A Place of Peace is within you!
 
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A Place of Peace is a community of love and peace – A Place of Peace to journey; emotionally, spiritually, personally. We offer a home for the soul and a bridge to the Oneness in all traditions. We are dedicated to becoming a visible, viable and constant presence of love and hope in our community, to opening hearts and minds that we might extend outward through and beyond; individuals, families, community, and country toward healing, peace, joy and power in the universe.
The purpose of A Place of Peace shall be:

To provide a forum for personal and spiritual growth through but not limited to: counseling, interactive dialogue, education, study groups, workshops, prayer, meditation, retreats

To directly engage in and to provide facilities for: counseling, worship, self reflection and community

To sponsor lectures and events from like minded others

To provide outreach to: hospitals, food shelters, community service programs

To provide a facility for healing/awakening/spiritual enlightenment through but not limited to the various modalities of: Counseling, Drum, Movement, Massage, Energy Facilitation, Reiki, and Music.

Teri Kierbel, President
Resident Counselor and Minister

In his book The Little Prince, French author, Saint-Exupery, asks us to consider a concept so simple it seems obvious, yet so simply wise it tends to escape the most intelligent of minds. “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye...It is the time you waste on your rose that makes your rose so important....”

I love that message! I “waste” time. And, I encourage all of us to do so - to “waste” time that we might see from the heart what is invisible. I encourage the wasting of our precious time on the roses in each of our own gardens of life. I challenge us all to “waste” as much time as we can on our loved ones - to meet them from our hearts. I uphold the “waste” of time on ourselves in acts of self love, on causes that arouse our passions and on simple pleasures of the heart that whisper to us of the eternal. I believe the time we “waste” is how we come to know....

A Place of Peace is my Rose, my passion, the whisper of the eternal in my heart. I am honored and excited to be here and to have this opportunity to be part of the creation of a Place for people to find, work toward, offer, experience…Peace.

I am blessed with sons who are also my Roses and my passion. Our journey for these past 30+ years has been my greatest teacher of love, peace and hope. And now my grand daughter has blessed us with her precious life – teaching our family an even deeper sense of love. I am a wife to a wonderful man who shares and supports - participates in my dreams and now finds them to be his own.

I am a Counselor, guiding people in the process of “knowing”; themselves, their partners, their environments and their visions ~ for the purpose of participating in their lives effectively, fully and peacefully. I have been in private practice now for over 20 years and am currently in the process of obtaining my doctorate in Metaphysical Sciences. I am an Ordained Interfaith Minister as well - I have been an Associate Minister at The Interfaith Fellowship in Thousand Oaks and a member of the Conejo Valley Ecumenical Counsel. Much of my ministry is with people who have left traditional religious forums but who search for spirituality. I address their concerns or disaffection while at the same time honoring the truth and beauty of those traditions that formed them. I love assisting folks who come to me to create both traditional and non-traditional spiritual ceremonies that create a sacred and meaningful experience for their special times.

The vision I hold for my work is ever changing. I believe in the evolution of the human spirit toward a love and need for individual truth. I believe in the healing of our planet, and our people. I know my quest is to serve in that arena. Therefore, I walk with people where they are and am honored by the journey they share.....I hold all in my heart. My practice and ministry are planted where ever there is need or desire for Love/Light/Truth/God. My message is Love and my way is Peace. I pray that I will understand more each moment I live how sacred life is in all its forms as I strive to grow in wisdom, reverence and respect. As I grow and mature I pray for increasing integrity in my life. I imagine peace - for myself and the world - that all may know the beauty and perfection of now.

Now, I am here in Ventura and I look forward to welcoming fellow travelers to our Community at A Place of Peace ~ as well as to our weekly Interfaith Services. I look forward to meeting any and all of you in the days, months and years to come.



Doug Kierbel, Treasurer

I am Doug Kierbel, Board of Director. I am blessed as husband and father of a wonderful family. I am excited and thrilled to be involved with the creation of A Place of Peace. I have always felt a need to do my part in supporting people to bring about positive change in their lives. In the early 70’s I joined VISTA Volunteers as a full time employee. Thereafter I became the Director of a non-profit community service organization, working with consumer protection and landlord tenant meditation. In the late 70’s I earned my Masters Degree in Public Administration and later in the 90’s my Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology. In 1978 I became a Labor Relations Specialist at UCLA Medical Center and there I stayed for 23 years. I transferred to University of California at Santa Barbara campus in the same capacity for the next 7 years. I left UCSB in June of 2008 to begin my journey with A Place of Peace. Currently I am working with my wife Teri to help facilitate couples counseling and provide administrative support for the Place of Peace.

