The Circle Of Support

Our team is made of highly skilled professionals, Registered Art Therapists, Expressive Play Therapists, Registered Clinical Counsellors, Mental Health Professionals, Child and Youth Care Workers, Educators and Lifelong Learners who will be a part of the circle of support for your child.  We share values and a heart for children and together we offer our unique abilities, education and varied lived experiences in support of your child and family. 

We understand that Safety (both physical and emotional) is of vital importance to you and to your child. We have individually and collectively, fostered established relationships in the local communities, neighboring schools, home learning platforms, other child-centered and Indigenous and Metis family support agencies. 

Every member of our team has updated criminal record checks with the vulnerable sector and workplace First Aid.

Heartfelt Therapy & EFL Team

    Katy Scoones | Heartfelt Therapy Founder

    Katy Scoones is the founder of Heartfelt Therapy, a practice which, (like many of our animals), found its forever home at Heartfelt Farm and Therapy in rural Saanich. Katy is a Registered Art Therapist, (RCAT, Post MA Art Therapy, MA, BA, Vis Art) and is an Equine – Facilitated Wellness Mental Health Practitioner. She has training in Expressive Play Therapy and Indigenous Focusing Oriented Therapy and Complex Trauma, Brain Spotting, Mindfulness and Regulation Therapy and Parent Coaching through IPNB (Interpersonal Neurobiology), Poly Vagal theory and Attachment Theory. She strongly believes that all behaviors, be they human or equine, are not to be judged, but to be seen as information as to how that individual is experiencing “on the inside”.

    Katy’s background in the Creative Arts and a variety of Medical and Mental Health settings culminated in a career which is centered on walking alongside the young ones and their families. She has specifically worked in a multi-modal, land-based practice and with Equine and Animal Assisted Therapy, supporting children and youth. Before moving full time into her own private practice in Saanich, Katy was part of Generation Farm’s Equine Therapy program where she provided Mental Health Services and Art Therapy for children and youth. At her time with Generation, Katy was a clinician in an Equine-therapy program specifically focused on adults going through Addictions treatment. Katy was formerly employed as a clinician with MCFD Child and Youth Mental Health, South Island Eating Disorders Program, the Esquimalt Nation Community, (for whom she provided culturally informed mental health support to children, youth and families). Most dear to her heart currently, are the groups she runs for The Tribal School, Children in Care (through the Aboriginal Delegated Authorities) and Metis Nation Canada, as well as Island Kids Cancer Association.

    Katy recalls fondly caring for her first pony at age 6 and finding a sense of belonging in the natural world from an early age. She has been sharing the company of horses now for over 50 years. Katy believes in creating a culture of reciprocity, caring, community and curiosity, and her farm is a place of felt safety and solace for those vulnerable ones among us. She acknowledges that connection is a biological imperative, and that true connection to self, can be felt in the attuned presence of our animal relations and the natural world.

    “Knowing that you love the earth changes you, activates you to defend and protect and celebrate. But when you feel that the earth loves you in return, that feeling transforms the relationship from a one-way street into a sacred bond.”

    - Robin Wall Kimmerer

    • Hannah Scoones | EFL

      Hannah is our herd manager, group co-facilitator, EFL student, and owner of Stable Connections Equine Services. Growing up with the privilege of being surrounded by horses and a natural understanding of their sacred way of being, Hannah is motivated by the wisdom and learning that horses have to offer us. Currently completing her Equine Facilitated Wellness (Pro Canada) training, Hannah is a Co-Facilitator of many Heartfelt offerings, as well as program lead for our very own Stable Connections programs. In these programs, Hannah offers both individual and group equine wellness programs for children ages 4+ seeking to learn about and be in connected relationship with horses. 

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      Hannah has also completed her Barefoot Trimming Certification, and offers trimming services within the local area. She specializes in working with ponies & miniature horses. In this work, Hannah is inspired to work with each animal's individual needs to create positive lasting equine care experiences. 

    • Anastasia Hirst | CYC

      Anastasia is a Child and Youth Care worker with a deep passion for supporting children and youth in nurturing, relational spaces. She holds a BA in Child and Youth Care and an Early Childhood Educator Assistant Certificate, and is currently completing her MA in Counselling Psychology. Anastasia co-facilitates wellness programs where children, youth, and families are invited to slow down, connect with themselves and others, and experience support through relationship. She is especially drawn to the wisdom of horses and the calming presence of nature, and values the way these more-than-human teachers can help young people feel grounded, seen, and heard. Rooted in a relational and strengths-based approach, Anastasia centres safety, curiosity, and connection in her work, honouring each child’s unique story and ways of being in the world.

    • Sasha Routley | MA CYC, RCC

      For as long as Sasha can
      remember, animals and the natural world have held significant roles in her life,
      as some of her dearest friends, teachers and healers.  

      In her ongoing journey of healing, growth and education, Sasha has learned that horses have extraordinary ways of engaging humans in experiences of authentic connection, deeply felt support and resilience.

      Sasha is thrilled and grateful to have a place in this compelling area of therapy, where the innate capacity to heal is nourished through relationships of mutual safety, belonging and kinship with the more-than-human world.

