about me

my birth name is amy elizabeth johnson howton. 

 

my spiritual name is Bonewoman.

 

i am devoted to creating more loving, 

liberating, and life-affirming stories of who we

are and what is possible when we remember. 

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my work over the past thirty years has focused in the areas of trauma, racial + gender justice, community building, and organizational leadership development. 

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i hold an MA in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and a doctorate in Ecological Counseling. i am a licensed professional counselor in the state of Ohio, certified in Reiki, experienced in participatory action research, human-centered design, and trained in the Art of Hosting. i draw inspiration and guidance from the contemplative and mystical Christian wisdom tradition and the Celtic, Shambhala, Cherokee, and Dagara lineages I carry. 

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the natural world has been my most enduring classroom, grounding my practice in living systems, systems thinking, and emergent theory. i have taught at the university-level and practiced in various contexts including higher education, community-based nonprofits, faith-based institutions with experience working with individuals, organizations, and in network-building. communities of practice as a model for transformative change have been a core focus of my research and practice throughout my and i continue to believe in the power of bringing people together through intentional cycles of action and reflection.

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my most important training has been life and my own healing journey. with thanks to the lessons learned through occupying this white, female body, i draw on the wisdom and joy gained from a life of unlearning social conditioning and healing ancestral wounds, with deep gratitude to the ancestors and the elders and teachers who have guided and supported me along the way.