MEET THE TEAM
Our staff and therapists
Allan Capp
Amalia Gamboa
Allan Capp
Executive Director (Owner)
Allan’s passion for adventure started at an early age. Whether it be surfing, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, fishing or mountain biking, Allan feels most alive when he’s active and connected to nature. He began working in the outdoor industry over 15 years ago. Allan discovered wilderness and adventure therapy, and worked for years as a guide, leading backcountry expeditions and adventure activities. He eventually moved into program management and leadership, and has worked with numerous programs over the years. A jack-of-all-trades, Allan is also a certified yoga teacher.
Allan has spent years surfing and exploring Latin America, including Mexico, Columbia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Ecuador, and Peru. He initially came to Costa Rica in 2006, and fell in love with the country and the “pura vida” culture.
In 2018 he was invited to Pure Life to do an assessment and provide feedback for the program. He was impressed with the program, and is now an owner who is very involved in every aspect of the day to day operations.
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Mara Mueller
Mara Mueller
Mara Mueller, MSW, LCSW, CADC I
Clinical Director & Primary Therapist (Owner)
Mara is passionate about supporting people through the growth process and believes that each person has within them the means to achieve emotional, mental, physical and spiritual health. She often employs approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She takes a Family Systems and solutions-focused approach in her work with parents. Mara holds advanced EMDR training, is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor and a Certified Yoga Instructor. She feels competent working with people who experience a range of struggles including anxiety, depression, trauma, identity development, substance misuse and addiction, adoption and attachment struggles, and difficulties with executive functioning.
Mara has worked as a mental health clinician in wide-range of treatment settings beginning in 2000 including therapeutic boarding schools, in and out-patient therapy, hospital emergency departments, and her favorite, wilderness therapy. She earned her Master of Social Work degree from Portland State University and was shortly thereafter introduced to the healing power of wilderness therapy. She feels deeply fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with several wilderness therapy companies serving adolescents and young adults.
In her time away from work you can find her running, surfing or practicing yoga. Mara also enjoys biking and spending time with her friends, family and her pup, Mija, who she and her husband adopted from Peru during their travels there.
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Andrew Taylor
Andrew Taylor
Andrew Taylor, MBA
Founder & Admissions Director (Owner)
A native of Utah, Andrew grew up in the outdoors and spent his college summers as a river guide on the Upper Colorado River. After graduating from the University of Utah with a degree in Organizational Communication, Andrew went to Costa Rica in search of whitewater. During his time in Costa Rica, he fell in love with the Costa Rican people and the wide range of adventure activities the country has to offer. Andrew has been running adventure trips in Costa Rica since 2004. He has rafted and kayaked rivers all over the world, including Costa Rica, New Zealand, and Venezuela. He is trained in Swiftwater Rescue and has also spent time as a White Water Rescue Technician Instructor.
In 2010 he received a Master of Business Administration from Westminster College in Salt Lake City and pursued a Substance Use Disorder Counseling Certificate through the University of Utah in 2012. He has enjoyed and been inspired by his work with individuals suffering from drug and alcohol addictions at Cirque Lodge, which is one of the top substance abuse programs in the nation.
Andrew speaks fluent Spanish and is a certified Wilderness First Responder. He has a passion for adventure, the outdoors, and helping others experience the beauty that exists within nature around the world. He loves adventure travel and the many lessons it has taught him along the way.
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Faith Martin
Faith Martin
Faith Martin
Therapist, Parent & Alumni Support
Faith has been involved in the mental health field for over ten years. She spent nine years living in Japan working for the US Military, creating mindfulness-based programs for military members and their families at the Naval Hospital and Behavioral Health Programs. Faith directed and organized wellness events and educational seminars for PTSD inpatient programs, behavioral health outpatient programs, and caregivers. She delivers a strength-based, person-centered, somatic approach in her work with clients. After completing her bachelor’s degree in Japan at the University of Maryland in Asian Philosophy, Faith moved to Arizona to attend Prescott College, where she attained a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Faith is currently enrolled in a post graduate professional degree Ed. S. in Experiential Adventure-based Counseling. She holds over 40 movement certifications and has a yoga teacher training school with over hundreds of graduates. Faith enjoys time with her partner, adult children, and dogs in her time away from work. Faith also enjoys lifting, reading the newest research on the body, and time in the outdoors. Now residing in Costa Rica, Faith has begun her lifelong goal of learning to surf.