My excitement with A Place of Peace is that I believe we can build a home for the heart and a place to come to get filled up and connected with others of like mind. I see A Place of Peace as a place that will feed the soul and promote inner peace and happiness. I’m looking forward to where our outreach in the community will take us and all the folks we will meet along the way. I enjoy Teri’s and my sessions with couple’s counseling – we draw on our own journey in love and marriage for our work and I think truly connect with our clients’ healing process.

I look forward to meeting any and all of you. Hope you’ll stop by.



Illayne Kiel, Volunteer Coordinator

My name is Illayne Kiel and I am a Board Member of A Place of Peace. I have been friends with Teri and Doug for 10 years now, supporting their dream of the community they envisioned. I was a participant in Teri’s ministry in Thousand Oaks and am very happy to assist in her endeavors here in Ventura . I am a Speech Therapist, working in the Oxnard School District . I have been working in California schools for over 20 years and love my work. I also work with Children’s Therapy Network, making home visits for them in the surrounding communities. I will be offering after school tutoring for children in the community needing a little extra support.

I am married to a wonderful man, Mark. We spend much of our time around the beach and park in Oxnard Shores where we live, together with our little Calico, a small labradoodle. I look forward to what the future may bring for all of us at A Place of Peace.

Jim DeSmit, Outreach Chair

I am Jim, and this new venture is just what I have been searching for in my life. I come to the board with lots of love and willingness. I feel Ventura needs a place like this, A Place of Peace, and I am going to do my part to make things happen. Our board meetings are filled with ideas and good will – we are all on the same wave length and I like that harmony. I guess our job is to support the creation process and then the sustaining of our new community. We are all looking forward to this new beginning.

I was born in New Mexico but have lived in Texas and California as well. I’ve been here in California for more years than I can remember now. I have two Masters Degrees from Berkeley and have left teaching Math at Ventura College , last year. Actually, I enjoy my coffee and donuts with friends in the morning, wandering and finding what’s out there, meeting new people, I seek out all kinds of meditation, and I believe in service. I am a minimalist and am enjoying the process of releasing material things that I have collected over the years toward simplifying my life style.

Come celebrate with us on Sundays – or Wednesday nights for A Course in Miracles. I’ll see you then and there.

Phil Carker, Outreach Chair

I am Phil Carker, father of 5 sons and a big German Shepard dog I love. I am a man who loves – and my life is dedicated to that endeavor. I live in Houston Texas but that will not stop me from being a huge part and presence at A Place of Peace. I will be traveling to California every couple of months, to stay for a month each time, to work together with Teri and the Board of A Place of Peace. I’m known as a, “get it done spirit”. Now a part of the A Place of Peace Board of Directors, I will get it done. I realize in this new commitment that I am back where I began, a place of new beginning. This is a beautiful Place, and a community of people with outstretched arms, full of love.

I have a long and successful history of businesses I have owned and operated, my most recent and loved was, Health Masters, School and Clinic of Massage in Houston Texas . Teri and I shared a practice in Houston , years ago – she has spoken of her vision of A Place of Peace for many many years.

Together, all of us, we are going to make it all happen!


 



In-House Professional Practitioners



Teri Kierbel, Counselor/Interfaith Minister/Counselor
(805) 794-9878

teri@aplaceofpeace.org
www.aplaceofpeace.org

Teri is a Counselor, Interfaith Minister, and Spiritual Guide - Founding A Place of Peace to provide a "Place" to journey: emotionally, spiritually and personally.

As a counselor and spiritual guide, Teri assists people in the process of coming to the fullness of their promise.  
Her passion is to awaken participation in life: fully, peacefully and with love.  
Toward that end she is a guide in the process of coming to truly “know” and understand one's self, one's partner, one's environment and vision.
Teri journeys with those who seek to release, within theselves, their best and highest selves, that they might flourish outwardly.
Her Relationship Counseling supports couples in finding the love that drew them together in the beginning…
in removing the blocks to the awareness of love’s presence...in creating the vibrant life they envision.
Teri's Workshops, Retreats, and Classes are fun, empowering, motivating and healing.
She holds Meditation Circles and A Course in Miracle Study Groups regularly and has recently introduced Full Moon Circles.

As an Interfaith Minister, Teri provides a Place for people who have left traditional religious forums but who search for
collectively diverse spirituality and community. Sunday Services are Circles of Love...casual and heartfelt.
She offers all the services of ministry; Weddings, Funerals, Baby Blesslings....


Teri has been in private practice for over 25 years, her ministry for 11 years.  
She was ordained in The New Seminary/ Interfaith Seminary in 2000.  
She is currently obtaining her doctorate in Metaphysical Science.
Teri is a founding board member of the Council of Interfaith Communities of the United States
and a member of Spiritual Directors International.

