One Heart Wild Team

CLINICAL TEAM

DREA BOWEN, MSW, SW-ESA

Drea's qualifications include; MSW with clinical focus, Certified Social Work Educational Staff Associate (ESA), Certified Counselor (WA), and Board Certified Life & Health Coach. She holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology, minor in trans-species Psychology and multiple specialty certifications in complex trauma, for children and adults. Drea has worked full time with youth, teens, and adults since 2010.

Drea’s advocacy for finding individualized solutions to heal from psychological harm and to find meaning and purpose is highlighted in One Heart Wild’s humane education and therapeutic programs. Her work with schools, students, and parents is driven by her passion to see children, teens, and families in our community thrive. With a deep understanding of the impacts that childhood trauma, ADHD, anxiety, and depression have on a person's ability to be and do what means the most to them, Drea is committed to stay up on cutting edge research that continues to reveal answers on how best to help, heal, and inspire her clients.

BRENDA NEWELL, LICSW

Brenda is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), practicing social work since 1993, She is a Certified Children's Mental Health Specialist, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and Certified in providing Equine/Animal Assisted Therapeutic Services. Brenda enjoys providing counseling, consultation and community education.

Brenda's therapeutic approach is respectful, compassionate and educational. She works to establish a partnership in a journey of growth and healing. Her background and extensive training includes: serving the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning+ (LGBT*Q+) community, serving individuals who are neurodiverse, working with individuals impacted by trauma, individuals living with HIV/AIDS, individuals seeking support for significant life transitions, holistic approaches to wellness, and bringing humans and horses/animals together for healing through Equine/Animal Assisted Therapeutic Interventions. Brenda fully embraces the philosophy of One Heart Wild, that "what is wounded in relationship is also healed in relationship".

GABRIELLE YOUNGKER, CEAAT

Brie is certified in Equine/Animal Assisted Therapeutic Services and is an Associate Faculty for ROOTS Insitute. Brie practices with children of all ages in local schools and with youth-adult clients at One Heart Wild.

She provides services one-on-one as well as facilitates workshops, groups and camps. Brie also holds certifications in Suicide & Self Harm in Youth, Motivational Interviewing, HeartMath, COVID-19 Crisis Management, Skills for Psychological Recovery, and is an Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist.

Brie is an experienced, relational, lifelong equestrian. Brie’s background includes many years as a horse rider, showing in Hunter/Jumper rings, training and studying Equine Science. She loves partnering with horses in her sessions, but can also be found with clients sitting with the little critters of the Bunny Barn, playing with sheep and goats in their paddocks, laying with the pigs in the Piggy Palace, or cuddling the cows in their pasture.

MINDY ROMAN, MSW, SW-ESA

Mindy has her Master’s degree in Social Work, and an undergraduate degree in Social Welfare from the University of Washington-Tacoma. Her previous experience has been in child welfare, trauma informed practice, and supporting survivors of interpersonal violence. In her graduate program Mindy also received certifications from the Child Welfare Training Advancement Program and Zero Abuse Project.

Prior to higher education, Mindy spent 7 years working as a Veterinarian Technician aiding in the physical healing of non-human animals. Mindy also spent over 20 years working closely with dogs in positive training practices, showing, and rescue work.

Mindy grew up in Kitsap County and had always had a passion for healing all species, human and non-human. She has held space for her community in volunteering for organizations such as PTA President, NAMI- Family to Family Educator, Crisis Clinic of the Peninsulas, Court Appointed Special Advocate, and Phi Alpha Social Work Honor Society, President.

Her passion for children, youth, and families coupled with her love of animals has brought her to One Heart Wild where she can achieve her goals of healing others through animal assisted therapy.

PAIGE BURNHAM, LMHC

Paige is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and has her Master’s degree in Counseling and her undergraduate degree in Psychology with a Minor in Animal Science. She has worked since 2013 in schools, homeless shelters and primary care clinics with a diverse range of clients. She graduated from the ROOTS Animal Assisted Therapy training program in 2022 and is Level 1 trained in Internal Family Systems Therapy. She believes in a holistic and
compassionate approach to therapy and a collaborative therapeutic relationship.

Paige is an avid reader and continues to learn about trauma informed practices and research as they evolve. She is a believer in the impact of trauma on the body and the utility of somatic and
body-based practices to address these responses through the mind-body-spirit connection. She completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2018.

