Our Team

Graduating from Colorado State University in 1996 with a B.S. degree in Psychology, Jody received her PATH registered instructor status in 1997, completed an M.A. degree in Psychology from Chapman University in 2000, and received her Colorado License in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2006. Jody worked at Griffith Centers for Children, a residential treatment facility for adolescent boys from 1996 to 2010 in the Equine Therapy Program and later as a Clinical Director. In 2010, Jody was hired as the Executive Director of the Pikes Peak Therapeutic Riding Center. She served in that role until 2015 and during that time she became a PATH Equine Specialist. Since 2015, Jody has been practicing mental health services at Four Feathers Counseling as the Clinical Director and in 2016 she added the role of Colorado Supervisor for Mustard Seed Ranch. Starting in 2020, she increased her role with Mustard Seed Ranch as the Executive Program Director over programs in both California and Colorado. Jody has served as President of both the EFMHA Board and PATH International and continues to be actively involved with PATH International on volunteer committees. She additionally serves on the Colorado State University Equine Advisory Committee.

If you have any questions regarding Mustard Seed Ranch, please contact Jody Enget at Jody@MustardSeedRanch.org

Brianna@MustardSeedRanch.org

Meredith Balis – Orange County Mental Health Therapist – Meredith is a California based associate marriage and family therapist with experience in mental health counseling, group facilitation, addiction, and equine assisted psychotherapy. Meredith is EMDR trained and a certified equine specialist with the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA). Meredith has a passion for incorporating horses to assist clients and group participants to embark on a journey toward increased personal empowerment, self-love, and wellbeing. She has experience working with depression & anxiety, crisis counseling, addiction, and recovery. She works empathically, sensitively, creatively, and intuitively from a cognitive, person-centered, and narrative perspective.

meredith@mustardseedranch.org

Gil has 12 years of experience helping people with their horses, emphasizing groundwork and establishing a better relationship between horses and humans. Gil has served as an equine specialist and volunteer in Orange County, Ca with Mustard Seed Ranch since 2022 helping to provide horse therapy to kids in need. In an effort to expand MSR’s reach, Gil is leading an equine youth development program with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, Compton Station. Gil is an OCparks Backcountry Patrol volunteer and an Equestrian Trail Guide with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy in Orange County, California. Gil also volunteers with the Risen Warrior Foundation helping veterans and first responders heal by connecting with horses. 

Keli@MustardSeedRanch.org

Kendra graduated from California State University, Chico, with a B.S. in Animal Sciences and a minor in Psychology. She has taught horseback riding for over seven years, teaching children and adults alike. While at CSU Chico, she also served as an academic coach for students with disabilities, supporting them in achieving their educational and personal goals. In addition to Mustard Seed Ranch, she works with a local counseling center, providing equine-facilitated services to adolescents. She is passionate about helping individuals find their independence and build meaningful relationships with themselves and the animals supporting their journey. With over a decade of experience riding and training horses, Kendra took on a rescued Mustang named Beau, who has become her personal horse. She looks forward to many more years of training and service!

Weston holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychological Science from the University of Padova in Italy. He is currently advancing his studies in a Master’s program in Clinical Counseling for Children and Adolescents at Azusa Pacific University. With a life shaped by a global upbringing—born in Sweden and raised in China—Weston has a unique understanding of multicultural experiences and the therapeutic needs of Third Culture Kids. Over the past seven years, Weston has been dedicated to working with horses and young clients alike, focusing on the therapeutic relationship between humans and horses. He helped establish a local equine-assisted therapy program, where he continues to blend his equine knowledge with his dedication to child and adolescent therapy. Weston’s journey includes three years at Colorado’s Lost Valley Ranch, where he led children’s riding programs and honed his skills in training horses and teaching others to connect with them deeply. Trained in Polyvagal Equine Therapy, he focuses on equipping children with tools to survive life and thrive. Now rooted in Chico, CA, he combines his background in psychology with a hands-on passion for equine therapy, working to “teach humans to speak horse and horses to understand humans.”

