loader from loading.io

The Wisdom of the Wild: Healing Through Animal Connection with Koelle Simpson

The Web: Weaving Psychology and Soul in Circle

Release Date: 03/11/2025

The Well: Stepping Into the Sacred Work of Circle show art The Well: Stepping Into the Sacred Work of Circle

The Web: Weaving Psychology and Soul in Circle

What if the very reasons you think you can’t step away—the lack of time, the money worries, the doubt—are actually the clearest signs that you need to? In this final episode of The Circle Revealed summer series, I’m opening the door to The Well—my annual retreat and experiential training in Colorado for therapists, healers, and guides who are longing for more soul in their work and more spaciousness in their lives. Inside this conversation, I share: Why Circle is the antidote to depletion, disconnection, and burnout How The Well blends restorative retreat with experiential...

info_outline
The Method to the Magic: Seven Guiding Pillars show art The Method to the Magic: Seven Guiding Pillars

The Web: Weaving Psychology and Soul in Circle

In this fourth episode of The Circle Revealed series, I’m pulling back the curtain on the Seven Pillars that form the foundation of every sacred, life-changing Circle I lead. These principles—rooted in the lineage of my mentor, Jalaja Bonheim—are the invisible architecture that makes Circle a place of safety, depth, and transformation. Whether you’ve been in a Circle before, are considering joining one, or feel called to hold these spaces yourself, the Seven Pillars offer a map for creating gatherings that nourish both heart and soul. In this episode, I explore: ✨ The larger web of...

info_outline
Finding Ourselves in Circle: Stories of Impact and Becoming show art Finding Ourselves in Circle: Stories of Impact and Becoming

The Web: Weaving Psychology and Soul in Circle

In this third episode of The Circle Revealed series, I’m joined by Constance Wilson, Carla Canfield, and Tiffany Lehman—three thoughtful and courageous women whose journeys into Circle began with The Well, my experiential retreat for therapists and healing professionals. Their initial retreat experience opened the door to unexpected transformation, which deepened through The Nest, my six-month mentorship program that includes a practice retreat for integration and facilitation. In this conversation, they reflect on: ✨What first drew them to Circle ✨The surprising depth of healing that...

info_outline
This Changed Everything: One Therapist's Journey Into Circle show art This Changed Everything: One Therapist's Journey Into Circle

The Web: Weaving Psychology and Soul in Circle

In this second episode of The Circle Revealed, I sit down with psychotherapist Maggie Robbins, whose life and work have been profoundly shaped by stepping into Circle. With advanced training in EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, Maggie brings a grounded, relational presence to her work. But it was Circle that opened a deeper doorway—one that continues to shape how she holds space, connects with clients, and lives into her own healing path. In this episode, Maggie shares: ✨ What first drew her toward Circle—and why she kept coming back ✨ The subtle but...

info_outline
What Circle Offers That Therapy Often Forgets show art What Circle Offers That Therapy Often Forgets

The Web: Weaving Psychology and Soul in Circle

In this first full episode of The Circle Revealed, I share what makes Circle different from therapy—not as a replacement, but as a powerful remembering. For so many therapists and healing professionals, there comes a point when something begins to feel too tight. The therapy room starts to feel clinical, the pace unsustainable, and the sacred… missing. That’s where Circle comes in. It’s not a modality—it’s a way of being. A field we co-create. In this episode, I share: ✨ Why therapy alone sometimes leaves us feeling stretched, isolated, or disconnected ✨ A pivotal turning point...

info_outline
The Circle Revealed: A Summer Series show art The Circle Revealed: A Summer Series

The Web: Weaving Psychology and Soul in Circle

In this opening episode, I introduce The Circle Revealed—a special summer series for therapists and healing professionals who are curious about Circlework and what makes it so transformational. This isn’t just theory—it’s an invitation into a different way of gathering. One that’s grounded, embodied, and relational. One that can shift the way you work, lead, and live. In this series preview, I share: ✨ Why I created The Circle Revealed ✨ Common questions I hear from therapists about Circle (and why it’s hard to describe) ✨ What this work has opened in my own life and practice...