Jackie Spithill
Jackie Spithill
Jackie Spithill, ALPC
Therapist
Jackie started as a guide for Pure Life in 2021, working with students surfing, rafting, and hiking. After a year of guiding, she is back working as a therapist, supporting students, guides, and clinical team. Jackie brings more than a decade of experience in the outdoor active travel industry to her role as Therapist at Pure Life. With a passion for serving others and a commitment to holistic wellness, Jackie aims to support students on transformative personal growth and empowerment journeys. With extensive experience guiding groups worldwide, Jackie has led expeditions from Glacier National Park to Africa and the Adriatic Sea. Jackie’s journey brought her to Costa Rica in 2009, when she fell in love with the country and the Pure Vida lifestyle. Along the way, she has honed her client service, business development, and logistical coordination skills while embracing diverse cultures and ways of life.
Driven to deepen her impact, Jackie pursued further education in clinical mental health counseling at Prescott College. Her Masters is specialized in Experiential Adventure-Based Counseling, integrating an acceptance commitment approach, solution-focused, and strength-based therapeutic techniques to empower students. Jackie’s mission is to create a productive space where students can embrace growth, reflection, and resilience. Jackie believes Costa Rica offers a unique and abundant playground for adventure, change, and development. By integrating adventure and counseling practices, she aims to help individuals discover their inner strength, push beyond their comfort zones, and embark on a transformative journey of self-empowerment. When Jackie is not at Pure Life, she spends much of her time in the ocean surfing, biking through the jungle, and spending time with her community, which she loves.
Jesenia Segura
Jesenia Segura
Jesenia Segura
Human Resources Director
Jesenia has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources from the National State Distance University of Costa Rica (UNED) as well as a Law Degree from the University of Sciences and Arts of Costa Rica (UCIARTE). The combination of these two careers has been perfect for her role in Pure Life, which she has been a part of since 2018.
Working at Pure Life provides an environment full of challenges, joy, and constant learning. Jesenia cares deeply about people and her greatest wish was always to be able to work in a place where she could help others. She found all that and more at Pure Life.
Nature is a big part of her life, she grew up among beautiful landscapes, trees, rivers and the simplicity of a traditional Costa Rican family. She loves cycling, especially mountain bike rides in the nearby mountains that surround the valley where she lives. She is always looking for new challenges and learning new things that make her grow as a person.
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Cristopher Elizondo
Cristopher Elizondo
Cristopher Elizondo
Operations Manager
Cristopher was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala. When he was 12 years old, he moved with his family to Costa Rica. At 19 years of age he served a full-time mission for 2 years in Panama where he helped many people and learned English as second language.
Cristopher worked with the Red Cross as a first aid assistant, where he had the opportunity to do rescue work with accidents and natural disasters. He is certified in WFA, CPR and Physical Therapy Study at Santa Paula University. Over the years, he has developed leadership skills in commerce, photography and administration.
He discovered his passion for technology and mechanics, obtaining a degree in Engineering in Computer Systems at the Latin University of Costa Rica. Cristopher likes adventure activities, rappelling, driving his motorcycle, and spending time with his wife and two children.
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Dr. Adam Balls
Adam Balls
Dr. Adam Balls
Medical Director
Dr. Adam Balls is a board certified emergency medicine physician who is actively practicing in the Salt Lake City area for Utah Emergency Physicians. He obtained his MD degree from Georgetown University in 2004. In 2007, Dr. Balls completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ where he also served as chief resident. After his residency, Adam and his family relocated to San Antonio Texas where he served on active duty for four years as an EM physician at Wilford Hall Medical Center, a Level 1 Trauma Center and EM Residency Program. During his time in the Air Force, he served as a team leader for a Critical Care Aeromedical Transport Team on deployments to Iraq, Germany, and Afghanistan.
Adam currently resides in Salt Lake City with his wife and three chidren. He serves as Medical Director for Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah, a Level 1 Trauma Center and the largest ED in the state of Utah. He also works as Medical Director for Murray Fire Department. Adam is passionate about delivering excellent patient care in the Emergency Department and enjoys training and teaching. He is excited to support the needs of Pure Life in his Medical Director role. Outside of his clinical work, Adam enjoys the outdoors in Utah, supporting his children in their various sports and school activities, and living life through travel experiences around the world.
