In Balance Academy are excited to announce that two new professionals have joined their team.  Serving young men ages 14-18,  In Balance Academy is a therapeutic boarding school nestled between four beautiful southern Arizona mountain ranges in the majestic San Pedro River Valley near Tombstone, Arizona.  Since 2004, the Academy has prided itself in helping its clients realize the promises that are held for their lives when they experience recovery from substance use and abuse.  The program endeavors to facilitate healing in the individual and in the family, equipping them with the necessary tools to live a healthy, productive, and joyful life filled with active recovery, purpose, and community.  To that end, the leadership of In Balance has always sought to curate a team of clinical professionals that is committed to assisting each student and his family on their journey of recovery.

In Balance Academy welcomes Adam Arnold and Kathryn Harra as the newest staff members of their community.  Adam joins the team as a Behavioral Health Technician with an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and Kathryn joins the Academy as the Director of Therapeutic Equine Services.  Patrick Barrasso, the owner and CEO of In Balance Continuum, says this about the addition of Adam and Kathryn to the Academy team:

In everything we do, from scheduling, to personnel, to trips, to family weekends, to school, and equine, we look at the opportunity to improve the quality of our services.  With the addition of Adam and Kathryn, we have the best team we have ever had… built piece by piece over the last 18 years.  We believe that kids with substance abuse and mental health complexities (who are now more greatly compromised than ever) deserve the best care possible.  We continue to be committed to providing it, and Adam and Kathryn are helping us do just that!

The biographies of Adam and Kathryn are below and In Balance Academy heartily welcomes both to In Balance Continuum of Care (https://www.inbalancecontinuum.com).

Adam earned his Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and a Certificate in Ethics from Arizona State University in 2010. In the course of his studies, he developed an interest in Buddhist philosophy and meditation after hearing the promise of an end to suffering. Adam followed these interests to Taiwan, where he lived for three years, practicing meditation, studying Mandarin and teaching English. Adam’s experience of travel, language and cultural exchange now inform his approach to life and therapeutic work. He aims to treat each encounter with a client and his family as a kind of cross-cultural and collaborative experience.

Adam began his In Balance journey as a Life Coach in 2017. In his first year, Adam opened his eyes to how his family-of-origin story had much in common with the stories of many of the young men at the ranch. His time in the community helped him broaden his understanding and solidify his dedication to studying and practicing the healing arts. To this end, he left the ranch for training at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, where he gained experience working with refugee communities and high-needs clients in a community mental health setting. Adam now returns to the In Balance team with a Master of Arts in Mindfulness-based Transpersonal Counseling—a degree that represents a training in traditional western psychotherapy, conducted mindfully and emphasizing mindfulness in the therapeutic relationship. Adam has experience in mindfulness-based interventions, gestalt therapy, and Internal Family Systems-style parts work. He is currently pursuing training in animist psychology, ancestor work and ceremonial work. In his role at In Balance, Adam’s mission is to help each young man reconnect with his own brilliant sanity and worthiness — his own solid ground — so that he may know himself and form more balanced relationships with others.

Kathryn Harra

Kathryn is a life-long learner who has spent decades studying the relationship between humans and horses. She started riding at four years of age; through her early years of riding, she was often seen riding her horse bareback or western style through the fruit orchards in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. At age 13 she was able to take her first formal riding lessons from an English-style riding instructor. Kathryn fell in love with this type of riding and, in particular, jumping. She competed in jumping during her teen years. In the years that followed, while working with difficult horses, she discovered dressage training. As an adult, Kathryn owned and operated her own teaching stable for 15 years where she enjoyed working with students of all ages and ability levels, as well as rehabilitating horses suffering from trauma. During this time, she also coached at her local USPC (United States Pony Club) chapter and her county 4-H horse program. Additionally, Kathryn worked with children in foster care in a skills training capacity. These experiences culminated in working in the equine-assisted therapy field where she continues to combine her love of horses with the process of supporting children and teens who are recovering from trauma. Kathryn currently is working towards a degree in counseling to further support her experience in this field. She is looking forward to working with the treatment teams, evidence-based programs, and the horses of In Balance, to give the students the greatest possible chance of personal transformation.

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about In Balance Academy, In Balance Continuum of Care, or any of the wonderful programming opportunities available to clients seeking active recovery, please visit www.inbalancecontinuum.com or email daniel.barrasso@ inbalancecontinuum.com.  

In Balance Continuum of Care was founded by Patrick and Betsy Barrasso in 1996, and they still own and operate the Continuum today.  With the help of their three children and staff, In Balance ensures active recovery for all clients.  To help families heal from substance abuse and co-occurring disorders,  four programs, each with different levels of care, make up the Continuum of Care.  In Balance Continuum consists of: In Balance Intensive Outpatient program, an outpatient group which serves the local Tucson community and is designed for men and women 18-80 years old with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders; In Balance Academy, a therapeutic boarding school and accredited high school which serves young men 14-18 years old with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders from all over the world; In Balance Transitional Living, a young adult aftercare program serving young men 17-28 years old post-primary/residential programs from all over the world with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders; and In Balance Alumni Continuing Care Services, an In Balance Alumni support and living community serving our alumni, 17-28 years old with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. All of In Balance Continuum of Care’s therapeutic services have earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Behavioral Health Care Accreditation. The Gold Seal of Approval® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective care. 

All In Balance programs are fully licensed in the state of Arizona under licenses CSLG9295, OTC 8767, and OTC9296.  All In Balance employees maintain Level One Fingerprint Clearance as issued by the State of Arizona Department of Public Safety and all licensed employees complete all continuing education per licensure requirements, yearly.  In Balance currently has over 75% of all employees and 95% of all clients fully vaccinated against Covid-19.  To connect with the main office, please call 520-722-9631 or mail 6107 E. Grant. Rd., Tucson, AZ 85712 .