Doug Kierbel

Doug Kierbel, MA, Clinical Psychology
MBA, Pulic Administration
Co-Founder of A Place of Peace

(805) 794-9917
dougkierbel@gmail.com
After 30 years with the University of California, Doug retired to co-found A Place of Peace with Teri.
Doug assists with the administration and overall business functions of A Place of Peace. He is pulling
together all aspects of the Wellness Center: Equipment, Practitioners, Instructors, etc.
Doug currently co-counsels Relationship/Couple’s Counseling with Teri and works with her on their Couples's Retreats.  
He is in the process of beginning a Men’s Process Group to facilitate their exploration of self and Doug
offers his Drum Circle each month on the 2nd Wednesday.
Doug is also a Mediation Specialist focused on Labor Relations.





Monique De La Cruz
Development Director and Drug and Alcohol Counselor





Linsey Shoop

Linsey Shoop  
805.746.5100

lshoop25@gmail

As a licensed Esthetician and Massage Therapist Linsey offers an array of spa services.
 Linsey's Spa experiences indluce: facials customiized to your skin care needs, mini facials, microdermabrasion, glycolic peels, full body waxing, brow shapeing, brow and lash tinting, back facials
skin needling, lash extensions and more to come!.
                                                                                    
                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                    
                                                                                        

Shelly Bokoles

Shelly Bokoles, LMT
Specializing in Myofascial Release
Reiki Master,
805.323.6714
healingspacemassage@gmail.com

Shelly graduated as a Holistic Massage Therapist in 2003 from the Ojai School of Massage.
She began training in the John Barne’s system of Myofacial Release in 2010. 

Shelly shares, "I am passionate about Myofascial Release because it involves and honors the awareness and participation of the client. 
I work as a facilitator, holding safe space for the process.  Every session is exciting, new and totally unpredictable.

I love to help release patterns of restrictions that keep us stuck, whether they are physical restrictions in our fascia that keep
our movement confined to a “straight jacket” or emotional and thought patterns that we repeat in our lives. 

Myofascial Release and Reiki blend seamlessly in my work to create change on every level, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

Shelly began studying Reiki in 2010 with Shannon Sosebee.





Karen Ritchie
365peace@gmail.com


Karen Ritchie is retired from the practice of psychiatry, and now teaches energy techniques.
She teaches tapping, a form of acupuncture people can do themselves without needles. 
Tapping is easy to learn and easy to use – children learn it quickly and teach it to others.
Tapping can help with symptoms such as anxiety and pain, and has been shown effective for phobias.

Karen offers group and individual sessions on tapping for abundance.  She also offers phone sessions.

Karen offers hypnosis, which can be used for age regression or past life exploration as well as helping with current life problems.

Karen offers sessions with Trinfinity8, which is a tool for awakening positive vibrational change.
This device uses pure quartz crystal rods to directly deliver information to the body. See more information about this device at www.trinfinity8.com.
.
 Karen does not diagnose or treat any medical illness.







Mary Ellen Cullen, MSW
Intuitive Counselor/New Consciousness Teacher 
(805) 426-5414
newconsciousbody@yahoo.com
www.newconsciousbody.com

Mary Ellen has been studying consciousness and the concept that all things are energy, for the last eight
years of her personal and spiritual awakening process.

Starting in childhood, Mary Ellen suffered from an eating addiction, poor health and poor body
image yet has moved beyond this and has helped many others to as well. She teaches about the energies
of food and the body and how they respond to our own consciousness of self love and acceptance.

Mary Ellen provides individual private sessions and is facilitating a class on Tuesday afternoons at A Place of Peace.
As a Intuitive Counselor, and as a Group Facilitator, she provides a safe energetic and emotional space to help
others develop a spiritual relationship with food, their bodies and to find peace with their emotions.
She facilitates groups and individuals to bring Spirit into their moment to moment experiences to live with more joy and balance.

Mary Ellen has facilitated workshops on Food, Body and Spirit since 1999 in Michigan, North Carolina, and California.
She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2003 with a Masters Degree in Social Work.
She worked in Mental Health as a Counselor and Clinical Therapist for 5 years. She now prefers private
practice to work with others on a spiritual and creative level.





MICHAEL J. SOMPURA, LMT
Massage Therapist
805.701.4680 Cell
LoveHeartWellness@gmail.com

Michael is a gentle and spiritual man with a gift in massage healing.  He is a detail-oriented professional with sixteen years of massage experience.

 Michael utilizes an array of techniques depending on the clients needs.  He is skilled in Swedish, Sports, Deep Tissue,
Acupressure, Geriatric and other modalities of massage. Michael aintains and promotes good health through regular exercise & diet; swimming, cycling,
yoga and body surfing. He meditates regularly. Michael educates and informs clients on proper techniques to improve mobility, health & well being. 