info_outline
Patterns That Keep Us Small: And the Path to Stepping In show art Patterns That Keep Us Small: And the Path to Stepping In

The Web: Weaving Psychology and Soul in Circle

In this heartfelt episode, I explore three of the most common (and often invisible) barriers that keep women facilitators and heart-led leaders stuck. These aren’t mindset issues—they’re survival strategies we’ve inherited from a culture that hasn’t always supported women’s leadership.   Drawing on insights from a recent retreat inside The Nest mentorship program, as well as my own personal experiences, I’ll walk you through:   ✨Why fear of visibility, over-giving, and isolation show up ✨How these patterns are trying to keep you safe ✨Ways to gently begin moving...

info_outline
My Personal Journey with Group Work show art My Personal Journey with Group Work

The Web: Weaving Psychology and Soul in Circle

In this special episode, Carrie Haynes sits down with her friend and colleague, Dr. Craig Heacock, on his podcast Back from the Abyss for a deep and personal conversation about her journey as a group therapist. Carrie shares how she first fell in love with group work, the pivotal moments that shaped her approach, and the evolution from traditional therapy groups into the heart-centered, transpersonal circles she now facilitates. Together, they explore the joys, challenges, and sacred responsibilities of group facilitation, as well as the inner work required to hold transformational space for...

info_outline
Field Awareness: Exploring Transference and Countertransference with Craig Heacock show art Field Awareness: Exploring Transference and Countertransference with Craig Heacock

The Web: Weaving Psychology and Soul in Circle

Welcome back to The Web! In this episode, Carrie sits down with her friend and colleague, psychiatrist Dr. Craig Heacock, host of Back from the Abyss, to explore the subtle yet powerful energies of transference and countertransference in therapy—especially in group work and psychedelic-assisted healing. They’ll discuss: ✨ How transference and countertransference shape group dynamics and therapeutic relationships ✨ The challenge of balancing self-awareness as facilitators while holding space for others ✨ How unresolved emotions and past relationships can resurface in therapy—and...

info_outline
The Web: Weaving Psychology and Soul in Circle show art The Web: Weaving Psychology and Soul in Circle

The Web: Weaving Psychology and Soul in Circle

The web is a timeless symbol of interconnectedness and coherence. Unique to its creative weaver, each strand and spiral builds upon the last to strengthen the whole, expand it’s reach, and widen it’s range for opportunity. On The Web podcast, we weave a network of planetary healers by bringing together some of the most inspiring minds dedicated to the collective healing journey. In each episode, we explore different aspects of the art of group and Circle facilitation, share stories, and offer guidance on spinning a web of connection within your groups. Song: Composer: Sappheiros...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

This week Carrie is joined by Koelle Simpson.  Koelle is a life coach, horse whisperer, spiritual mentor with more than 20 years of experience supporting clients and leading retreats around the globe. She is the founder of an internationally renowned Equus Coaching Movement and supports individuals and organizational clients worldwide, both online and in person, including South Africa, Europe, the UAE, Canada, and the United States. Beginning in early childhood, horses were an important part of Koelle’s journey to overcome trauma and rebuild a sense of trust in herself. 

Koelle’s work has been featured in O MagazineBBC Business Report, the National Journal, the OWN Network and she is a TEDx speaker. She has traveled the globe providing unique nature based retreats that invite participants to discover what’s possible when we feel safe enough to be our whole selves.

Koelle holds a bachelors in psychology from Naropa University. She is trained as an advanced Somatic Experiencing practitioner, a DARe Attachment Theory practitioner, and a Psychedelic Somatic Institute therapist with 14 years of experience supporting psychedelic therapy.

At present, Koelle is completing a memoir that is being developed into a feature film. Beyond the intentions of creating a full feature-length film, this ambitious project is designed to empower youth and adults to transform trauma’s impact into resilience and healing. 

Together they’ll discuss:

  • Koelle’s personal journey and the role that animals played in her healing.
  • A window into working with Koelle 
  • Working with psychedelic medicine
  • The importance of integration in psychedelic work

And much more…

You can connect with Koelle at http://www.koellesimpson.com

Visit carriehayneslpc.com to learn more.

Direction and Original Idea: Carrie Haynes 

Production: Hayley Lewis