Our Mission Statement

    At Gallop To Growth, our team brings together a diverse group of licensed clinicians, equine

professionals, and support staff who share a common passion: helping people heal through

the transformative power of horses.  Our therapists are experienced in treating a wide range of mental health concerns including PTSD, anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, self-injury, and trauma. Each clinician is trained in evidence-based modalities such as CBT, DBT, ACT, and EMDR.

   Our clinicians hold certifications in equine-assisted psychotherapy models including EAGALA,

Natural Lifemanship, HEAL, and ARCH. We work with individuals, couples, families, children,

and veterans—offering a unique and powerful therapeutic approach that is trauma-informed,

relational, and experiential.

   Our clinical director, Chris Finch, LCSW, is a certified EAGALA Mental Health Specialist and

Military Service Provider with extensive experience in VA suicide prevention and trauma care.

He is planning to pursue his Doctorate in Social Work in the fall of 2025, focusing on advancing evidence-based treatment models within the field of equine-assisted psychotherapy.

We’re supported by a skilled and compassionate team of specialists:

• Elena Abatgis – Co-Founder and Director of Operations, blending decades of media

leadership with a passion for equine healing.

• Rachel Tinney, LCSW – Focuses on trauma recovery, OCD, and emotional regulation using

DBT/ACT and equine-assisted models.

• Emma Kinney, CSW – Specializes in advocacy and family therapy, integrating

horsemanship with clinical frameworks.

• Sierra Burnett, APRN – Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner providing individualized medication

management with optional animal-assisted care.

• Sadie Moellmer – Barn Manager and Equine Bodyworker maintaining herd health and

therapeutic environment integrity.

• Courtney Carlson – Equine Specialist with over 16 years of horsemanship and PATH Intl.

training offering structured, safe sessions.

Together, our team blends professional experience with genuine empathy. We offer a safe

space for clients to explore, grow, and reconnect—with themselves and with the world around

them.

Whether you're navigating grief, rebuilding after trauma, learning to regulate emotions, or

seeking a different kind of therapeutic connection—we're here. And the horses are, too.