began a five-year tenure as a professor of Buddhist philosophy at Naropa University in 1990. He founded Mangala Shri Bhuti, an organization dedicated to furthering the practice of the Longchen Nyingtik lineage. He established a mountain retreat centre, Longchen Jigme Samten Ling, in southern Colorado, where he spends much of his time in retreat and guides students retreat practice.
Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche’s students include Pema Chödrön, Elizabeth Mattis-Namgyel, and his son Dungse Jampal Norbu. He is an avid painter in the abstract expressionist tradition. (Abbreviated from Wikipedia).
Herbert Klein, MD
Herbert was born in Milwaukee, WI, and lived in many places, finally settling in Florida after retiring at the age of seventy-seven from his career as a nuclear medicine physician. He and his wife, Inara, just celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary. Of their two much-beloved children, Ben, unfortunately, was mentally ill and took his life in 2009, while Ali is thriving as a successful web designer and is a great friend of Herbert’s, as was Ben.
Jack Gipple, MA, LPC, CAC III
Jack is the clinical services manager of Windhorse Community Services (WCS), in Boulder, CO. He earned his MA in transpersonal psychology in 1991. He has worked extensively with families, couples, and individuals dealing with issues related to behavioral and substance addictions, as well as a wide range of mental health challenges. He taught in the Naropa Contemplative psychology department for a decade and has been affiliated with the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless since 1992. Jack co-authored an article with Chuck Knapp titled “Windhorse Treatment: Group Dynamics Within Therapeutic Environments” in Group: The Journal of the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society. He has studied and taught T’ai Chi Ch’uan since 1985. He is a top-bar beekeeper, pinhole photographer, yogi, gardener, home orchardist, father, and husband.
Jeffrey Fortuna, MA, LPC
Jeff received his MA in contemplative psychotherapy at Naropa University in 1980, and served on the Naropa faculty until 1989. In 1981, he co-founded the first Windhorse center, Maitri Psychological Services, in Boulder, CO. From 1989 to 1992, Mr. Fortuna founded and directed a Windhorse group in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 1992, he co-founded Windhorse Associates, Inc., in Northampton, MA, and served as executive/clinical director. In 2002, Mr. Fortuna returned to Boulder as co-director, and senior therapist and supervisor, of Windhorse Community Services. Mr. Fortuna has served as the director of the Windhorse Legacy Project since 2002. He has taught widely and has written a book chapter and journal papers on Windhorse treatment. Mr. Fortuna was a close student of Edward Podvoll for 25 years. He has studied with R. D. Laing; Maxwell Jones (therapeutic community founder); Chogyam Trungpa (renowned Tibetan Buddhist teacher); and with other elders, teachers, and mentors.
JoAnn Dorio-Burton, CPRP
JoAnn Dorio Burton, CPRP, is the community programs coordinator at Windhorse Community Services. In collaboration with Kristin Becker, her latest curriculum Hero’s Journey of Recovery was specifically designed to offer an empowering and hopeful narrative for people with long-term mental health concerns. JoAnn does consultation and trainings and has presented at workshops and plenaries including PRA and Clubhouse International. She has two papers and one editorial published in the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. JoAnn was awarded the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner Award (2018). She has a BA in therapeutic recreation and sociology (concentration social work) from Lehman College, CUNY, and she attended the transpersonal counseling program at Naropa University. You can learn more about JoAnn’s work on her website.
Joanne Greenberg
Born in Brooklyn, Joanne Greenberg graduated from American University with a major in anthropology and English literature. She also studied at the University of London and the University of Colorado. In 1955, she married Albert Greenberg, who encouraged her to write her first book, “The King’s Persons.” This has been followed by twelve novels and four collections of short stories.
During her work as a vocational rehabilitation counselor with deaf clients, she became interested in communicating with the deaf, and since then has assisted in the setting up of mental health programs for the deaf throughout the country. This interest led to her novel “In This Sign,” which was dramatized on television.
