From Loss to Life

Left: Jeff and Darlene, owners of beautiful Willowbend Farm

The Ranch

The horses of Willowbend Farm will be our guides on this marvelous journey of self-discovery and healing.

Willowbend is a beautiful, privately owned ranch just outside of Missoula, Montana, You will be treated to the wisdom of several of Jeff and Darlene Patterson's extraordinary horses, as well as the comfort of a state of the art indoor arena and adjacent community room where we will meet and discuss our many adventures and insights. 

See what your workshop will be like in this beautiful video photo collage!

Right: One of the Willowbend horses, Teton, and Jane Sparks, your workshop coordinator.

Missoula

Missoula sits in the hub of five valleys. It is called the Garden City because its location makes its climate more temperate than the rest of the state. In the summer Missoula boasts an abundance of flowering trees and comes alive with colorful flowers. Our September arrival will be just on the cusp of fall. The trees will likely just have a beginning blush of their fall color, the air will be crisp in the mornings, and the days should still be pleasantly warm.

Three rivers run through Missoula: the Blackfoot, the Clark Fork, and the Bitterroot. The Blackfoot River was featured in the now classic movie A River Runs Through It with Brad Pitt.  

There is much to do and see in the Missoula area including hiking, fishing, horseack riding, massage, art, theatre, restaurants and shops. You might want to book a few extra days in the area. We can provide you with suggestions to make your extended stay the best!

Our Itinerary                

A Special Field Trip to The Silk Road

A culinary adventure fit for a hero or heroine, the Silk Road is a world class restaurant offering hand prepared global cuisine in the heart of Missoula. Even avid cooks visit the Silk Road to venture outside of their own spice racks.  There is so much to love about the Silk Road; the dynamic menu, the friendly people, and their flair for the exotic. The menu is always changing, and because they serve small tapas style plates you get to try a variety of delicious food from around the world.

Cost: $697

Includes: All workshop activities, time with the horses, experienced facilitation, Thursday evening dinner, lunch on Friday and Saturday, dinner on Saturday night at the Silk Road, snacks, handouts and materials.

Does not include: Airfare, hotel, car rental, breakfasts, Friday dinner, Sunday lunch or drinks at the Silk Road. 

Once you reserve a spot, we'll send out a list of nearby lodging, car rental information, a packing list, directions to the ranch, etc. Let us know if you'd like to room with someone else or share car rental and we'll coordinate connections with other participants who are interested in same. 

REGISTER HERE

Your Facilitators

Lynn Baskfield, M.A., PCC

Lynn guides people through rites of passage with storytelling, writing, nature and horses. A lifelong horsewoman, she partners with horses to evoke insights and learning that her clients cannot get anywhere else.  It is Lynn's experience that when her clients connect with themselves through the horses, empowerment and creative solutions emerge quite naturally. She has been doing workshops and teaching about the Hero's Journey with Horses for several years. 

Coe Dolven

Coe Dolven, M.A. is a licensed trauma clinician in private practice at Red Willow Center for Health and Healing in Missoula. She works primarily with adults healing from depression, anxiety, trauma and challenging life transitions, but also helps couples and older adolescents. Coe acquired her first horse Olivia, a buckskin mare, at age 50. It was then she began her own journey of self-discovery, learning about and confronting fears, and finding courage and confidence through her relationship with her horse. 

After two years of training, Coe became certified as an Equine Interaction Education and Mental Health Professional. This approach enables her to combine her love of animals and her commitment to growth and healing. When not doing therapy in her traditional office setting, she can be found offering the same assistance at the barn with the help of her equine partners.