Kayla holds a master’s degree in counseling with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University, Northridge. She is a registered associate marriage and family therapist in the state of California and has completed her three-year Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner certification. Kayla practices psychotherapy from an integrative framework with a strong emphasis on the mind-body connection. She specializes in working with adults and children with complex trauma, PTSD, co-occurring substance use disorders, grief and loss, issues of identity, and codependency. Kayla’s background in Somatic Experiencing® blends beautifully with equine therapy, and she finds that horses make the perfect partners in mirroring our experience, offering deep relational connection, and encouraging full embodied awareness. As a child, when asked what she wanted to do when she grew up, Kayla most often replied, “I want to work with horses to help heal people.” She is honored to live that dream today, working with Mustard Seed Ranch.

Kayla@MustardSeedRanch.org

Bre’yona graduated with an associate’s degree in veterinary medical technology and began working in the equine industry soon after. Since then, she has had a variety of equestrian jobs, including assistant to saddlebred trainers, Equine Veterinarian assistant, Ranch Hand, and Horse handler/Trainer for Hippotherapy. Her many experiences revealed how vital horses became to her personal development, which sparked a passion for helping others in their own journey through the magic of horsemanship. She is excited to continue utilizing the unique gift of the horse to help heal the community.

Kiley has had over 20 years of experience working with, riding, and training horses. Originally from Upstate New York, and as an accomplished competition rider she transferred over to Southern California to further her passion with horses.  She has had a variety of equestrian jobs including working as a Grand Prix Show Groom, a performer, and as an exercise rider. In her experiences, she has seen how amazing, beautiful, and healing horses can be and she is excited to share her experiences and grow with her new community.

Amy holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Denver and a master’s degree in public health with a focus on behavioral sciences from Emory University. She is a licensed addictions counselor and a clinical social work candidate in the state of Colorado. She is trained in EMDR and is a Certified DBT Professional, currently working towards certifications as an Autism Disorder Clinical Specialist and a Certified Specialist in Anger Management. Amy specializes in working with individuals with anxiety and OCD disorders, co-occurring substance use disorders, trauma disorders, and those involved in the criminal justice system. As a lifelong horse lover, Amy is thrilled to be working with Mustard Seed and providing equine therapy and helping clients connect with the relational healing power found in horses.

amy@mustardseedranch.org

Rita holds a BS in Psychology from Regis University (2000) as well as her Master of Arts in Counseling from Colorado Christian University (2015). She became a National Certified Counselor (2015) and continues to hold that status. She completed her Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL) through PATH International (2015) and maintains an active membership. Rita received her Colorado License in Professional Counseling (2017) and continues ongoing training and certification in EMDR, neuroscience, polyvagal, mindfulness, and trauma-informed care. She is also a current member of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (2017). Upon obtaining her graduate degree in 2015, Rita helped establish and develop a clinical mental health center in north Colorado Springs before launching her private practice, Empowered Freedom Counseling, PLLC (2021). Rita’s love of working with horses and clients began with her internship at PPTRC in Colorado Springs (2013,) where she worked with military veterans transitioning out of their service due to medical/mental trauma. Rita continued equine assisted therapy services as the Equine Therapist for Cedar Springs Hospital (2015-2017); beginning with dual-diagnosis inpatient adults before helping to establish the inpatient/outpatient adolescent equine assisted therapy program.

Throughout her counseling career, Rita has continued her equine work with private practice clients. She was then blessed with an invitation to join the Mustard Seed Ranch team in 2024, where she provides equine therapy to groups of children and adolescents from our community.

To inquire about the Colorado Springs services, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Rita Petersen at rita@mustardseedranch.org

Stephanie is a licensed professional counselor with 19 years of clinical experience. She holds a Bachelor of Science, and a Master of Arts degree in Psychology, as well as being a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional, and an ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider. Her primary interest is in the brain, how it works, and why we people do the things we do, as well as helping to educate clients about the brain. She has worked in several different areas including inpatient mental health at The Pavilion at Northwest Texas Healthcare system for 14 years, working in the school system with Region 16/Head Start for 5 years, working with the older adult population in nursing homes with Vision Psychological Services for 3 years, teaching General psychology at Amarillo College for 5 years, and working with all ages in private practice for the past 14 years. She currently provides equine-assisted psychotherapy for the non-profit organizations 7 Star Horse Therapy and Mustard Seed Ranch. Stephanie specializes in trauma, anxiety, and ADHD treatment in children and adults. She has a certified Therapy dog that she and her husband plan to take into area nursing homes, hospitals, and hospice settings to help provide emotional support to patients, as well as clients in her own private practice.

stephanie@mustardseedranch.org