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS

Certification, Massage Therapist, Santa Barbara School of Massage
B.S. in Finance/Business Administration, California State University
Arizona State Life and Health Insurance License
FINRA Series 24, 7, 66, 63 Securities Licenses

AFFILIATIONS

Toastmasters International (a professional public speaking organization), Former Member & Former VP of Public Relations
Boys and Girls Club, Former Member and Fundraiser
Self Realization Fellowship, Member and Committed Volunteer
California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC), in process of affiliating




Venice  Honick, MFT
805-218-5977
www.venicehonick.com
www.motivationalcoaching.com


Venice Honick understands transitions and the deep impact that new beginnings can have on your life. She has faced these kinds of situations many times: joining the army,
living abroad, starting a new career as a therapist, going through a divorce, building a successful career and becoming an organizational leader, and finally taking the leap to
follow her heart and personal vision by starting her own business.

Now, as a Therapist and Transition Coach, she focuses on helping others find solutions as they make their way through
their life transitions, so that they too break through psychological barriers, discover their true selves and live fulfilling lives.

Unconditional positive regard for her clients, combined with patience and caring support, helps you forge a supercharged path through transition. Her structured program points the
way to new perspectives on your situation so that you bring your deepest desires into reality.

Venice has broad experience and understanding of a wide range of work environments: military, government, corporate and now as an entrepreneur.
As a Social Services Program Director for the Fleet and Family Support Center at the Naval Base at Port Hueneme, California, she created model programs for individuals and groups.
Her programs are used throughout the Navy.

Corporate, military and local newspapers highlighted her dedication and caring as well as her innovative and conscientious approach. She received awards for
excellence and letters of recognition for her work in the military, in government service and in her corporate career.

Venice is a Certified Coach, trained at the prestigious Hudson Institute in Santa Barbara. She holds a Masters’ Degree in Clinical Psychology from
Antioch University and a license as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) in California. She was a Sergeant in the United States Army.

Venice’s 3-month program 6-Steps Through a Challenging Life Transition provides a roadmap that guides you to a life that inspires you. 
She is also available for individual, couple or family sessions. 




Gina Bartiromo
805-482-7416

Gina Bartiromo was raised in Ventura County. She left to attend UC Santa Cruz where she enrolled in a semester-long study abroad program at the University of British Columbia.
That was the beginning of her international travel. After completing graduate work at John F Kennedy University, she worked full time as a Post Partum Doula and Lactation Educator for 6 ½ years.
In 2003, after a 6 month backpacking trip to Thailand, Australia and New Zealand, she officially caught the travel bug and found a way to live and work in Australia and New Zealand
for nearly 2 years. Upon returning to the USA, she took a temp job and settled into a studio apartment in the Bay Area. On a camping trip to Yosemite with dear friends,
life dramatically changed when she miraculously survived a 150+ foot fall down Half Dome and was severely injured. She has been rehabilitating and rebuilding her life piece by piece
from the ground up ever since. In her search for a like-minded community, she found A Place of Peace.

Gina Bartiromo offers Mat Yoga as well as Lakshmi Voelker Chair Yoga (LVCY) Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 8:30am.
 LVCY offers the same benefits of traditional yoga for those of us with injury or physical limitation at various ages. There is no need to be on a mat or get onto the floor.
Poses are done in a seated position offering stability and comfort while stretching and strengthening the body.
 If you have experienced imbalance, arthritis, chronic pain, injury or simply don’t have ease of mobility, this class is for you.
Yoga can benefit the body by strengthening and toning the muscles that support daily living, reducing stress and inviting connection with the inner self.
Give it a try!






RayNelle Williams
Matrix Reimprinting-EFT
Life Integration Coach
805.216.2881
RayNellew@gmail.com

RayNelle is a gifted Intuitive Healer, Teacher and Self Integration Coach.  She integrates multiple healing modalities specific to each client’s needs to promote healing for mind, body and spirit. 
Recognized for her uncanny skill with emotional healing, RayNelle is a modern day alchemist using the ancient art of alchemy to change the frequency of thought,
alter the harmonics of cellular matter while applying the grace of Love to create the desired result.

She may also combine other healing modalities and energy transmissions such as matrix energetics, quantum touch, reconnection, quantum touch and EFT with awareness training
while reading the client’s energy fields and assisting in clearing blocked areas.

Everything RayNelle offers is decidedly spiritual as she believes we are spirit beings - energy in motion.  She feels it is important to continually validate our spirit
nature so we remember our connection to All That Is.



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