She lives in a home near Lookout Mountain, Colorado, with her husband. Their two sons are grown. She writes daily; tutors in Latin and Hebrew; teaches cultural anthropology and fiction writing at the Colorado School of Mines; and is active in the Beth Evergreen congregation. She is a frequent participant in writers’ seminars and workshops all over the country and has done many speaking and storytelling engagements. You can learn more about Joanne’s work on her website.
Kathy Emery, MA, LPC
Kathy is a 1980 graduate of the East/West psychology program from Naropa University and has been a practitioner of the Windhorse approach to working with others for over thirty years. She is also a former adjunct faculty member at Naropa and continues to engage in and contribute to the study and practice of contemplative psychotherapy, which is the ground of the Windhorse approach. She is a senior clinician and educator working with Windhorse Community Services and Windhorse Elder Care.
Kristin Becker, MA
Kristin resides in Asheville, NC, and is school-based therapist at RHA, a community mental health organization. She holds a master’s in clinical mental health counseling from Lenoir-Rhyne University in Asheville (2017) and her undergraduate degree is from the University of Colorado (Boulder) where she was granted honors and majored in psychology with a minor in linguistics and a certificate in cognitive science. She volunteered as a co-leader of group activities at Windhorse Community Services where she co-taught with JoAnn Dorio-Burton and approached her with the concept of a framework using the Hero’s Journey for mental health recovery targeted at young adults recovering from mental health issues. The Windhorse Guild hired her as a vocational rehabilitation assistant at Infinitely Simple (now Mindful Works). JoAnn and Kristin partnered to present the Hero’s Journey framework at workshops and trainings. Kristin’s passion is helping those in recovery from mental health issues find their place within the community.
Matt Allen, MA
Matt is a team leader, intensive psychotherapist, and has been with Windhorse Community Services since 2006. He is also the father of two and hails from the lonely state of Iowa. Matt received his MA in buddhist studies from Naropa University in 2000. He is currently a clinical support professional at Naropa University. Matt has been engaged with the Windhorse Legacy Project since its inception and continues to recognize that before one can be a good teacher, one must first become a good student.
Michael Dewan-Herrick, MA,
UKCP Accredited
Michael received his MA in contemplative psychotherapy in 1984 from Naropa University. He worked with the first Windhorse center, Maitri Psychological Services (MPS), in Boulder, CO from 1986 to 1988, first as a housemate and then as a team therapist. He then moved to New England and worked as a home-based family therapist in the state of New Hampshire for families court-ordered for treatment, did emergency services work, and ran a day program for those newly discharged from psychiatric hospitalization. With a longing to reconnect with his earlier experiences with MPS, he moved to Massachusetts in 2001 and began working with Windhorse Integrative Mental Health in Northampton. His first role there was team leader/senior clinician. In 2002 he also took on the role of director of education. Then from 2003 to 2005 he became interim co-executive director. From 2005 to 2008 he served as executive director, co-authoring a book chapter describing the Windhorse approach. In 2008, he moved to London where he is in private practice and teaches and runs supervision groups at the Minster Centre, which provides training in integrative psychotherapy.
Phoebe Walker, LMHC
Phoebe received a Masters 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 nine 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.
Polly Banerjee-Gallagher, MA, LPC
Polly has been a part of the Windhorse Community Services community since 1998 as a housemate and basic attender, team leader, and psychotherapist. Besides her clinical roles, Polly was also the assistant director of admissions until 2019. She is currently the director of Windhorse Community Services. She holds an undergraduate degree in psychology and a MA in counseling from the University of Colorado. Polly comes from a multicultural background as she was born in Burma and has lived in India.
Scott Welsch
Scott lives in Massachusetts.
Skye Levy, MA
Skye received her MA in counseling psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute in 2016. She has worked as a copyeditor and development editor for over a decade. She loves combining her love for psychological healing and her love for editing in her work as managing editor of the Windhorse Legacy Project.