DreamPower staff manage the daily operations of the barn, which includes leading all DreamPower programs, supervising horse care, organizing DreamPower events and coordinating volunteers.

Martha McNiel
Martha is the Founder and Director of DreamPower Horsemanship. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (California license #MFC 34795), a NARHA Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor, a Certified Equine Facilitated Interaction Professional in Mental Health (CEFIP-MH) and EAGALA Level 1 certified. Martha is on the Board of Directors of the Equine Facilitated Mental Health Association (EFMHA), and a Professional Member of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT), the Equine Facilitated Mental Health Association (EFMHA), the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) and the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA). An accomplished rider, she writes a column on "The Mental Side of Riding" for Equestrian Network Magazine (www.equestmagazine.com),  has had articles published by the Bay Area Equestrian Network, Horse-Guide.com, USPC News, NARHA Strides, and Paso Fino Horse World, and serves as president of the Ohlone Riders unit of the Backcountry Horsemen of California.


Garry Stauber
Garry is a NARHA Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor. Specializing in helping adult riders build horsemanship skills and confidence, he has co-taught the Confident Rider Clinics since their inception in 2004. In 2008, Garry instituted the Equine Journey Wilderness Program at DreamPower, so that he can share his love of the outdoors, backcountry riding, packing and camping with disabled and at risk youth. An accomplished horse trainer and long rider, Garry rode the length of California on horseback in 2003. He  continues to pack and ride as a volunteer and Wilderness Rider with the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Parks Service. He is also General Manager of Equestrian Network Magazine (www.equestmagazine.com), for which he writes a monthly column. He has had articles about  horsemanship, trail riding and horse camping published in more than 20 equestrian publications including Ride! Magazine, Paint Horse Journal and Trail Blazer Magazine. Garry is currently serving as First Vice President of the Backcountry Horsemen of California.


Aleksandra Szymanska
A psychologist and Advanced Therapeutic Riding instructor from Poland, Alex recently received an 18-month special education visa to work full-time at DreamPower. An expert rider as well as a sensitive and skilled therapist, Alex specializes in working with children and physically disabled clients.  Alex brings a wonderful international flavor and experience to DreamPower.  In Poland, Alex was on the committee that tested and certified new therapeutic riding instructors for the Polish Therapeutic Riding Association.

 



NARHA Registered Therapeutic Riding Instructors

Martha McNiel

Lori Oleson

Garry Stauber

Alex Szymanska

Amy Wagner

 

Psychotherapists

Melissa Abbey, Marriage and Family Therapy Trainee

Martha McNiel, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (License #34795)

Lisa Renae Nelson, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (License #43285)

Kathie Taylor, Marriage and Family Therapy Intern  (Intern #55929)

 

Licensed Occupational Therapists

Kathleen Froess, OTR/L (License #9465)