    • Danika Johnstone | RSW

      Danika is a Registered Social Worker with the BCCSW and is currently completing her Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology. She brings over 10 years of experience supporting children and youth in a variety of settings, and is deeply committed to walking alongside young people in ways that feel safe, respectful, and empowering.

      Her approach is open, grounded, and compassionate, with a strong belief that each child holds their own inner wisdom and capacity for growth. She values creating a space where clients feel seen, heard, and supported to move at their own pace, following their unique process.

      Having grown up on a farm surrounded by animals, Danika developed an early connection to the natural world and the meaningful relationships it can offer. She brings a creative and enthusiastic spirit to her work, and feels grateful to be part of a space where children can explore, express, and reconnect with themselves, others, and the land.

    • Meag Saulnier | CYC

      Meag Saulnier is a mixed ancestry womyn of European and Mi’kmaq descent. She is grateful to the Lkwungen people for providing a home away from home and has had the great honour to work within community for the past 17 years in various capacities. Meagan’s educational background is in Child and Youth Care and has been trained in attachment and trauma informed approaches. She values relational work while also honouring Indigenous teachings and ways of knowing, doing, being, and healing. Meagan has a deep respect for the land – the four legged, winged ones, crawlers, finned friends, standing still and plant relatives, recognizing them as a part of the work she does. Meagan also believes in the power of play and artistic expression as important tools on ones journey.

    Art & Nature Program Team

    • Sophie Scoones | B.Ends

      Sophie has always walked with a desire to be in relationship to, and a caretaker of, the natural world and its many facets. A Landscape Designer by trade, Sophie finds joy at the intersections of creativity and nature. At the farm, Sophie is our Little Well Beings & Club Spiral program designer, but you will often spot her tending the land, caring for the animals, loading up the farm stand, or puttering in the garden. Inspired by the teachings of Robin Wall Kimmerer, Sophie believes that when you love something in nature, you will take care of it; at Heartfelt Farm, her intention is to gently guide children into a loving connection with the natural world. 

    • Reegan McTavish | ECEA

      With her love for nature and experience in Early Childhood Education, Reegan values integrating knowledge with hands-on learning. She recognizes the importance of understanding and being in relationship to the natural world, and supporting children in nourishing this this way of being. At Heartfelt Farm, Reegan is a co-creator & lead in our LWB programs and Club Spiral. Through these programs, she brings playful and imaginative energy, leading by example and encouraging limitless whimsy in all that we do. Reegan is grateful to be a part of the Heartfelt Farm team and the opportunity to continue to expand her knowledge in an environment that is congruent to her own learning and teaching styles. Reegan is currently pursuing a BA in Education.

    • Chelsea Miller | CHN

      Chelsea is a Holistic Nutritionist and outdoor enthusiast who brings a warm, playful energy to each experience she leads. At Heartfelt Farm, Chelsea weaves together her passions for nourishing food, art, and nature through her role as co-lead in Club Spiral. Whether preparing snacks, guiding creative projects, or integrating her childhood Scouts knowledge in supporting outdoor adventures, she focuses on nurturing confidence, imagination, and a sense of belonging. Chelsea believes creativity should be a little messy, food should be fun, and that everyone deserves a space to try new things and feel safe doing it.

    • Sam Fazio | ECU

      Sam(she/her) is a local artist who believes creativity plays a crucial role in learning, connection, and self-expression. She has been making sense of the world through art since she was old enough to hold a crayon, and she carries that knowledge and experience into her teachings. With a background in Visual Art at Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Sam is trained in drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, and textile arts. She loves to explore mixed-media through playful crafts and creative thinking. Her approach to art education is supportive and invites folks to slow down, play, try new things, and trust their creative instincts over striving for perfection.Sam works primarily with upcycled materials, encouraging sustainability, imagination, and care for the world around us. At Heartfelt Farm, Sam is a co-lead of Club Spiral where she plays a vital role in creating an expressive, creative, and grounded space.

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    Our Herd

    • Spirit

    • Nosey

    • Cowboy

    • Ladybug

    • Onyx

    • Sweet Pea

    • Arnold

    • Honey

    • Buttercup

    • Paisley

    • Tom Tom

    • Spot

    • Farley

    • The Flower Girls

    In loving memory of ... ❤

    • Guinness

      In loving memory of Guinness, a medicine horse in every sense of the word. To spend time with Guin was to feel seen, heard, and safe. His capacity to hold what cannot be held alone was immeasurable, moving so many through pain, sadness, grief, anxiety, worry, and heartache. He knew exactly what each heart needed, every single time, and his presence in the herd is deeply missed each day.

      ❤

    • Ellie

      In loving memory of our sweet girl Ellie, whose light will stay with us forever and always. Ellie spent her years at the farm touching the hearts and spirits of many with her beautiful energy, playfulness, enthusiasm for life, and endless sense of adventure. We are so grateful to have had the honour to know and care for her all these years ❤

    • Ted

      In loving memory of Tetley, our honorary four-legged camp leader who spent his days welcoming kiddos to the farm, guiding them throughout their visits, wading in the pond, watching lizards, pottering around during early morning chores, admiring his favorite friends (the chickens) and overall being the most wonderful boy. He is missed and loved by many ❤