Staff » Management Staff
Management Staff
Robert Cooley, PhD
Executive Director and Clinical Supervisor
Dr. Cooley grew up on the McKenzie River in Oregon, where he learned to row a whitewater boat at age four. He made his way through college and graduate school by spending his summers logging, doing Forest Service trail work, and working as a river guide. He earned his PhD in counseling psychology from the University of Oregon in 1979 and has specialized in family and adolescent therapy. He has lived abroad several times and speaks French, Spanish, and German. Dr. Cooley developed and directed a family therapy program at Oregon's child welfare department and had a private therapy practice, while taking summers off to run a whitewater rafting company. In 1988, he combined his outdoor and therapy interests in founding Catherine Freer Wilderness Therapy Expeditions. Dr. Cooley and his wife Ingrid, a family therapist, live in Albany, Oregon, and have four children.
Paul Smith, MS
Program Director
Paul Smith has been a member of the Catherine Freer team since its inception in 1988. Having been raised by a school psychologist and an ecology and forestry professor, running an outdoor treatment program seemed like an obvious choice for Paul. After working in the field for four years as a wilderness guide, Paul moved into the role of operations manager and then later became the program director. In addition to his many responsibilities, Paul is currently serving as a board member and past president of the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs. Paul and his wife Diane, a private practice therapist, have two young children. Paul and his family carry on his family's tradition with as much travel and outdoor time as they can manage.
Kevin Riley, LCSW, CADC-III
Clinical Director
Before joining the Catherine Freer team in 2000, Kevin worked with adolescents and families for 10 years in many arenas including tutoring and mentoring in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood, adolescent service trips to Nicaragua, and working as a family therapist in Seattle. Kevin worked as an expedition therapist for two years before taking his current position as a clinical director. He received his MSW from the University of Washington. His clinical areas of interest include group therapy, family systems, and adolescent rites-of-passage. Outside of work, Kevin enjoys rock climbing, mountaineering and running. He and his wife are looking forward to the birth of their first child.
Brian MacInnes, MA
Santiam Crossing School Director
Brian has more than 32 years of experience working with at-risk youth and their parents. Being raised in a family with six kids, where his major vacations were backpacking and canoeing trips, he learned early that the wilderness is a healthy place to be challenged, grow, and learn. Brian and his family came to Oregon from Northern Idaho. For the past ten years he has worked as the program director of a wilderness program and has taught and directed the parent education program for a group of emotional growth boarding schools. Brian earned his BA from Carleton College and his MA from the University of Arizona.
Kirk Shimeall, BS
Wilderness Director
Kirk began working as a wilderness guide for Catherine in 1992 and has worked as the wilderness program manager since 1996. Kirk's responsibilities include risk management, wilderness training for field staff and working with land managers on permit issues. Kirk and his wife Martha, whom he met when they worked together on a Freer trek in 1995, have two sons. In his free time he enjoys mountain biking and rafting with his family.
Rob Koning, WFR, CADC-I
Wilderness Manager
Rob has been working with youth for more than 11 years and his first role at Freer was as a wilderness guide. He is now using his skills and expertise in the office. Rob states, "I am amazed by the lessons that the wilderness and expeditionary learning offer. Being able to connect youth to these lessons, their community, their family and themselves is an honor and inspiration." With a BA in Recreation with an emphasis on Outdoor Leadership he is the right person for the job. In his spare time, Rob snowboarding, mountain biking, traveling, and playing the guitar.
Natala Larson, BS
Director of Admission
Natala began working in the admissions team in 2001, and became the director of the department in 2005. Natala graduated from Oregon State University with a bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Sciences. Prior to joining the Catherine Freer team, Natala worked with at-risk adolescents and teenage mothers participating in self-improvement programs. Outside of work Natala enjoys being outdoors with her husband and their dog, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Sarah Mack, BA
Director of Referral Relations and Marketing
Director and Co-Founder of Oregon Transition Homes
Sarah began working with Catherine Freer Wilderness Therapy Programs in 1995 and co-founded the transition home program with Dr. Cooley that same year. Prior to coming to Catherine Freer, Sarah worked as a program manager for a community based mental health program that provided in-home mental health and case management services for high-risk families. She began working as the director of referral relations in 1999. Sarah is active on the public relations and conference planning committees for the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, spending time on the coast, and working in her garden.