Katie Asmus is a Somatic and Nature-Based Psychotherapist. With a Master’s degree in Somatic Psychology, over 30 years of leading individuals and group programs out in nature, and a lifetime of apprenticing to ceremony and rites of passage, Katie says the essence of her work is normalizing, celebrating, and bringing compassion to what it means to be human. For the past 25 years, alongside maintaining a private psychotherapy practice, she has taught graduate students at Naropa University and Prescott College in the areas of Somatic and Nature-based Therapies.
In addition, through the Somatic Nature Therapy Institute (and in collaboration with other inspiring colleagues), she created and facilitates both online and in-person workshops and trainings in Somatic Trauma work, Ceremony & Rites of Passage facilitation, as well as in a wide variety of wilderness, adventure, and nature-based therapy skills. Having sat with tens of thousands of people from around the world and from all walks of life, Katie is a tender of the thresholds and strongly believes in the necessity of following our deepest longing while simultaneously knowing and feeling our interconnection and belonging to the greater web of life.

Alyssa Elgersma has her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health.

Alyssa has both lived and professional experience with unconventional grief, giving her significant understanding, compassion, and empathy in her professional life. She is well trained in grief and loss. Alyssa has stated “Grief feels like a person’s heart is exploding and suffocating at the same time. It hurts and changes how the brain works. It can leave one feeling like they do not have a voice or that is their new identity. Both feelings are valid.”

Alyssa enjoys a few good cups of tea, watching TV shows, traveling, and spending time with the office shelties (Mozzie and Zylie) at home and at the office.

Alyssa works in private practice and in administration in a group practice in Iowa. She is licensed in both Iowa and Colorado.

Dr. Madeline Kay (PY61477178) has spent the last decade on an expedition undertaking the philosophical teachings and professional trainings of clinical and organizational psychology. Specializing in whole-person wellness and the resuscitation of the inner child’s dreams, Dr. Kay has created a healing practice that utilizes evidence-based techniques with the restorative art of human connection. The October Hour took many years to develop and thus, remains a precious and exclusive experience set apart from other therapeutic and organizational practices. Within The October Hour, Dr. Kay aims to cultivate purpose and empower creativity with an emphasis on individualization and relatability, which drives performance enhancement throughout one’s life and within organizations. This growth process focuses on constructing a personalized space for individuals to explore themselves and their world in a unique, safe way, as well as for leaders to unlock industry potential. 

CODY LUNDIN is an internationally recognized professional survival instructor with more than 34 years of hands-on teaching experience. Unbeknownst to him at the time, Cody’s love of all things self-reliant began as a child with the influence of his homesteading grandparents. Their rural South Dakota lifestyle of living close to the land and doing more with less was Cody’s first exposure to what the family still calls, “that good ol’ pioneer spirit.”

The only child of a military family, Cody moved frequently, including time spent in Europe. During these years of migration, with no formal base to call home, Nature became Cody’s constant companion, whether in the neighboring woods or the back yard. Cody’s life changed forever when he experienced a transformation in the red rock wilderness of Arizona. This profound experience with the natural world inspired him to change his life and share Nature with others. He then consciously entered a multi-year journey of hard choices, deprivation and self-correction.

In 1991, with an initial investment of less than $10, Cody founded the Aboriginal Living Skills School using the same passion, determination and psychological stamina he used to overcome personal challenges and heal his life. When not teaching for his own school, Cody is an adjunct faculty member at Yavapai College, Prescott College, and the Ecosa Institute where he teaches the survival and sustainability curriculums he created. He teaches with rare intensity gand humor to individuals, groups, schools, and various organizations throughout the United States and abroad. Cody lives in a self-designed, self-reliant, passive solar earth home in the high-desert wilderness of Northern Arizona in which he catches rain, composts wastes, and pays nothing for heating and cooling.

Joshua has over 15 years working in the behavioral health field, working with teens, adults, and couples. He helps clients through trauma, depression, anxiety, abuse, gender issues, relationship problems, religious conflict, LGBTQIA+ issues, and substance abuse issues! Joshua utilizes various modalities to help you on your journey, including CBT, EMDR, DBT, Mindfulness, ACT, Jungian Dream Analysis, and TF-CBT.

Arilda Surridge is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with extensive training, and experience working with adults, and couples on a broad range of issues particularly trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and family conflict.

In addition to providing therapy, she also leads and organizes couples retreats/workshops, therapist retreats (trainings), and Wellness Retreats.