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

Mallory holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social work. With experience working in various educational settings, inpatient behavioral health treatment, and non-profit program facilitation, she enjoys creatively pairing her clinical knowledge to the experiential process of engaging clients in a meaningful way. In 2021, Mallory participated in the Fundamentals of Natural Lifemanship program.

Mallory has had a lifelong passion for horses, riding off and on competitively in the hunter/jumper world. She spends mindful moments training her young horse Garfield for the jumper ring.

To inquire about Colorado services, please contact Mallory Nicklas at Mallory@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.”

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.