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Cynthia Montero
Cynthia Montero
Cynthia Montero
Field Supervisor
Cynthia grew up surrounded by nature and coffee farms in the high-altitude mountains of Tarrazu, Costa Rica. This is where she developed her passion for the outdoors. She had the opportunity to attend junior high school in Long Island, NY where she learned English. Cynthia embodies the Pura Vida lifestyle – she values hard work, honesty, family, nature, patience, gratefulness and simplicity.
Cynthia was a field Guide in Pure Life for 3 years where her main responsibilities included the oversight of the physical, mental and emotional well being of students. Now as Field Supervisor she ensures policies and procedures are understood and implemented in the field.
Cynthia enjoys hiking, walks on the beach with her dog and practicing yoga. She is a certified Yoga Teacher (YTT), Wilderness First Responder (WFR), Whitewater Rescue Technician (WRT), and Recreational Rope Rescue Operator (RecRo).
Antonio Lopez
Antonio Lopez
Antonio Lopez
Operations Support
Antonio is a hardcore kayaker who enjoys adventure and loves the outdoors. He began raft captaining in 2002 and became a certified kayak instructor shortly thereafter. Antonio moves fast both by land and by sea; rumor has it that he can complete the trek between Domer’s Hill and Piedras Blancas (usually two days of hiking) in eight hours flat – carrying both of his kids and his kayak. His ability in the water has earned him the nickname Cherepo (Jesus Christ Lizard) which is famous for being able to run on top of the water.
Antonio holds the following certifications: Wilderness First Responder, First Aid, CPR, and AED for the Professional Rescuer, Whitewater Rescue Technician, Technical Rope Rescue: Operations, International Rafting Federation Instructor, International Rafting Federation Guide Class I-IV, Instructor Judgment Training, Land Instructor Training, Waterfront Lifeguard, Whitewater Kayak Training.
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Maria Aguilar
Maria Aguilar
Maria Aguilar
Operations Support
Maria was born in the province of Cartago but moved to the southern part of Costa Rica in 2018 to work at Pure Life and build new life around nature.
Maria has a Bachelor’s Degree in Ecological Tourism from the Universidad de Costa Rica and a degree (Licenciatura) in Sustainable Tourism Management from the Universidad Estatal a Distancia. Before working with Pure Life, she worked in hospitality for two year – working on projects in a Tourism Cooperative and as an organizer and host in some activities of the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT).
Working at Pure Life allows her to have the opportunity to help other people through tourism activities as well as be a part of an excellent work team. She especially enjoys the opportunity to be one of the people who receives the students at the airport. She understands that the step they are taking is a big one, and can be overwhelming, she loves being able to be part of that moment and helping them in their journey.
She loves her country’s food, the beauty of nature, and their old traditions. In her free time, she loves to spend time with friends and family, taking care of dogs, reading, watching movies, cooking, learning new things, and traveling in and out of Costa Rica.
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Alex Camacho
Alex Camacho
Alex Camacho
Operations Support
Alex grew up in the province of Heredia, Costa Rica for 23 years, but 3 years ago he decided to leave the city for the beautiful mountains of Pérez Zeledón. Alex has a bachelor’s degree in Forest Management and Wildlife from the Universidas Técnica Nacional, hence his love and respect for nature and animals.
Alex’s family is the center of his life and from that he has learned to work hard to have a better future. When he joined Pure Life, Alex realized that serving others was an undiscovered skill and passion. He found a great team with the same goal, helping those who need an extra hand.
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Mauricio Ramirez
Mauricio Ramirez
Mauricio Ramirez
Operations Support
Mauricio was born in San Isidro del General (also called Perez Zeledon). He is the son of farmers. He grew up on coffee plantations, working since he was a child. Mau had the opportunity to travel to the United States, and worked there for five years for a moving company. This allowed him to travel to 32 states, driving throughout the United States. He was also able to learn the English language, which was very difficult but something that he still enjoys working on.
Mauricio has been with Pure Life since 2017, he loves being part of a team which helps young adults find their focus and direction in their lives. At the same time, he has had the opportunity for personal growth. He has received numerous certifications including: BLS, CPR, TRRO, and WAFA.