Paige has always loved nature and animals and has spent time volunteering at horse rescues and animal shelters, where she met her beloved cat, Ferrigno. She is excited to combine her passions
and work with people toward healing through Animal Assisted Therapy.

SANCTUARY TEAM

MARLAINA SIMMONS - PROGRAM OPERATIONS MANAGER

Marlaina Simmons holds a bachelor’s degree in human services from Western Washington University (2010). She is passionate about early learning, parenting, and advocating locally through her role as the Peninsulas Early Childhood Coalition Co-Lead and Policy and Advocacy Lead. In early 2022, she was appointed to the Kitsap County Council for Human Rights where she works to further advocate for a safe and welcoming community for all Kitsap County residents.

Prior to joining the OHW team, Marlaina served as the Networks Coordinator for Kitsap Strong from 2016-2022. During her time with Kitsap Strong she collaborated with community partners and facilitated the process for coming together and learning. Marlaina also organized Kitsap Strong’s Resiliency Summit serving 200+ people, as well as the Community Leaders Luncheon, a brave space for elected officials and community leaders to engage in deep discussions.

Marlaina is the wife of a fireman and mother to 2 kids, 2 dogs and a bearded dragon. In her free time, she enjoys reading, camping and traveling to new destinations and historical sites.

RACHAEL ANDERSON - ANIMAL CARE

Rachael is a certified Small Animal Massage Therapist (Northwest School of Animal Massage, 2017). This helped her deepened her connection with animals and energy, as well as treat her dog, Sadie, after multiple knee surgeries. She is a lifelong animal and nature lover. She continues to expand her knowledge about the natural world by exploring it and learning about different animal species at One Heart Wild Sanctuary where she helps care for all the residents; attending to their feeding, nutrition, socializing, cleaning and medical needs. Rachael also coordinates volunteers to assist in daily tasks and farm sanctuary projects.

Rachael spent over two years working in Animal Care at Kitsap Humane Society which solidified her passion for rescue and rehabilitation work, helping animals and people in need. Working in a fast-paced shelter taught her how to work with animals with varying health conditions, different temperaments, and how to see compassion in all situations and for all animals. Rachael also has experience working at an open-kennel dog daycare where she learned a lot about canine behavior and body language.

Rachael has a deep appreciation for nature and the mountains here in the Pacific Northwest, growing up in and frequenting the Olympic Mountain range. She shares her personal experiences of the healing power of connecting with all living things after surviving and living with medical and life challenges herself. Sharing this first-hand experience with other people has become her life’s passion along with contributing to the world being a more open, kinder, and compassionate place.

SARAH WILLIAMS - ANIMAL CARE

Sarah Williams is a Navy spouse, and mother of three. Bachelors of Science in Applied Management 2023. She has a deep rooted passion for children and animals, and loves that One Heart Wild gives her the ability to combine her two passions, while continuing her knowledge of animal care. She has three years of experience working with animals who have experienced trauma and neglect through her previous employer, the Maricopa county Sheriffs office in Phoenix, Az. There, she worked with inmates who took care of seized animals as a way of rehabilitating the animals and the humans by helping them build relationships based on trust.

NIKA (Taylor) RUCKER - ANIMAL CARE

Rehabilitating animals, both wild and domestic, comes naturally for Nika, who has more than seven years experience working at a wildlife rehabilitation center. There, sick, injured, or orphaned animals usually spend a relatively brief stay receiving medical care and then are released back into the wild. While there, she cared for not only hundreds of wildlife patients at the care center on any given day, but she opened her home as well. From fostering orphaned babies to giving lifelong care and therapy to her two very own educational opossums, Bandit and Uno, Nika eventually delved into working with domesticated animals too. She began doing physical therapy on pets and found she also has a knack for working with abused and neglected dogs with trauma-induced temperamental tendencies. "Watching the dogs I've worked with go from hurt and scared, due to trauma, to learning how to be happy and trusting has actually forced me to examine and even question my own self-doubting beliefs…the ones that, like the animals, keep me stuck in whatever situation. So watching them figure it out within themselves has, in ways, help me do the same. Watching them overcoming the mind gives me the push I need to do it too. Animals are inspiring."
Not stopping there, she has been on the Animal Rights and Welfare scene for over 15 years, advocating for animals being abused in industries such as fashion/cosmetics, food, and entertainment. She believes we all have a responsibility to carry ourselves in a way that harms no one else, human or animal.