Meet Our Staff

Heather Menzie May, MA is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Yoga Therapist, teacher, and wilderness guide. Since 2001, Heather has been leading therapeutic wilderness expeditions through the mountains and rivers of Colorado and Utah. Heather earned her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Wilderness Therapy through Naropa University and has a private practice in Evergreen, CO. She integrates EMDR Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Wilderness Therapy into her work with clients. Heather is the co-founder of The Strong and Mindful Family Program, which involves bringing families out into the wild to strengthen their relationships. Heather is a mother to her 6 year old son. Her favorite family adventures include floating down the river in a raft, dory, or canoe, watching herons take their flight through the canyon, being in community with friends and family, and introducing people to the beauty of a sky full of stars.

Haaweatea Holly Bryson, MA specializes in transformation, trauma and life transition. She works with individuals and families as a Therapist, Māori Healing practitioner, Rite of Passage Trainer, and Vision Quest guide. Nature Knows is a subsidiary of The Suzerain Group in Hawai’i, where she is the Lead Therapist and Trainer. She has worked with communities toward the ressurgence of Rites of Passage across Australia, Aotearoa, China, the US, and Hawai’i. She is Katie’s co-founder and co-teacher of the Ceremony & Rites of Passage Global Training. Learn more about Haaweatea’s work at www.natureknows.co.

Sommerville Johnston, LPC, SEP, RYT 200 is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, wilderness guide, yoga instructor, and founder of Aspen Roots Collective. She is passionate about facilitating opportunities for individuals and groups to connect with the natural world, to explore their inner-landscapes, and to discover within themselves a strength and beauty more powerful than they previously knew. She has worked in the mental health field since 2010 and in the outdoors since 2000, incorporating curiosity, humor, deep compassion, and respect into her various roles. Sommerville enjoys exploring the trail, rock, and water of her home in the Southeast, as well as continuing to learn from new places and people around the world. Learn More

Tami Gilmore, MA, LPC is a passionate advocate for integrating the healing power of nature with therapeutic practice. As a traditional and wilderness therapist, Tami has dedicated her career to guiding individuals on transformative journeys of self-discovery and healing. 

The "Courting Your Medicine" program, facilitated by the Somatic Wilderness Therapy Institute, has been a pivotal experience in Tami's personal and professional growth. Through this transformative journey, she has expanded emotionally and spiritually, finding profound meaning and connection with nature and herself. Tami treasures the lifelong relationships forged during this program and continues to be inspired by the community of like-minded individuals committed to sharing their authentic medicine with the world.

With a teacher's heart and a learner's spirit, Tami finds inspiration in the resilience and brilliance of others. She delights in hearing their life stories and guiding them on their path to healing and self-discovery. Armed with a BA in Psychology and an MA in Counseling, Tami has supplemented her formal education with extensive training in EMDR, Somatic Therapy, IFS therapy, and various programs offered by the Somatic Wilderness Therapy Institute. 

Combining her love for the outdoors with her passion for helping others, she now runs a successful private practice and a wilderness therapy retreat company.

For nearly 30 years, Melody Mischke has been seeking to define her purpose and give it life in the world. She is a certified Transformational Coach, Heart-Based Meditation Instructor, Ayurvedic Practitioner, Yoga Teacher, Writer, and Intuitive. She began studying meditation in India at the age of 18, has degrees in both Environmental Science and Contemporary Spirituality, and is a primary contributor to Banyan Botanicals’ written educational content. She founded both her private practice (Live In Resonance) and a partnership with her brother (Luminous You) to help guide others into a more intimate relationship with their innermost essence and purpose. She is a passionate skier, wilderness adventurer, and singer with a profound devotion to her family, to wild places, and to elevating consciousness on the planet. She lives in Evergreen, Colorado with her husband and son.

As a co-facilitator of Courting Your Medicine, Melody's highly-skilled capacity to hold sacred space, her grounded wisdom, and her razor-sharp aptitude for seeing your deepest gifts will help guide your journey.