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Stacy Sturtevant
Stacy Sturtevant
Stacy Sturtevant
Admissions Coordinator
Stacy grew up in the northwoods of Minnesota, developing a love of adventure and wilderness at a young age. She spent her days fishing, hiking, camping, and swimming. After high school she set out traveling, continuing her passion for adventure. Eventually settling down for a bit, Stacy graduated from BYU’s Marriott School of Business with her bachelor’s degree. She then went on to earn her Social Service Worker Certificate while working in mental health in Utah.
Stacy has lived and adventured all over the world including Costa Rica, New Zealand, Philippines, Alaska, and Hawaii. Her love for nature, adventure, and therapy brought her to Pure Life. Before finding adventure therapy, Stacy worked in the adventure/tourism industry. She also has extensive experience in the mental health realm, working in leadership roles at different outdoor therapy and young adult transition programs.
When not working for Pure Life, Stacy enjoys pursuing her passions of art and baking. She also finds time for her hubby, daughter, and their cute pup. You can usually find them hanging out at the lake.
Conrad Lippert
Conrad Lippert
Conrad Lippert
Senior Field Guide
After graduating Penn State University with a bachelors degree in Finance, Conrad deviated from the professional path to travel the world in search of meaning and purpose. After years of self-discovery and personal expansion, Conrad was guided to the Wilderness Therapy Industry in an effort to give back and help others discover their path. Working in the desert fields of Utah as a full time guide gave Conrad his foundation in the mental health industry. From there, he brought his passion, expertise and knowledge down to PureLife in Costa Rica where he could continue to do what he loves in service of others while pursuing his own passions of surf, yoga and healthy living.
A certified Yoga Instructor, Conrad brings more than four years of field experience plus somatic and mindfulness practices to the PureLife culture. When not on his mat, you’ll find him in the Ocean. Either on his own surfboard or helping the parents and students of PureLife find their own balance. With a desire to help others, Conrad wants every one to find their own unique being and is now helping expand the PureLife offerings to Alumni student and parent retreats as a way to further cultivate everyone’s personal journey.
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Jairo Carillo
Jairo Carillo
Jairo Carillo
Operations Support
Jairo Carrillo Segura is from Tinamastes de Barú de Pérez Zeledón San José Costa Rica. He studied at the Matapalo de Aguirre Professional Technical School. He’s done operational suport in a variety of professions including construction, real estate and agriculture.
Jairo has worked for the last several years as operational support – driving students, maintenance and the greenhouse. He specializes in organic agriculture, teaching people how to plant and grow their own foods, medicinal herbs, and the preparation of organic fertilizers and is active with the local town’s roots program – Authentic Life.
When he isn’t working you can find him with his wife and their three children. They have built a couple of homes within the last few years – he loves the lessons of hard work.
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Ari Terry
Ari
Ari Terry
Marketing & Outreach Specialist
Ari attended Brigham Young University where she earned a degree in Communications and Public Relations. A couple of years after graduation she found the treatment industry. Her career began in admissions at a residential treatment center for girls in Utah, where she realized she had a passion for helping people and families in the mental health space and shifted her focus to developing marketing campaigns and events to spread awareness.
Throughout the years she has worked with hundreds of families, done events for referring professionals, and helped manage various treatment provider facilities. When she isn’t working, Ari loves to spend time with her husband and two boys and can often be found with a good book.
Diego López
Diego López
Diego López
Assistant Guide
Santiago Lopez
Santiago Lopez
Santiago Lopez
Master Guide
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Ciara Muller
Ciara Muller
Ciara Muller
Field Guide
Ciara has always been a nature lover, avid hiker and backpacker, rock climber and surfer. Her journey into the wilderness therapy realm began in 2021, driven by a profound belief in nature’s healing and a fervent desire to help others. In this field of work, she has learned more about the world and herself than in all her preceding years combined.
For Ciara, this isn’t merely a job; it’s a profound drive and passion to make a difference in the lives of others. Witnessing the transformative journey of those she guides over the past two years has been nothing short of profound.
Guiding for the past two years has led her path toward furthering her education, as she embarks on a quest to attain a master’s degree in social work.
In her downtime, you can find Ciara reading, writing poetry, carving something out of wood, playing the guitar, watching the sunset with friends, or off in another country exploring a new culture. She delights in sharing her passions with others, inspiring them to venture beyond their comfort zones and embrace the enchanting array of experiences life has to offer.
