About Us

Robin Risso received her master’s in counseling from Cambridge College in Cambridge, MA in 2000. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist and has been a clinical member in good standing with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Robin is an Approved Supervisor for the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, coaching clinicians entering the field. Robin’s  has a strong focus in working from a relational perspective with adults, teens, and couples.

Areas of expertise include working with complex family systems, couples counseling, adolescent and transitional age issues. Robin utilizes a variety of therapeutic models including equine and animal interaction, neurofeedback, CBT, DBT, IFS, EMDR, experiential therapy, and discernment counseling for couples unsure of their path.

Intervention techniques are explored to ensure that treatment is always centered on the voice(s) of those she is working with.

Over the last year, Cathrin had the privilege of spearheading a new major in Equine Assisted Services at Asbury. The new major focuses on providing higher education in the field of EAS to students who seek to pursue a career in Adaptive/Therapeutic Riding, Equine-Assisted Therapies, or Equine-Assisted Learning. Developing this program has been a dream come true for Cathrin, who is very passionate about meeting the need for higher education services in the field of EAS for current and future practitioners.

Cathrin was born and raised in Germany and came to the US in pursuit of a BA that provided her with education and training in Equine-Assisted Mental Health at Asbury University and later on an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Equine Assisted Mental Health from Prescott College in AZ. Cathrin then continued to pursue her license as a professional mental health counselor in GA, practicing at community mental health agencies and non-profit programs, offering nature-based psychotherapy and experiential learning services that incorporate equines and other farm animals. Cathrin also assisted in the development of programs that desired to integrate nature-based and animal-assisted mental health services to their existing program offers. Cathrin is a CEIP-MH and also holds a certification in integrative mental health services (CIMHP)

When Cathrin is not working or playing at the farm with her co-worker and co-lecturer, Eclipse, a 25-year-old Shagya Arabian, you will find her somewhere adventuring in the great outdoors with her husband Mike, their two children Micah and Evie, and their trusted canine companions, Layla and Buddy.

Patty Adams is the Executive Director and Head Instructor at Spirit Ride Equine Assisted Learning Center located in Banner Elk, North Carolina. Having taught in the public school system as an educator for diverse learners for many years – she now enjoys calling the outdoors her classroom. 

Patty feels that the healing power of nature is closely linked to the success of the experiential education model utilized in Equine Assisted Learning (EAL). Her belief that, like all magic, ‘the trick to a student’s growth lies in the expertise and knowledge of the educator’ is the driving force in her continued passion for studying the language of Equus. She is committed to sharing the science and research-based results of EAL and was honored to be invited to present a TED Talk on the subject in 2019. 

In addition to Equine Assisted Services, Patty has enjoyed a career in Dance Education and Adjudication for numerous years. This understanding of movement and its close connection of body and soul assists her in creating meaningful and successful learning opportunities.

When not teaching with her best friend, Whoopdeedo and his herd-mates, she and her husband, Craig, can be found enjoying their six grandchildren, Parker, Hudson, Lennon, Elizabeth, Cameron, and Ellis.

Terry is trained in an eclectic blend of theory and hands-on practice in the field of Equine-Assisted Learning, including the Certified Equine Interaction-Education (CEIP-Ed) status obtained through rigorous training and continued education requirements. Dr. Chase is a self-motivated, highly educated individual who has lived fully with spinal cord injury for 35 years active in all things outdoors, including kayaking, cross-country skiing, hand-cycling and whenever possible, riding horses.