Our Story
Action Therapy™ blends real-life experiences with healing, meeting people where they are—emotionally, spiritually, and culturally—for true transformation.
Whistling Wind Counseling and Therapy Services was born out of a deep need—and a deeper love—for community.
For years, our founders walked alongside young people in the streets, schools, shelters, and community spaces of Winnipeg. They listened to stories that weren’t being heard, witnessed pain that wasn’t being acknowledged, and saw strengths that were constantly overlooked. What they also saw was that conventional mental health systems weren’t built for the realities many youth were facing—especially those involved with Child and Family Services, justice systems, addiction recovery, or housing instability.
There was a gap between what was needed and what was being offered. So we
stepped in—not just with services, but with presence.
Since 2011, under the leadership of Mitch Bourbonniere, Whistling Wind began as a grassroots movement—a circle of trusted helpers who responded directly to the needs of youth and families in crisis. Mitch, a respected social worker, educator, and community activist, brought together a core group of Action Therapists who shared a vision: that healing happens in relationship, and that therapy must move beyond office walls to meet youth where they are.
Together, this group built a responsive, community-based approach rooted in mentorship, cultural practices, social justice, and frontline support. They were not afraid to try new things, challenge old systems, or build programming from the ground up based on what youth actually needed. What started as outreach and informal support slowly unfolded into something more structured, sustainable, and powerful.
From these roots, Action Therapy™ was developed—a structured therapeutic model that blends counseling, land-based healing, cultural teachings, narrative therapy, mentorship, and advocacy. It’s built on five foundational principles: relationship, community, land, social justice, and spirit.
Founded by Mitch Bourbonniere and shaped by the lived experience and practical wisdom of his team, Action Therapy™ became more than a method—it became a movement. Therapy began to happen not only in talk but in action: on patrol walks, at
cultural gatherings, during moments of community service, while helping youth navigate court appearances, school transitions, and times of grief or danger.
Today, Action Therapy™ is a trademarked, nationally recognized modality delivered by clinically supervised, trained practitioners. But its heart remains the same: show up, build trust, and walk with people—not ahead of them.
As demand for authentic, culturally grounded support continued to grow, so did Whistling Wind. What began as a handful of committed Action Therapists has now grown into a team of over 40 professionals—therapists, youth mentors, educators, social workers, cultural helpers, and knowledge keepers—united in purpose and grounded in community.
In 2025, we expanded our services to include the Recovery and Wellness Program, a live-in, four-month residential treatment program for youth healing from addiction, trauma, and disconnection. Built on Action Therapy™, the 12-Step model, and
therapeutic community principles, it offers youth the structure, relationships, and cultural support to rebuild their lives with dignity and purpose.
We also offer one-to-one counseling in an office setting, where youth can access individualized therapeutic support grounded in narrative therapy, trauma-informed care, and relational practice. Whether through Action Therapy™, recovery, or clinical counseling, our work is always about meeting people with care, accountability, and love.
In many teachings, the wind is a messenger. It carries prayers, stories, and spirit across time and space. It’s unpredictable, powerful, and always moving—just like the healing journey. For us, Whistling Wind represents the movement of care, the flow of story, and the call to action. It reminds us to stay responsive, to listen deeply, and to let our work be guided by something greater than ourselves.
Whistling Wind is more than an agency. It is a circle. A response. A way of being with others that centers relationship, identity, accountability, and voice.
We continue to grow because the need continues to grow. We are committed to walking with youth through the hardest moments—not to fix them, but to stand beside them as they reclaim their power, purpose, and place in the world.
We’re grateful to the youth, families, communities, and helpers who have walked with us—and who continue to shape the next chapter of this story.