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Niels Lam
Niels Lam
Niels Lam
Field Guide
Niels hails from the Netherlands. He got his start there as a Physical Education Teacher. He has a deep passion for travel and a profound connection to the natural world, which led him to Pure Life.
Niels embodies the spirit of adventure. He has always viewed traveling and the outdoors as a beautiful way for people to learn more about themselves. He loves helping and challenging people in order for growth to take place.
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Henry Parra
Henry Parra
Henry Parra
Field Guide
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Eric Nestigen
Eric Nestigen
Eric Nestigen
Field Guide
Eric is a passionate outdoor enthusiast and a life-long learner. His natural curiosity about the human mind drew him towards the field of psychology. Eric is resilient by nature and a seeker of the deeper meaning of life. He uses the lessons he has gleaned from his life and education to support others in pursuit of their personal growth.
When not at work, you can find Eric surfing or at a local yoga studio. He has backpacked in a majority of the National Parks in the United States and has practiced nearly all the board sports you can imagine. One of Eric’s guiding missions in life is offering others love and support in a way that really benefits them; so when the opportunity to work at Pure Life emerged, Eric didn’t hesitate to leave his old life in the mountains of California to pursue his passion for improving the lives of others.
One of the greatest parts about working at Pure Life is the dedication of each team member. We are all guided by the genuine desire to help ourselves and one another be better humans. Our students receive the same treatment.
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Laura Walter
Laura Walter
Laura Walter
Field Guide
Laura found her love for outdoor adventure in her teenage years, participating in backpacking trips in Colorado. She has always believed in the value these experiences can create for teenagers and young adults, which led her to her passion for working with others in this type of environment.
After she graduated with her degree in human services with an emphasis in victim and survivor services she began working in wilderness therapy and horticultural therapy in both Wisconsin and Hawaii, where she found her passion for travel. She earned her teaching English as a foreign language certificate and moved to Costa Rica for 6 months teaching young adults, where she fell in love with the country and knew she wanted to return one day. She has also received her yoga teacher certificate in Rishikesh, India. And, shortly after, moved to Australia for over two years practicing and teaching, and traveling throughout.
When she returned to the United States, working with others in a healthy community was calling to her once again. She took her 12-year-old dog, van and partner and they started to make their way down Mexico and Central America to work at Pure Life where she is happy to be working with such amazing individuals, including co-guides, therapists, owners and students.
Outside of work, you can likely find her at the beach in her home on wheels practicing yoga, surfing, cooking, journaling, and playing fetch with her dog.
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Nicole Hebert
Nicole Hebert
Nicole Hebert
Field Guide
Growing up on the coast of North Carolina, Nicole spent her days exploring nature and all it had to offer and is forever grateful for those experiences. Nicole went to school at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, and was eager to discover a path where she could apply her enthusiasm for the outdoors with her passion for helping others.
Nicole found just that through Therapeutic Recreation – creating opportunities for people to heal by connecting back to themselves through activity and recreation of all kinds. Nicole has worked in many settings and populations leading with a strength-based approach, empathy, and hope that people will see the light that shines from within them.
Nicole always had a curiosity about the adventure therapy world, and she feels that the universe truly conspired in the most beautiful way to lead her to Pure Life. Nicole has her Wilderness First Responder Certification and is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist.Contact
Steve Walsh
Steve Walsh
Steve Walsh
Field Guide
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Caleb Mendez
Caleb Mendez
Caleb Mendez
Field Guide
Caleb is native to Costa Rica’s South Pacific coast in Playa Dominical. He has a huge passion for the ocean and its ability to both challenge and heal people. He has been an avid surfer most of his life and has been a surf instructor for ten years. Through this he has honed his skills and expertise in the sport.
Over the past fifteen years, Caleb has also served as a dedicated lifeguard, safeguarding various beaches with a focus on ensuring the safety of all visitors. His passion and drive are evident in his thorough approach to his responsibilities, making him a trusted leader both in the field and on the water. In his free time he can be found playing or watching soccer.
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Pablo López
Pablo López
Pablo López
Field Guide
Pablo was born and raised in the beautiful jungles of Costa Rica. His career started in the tourism industry more than 15 years ago.
He has spent time as a rafting and backpacking guide as well as rapelling and canyoning. Three years ago his passion for the outdoors
brought him to Pure Life where he is a field guide. He is passionate about showing Pure Life students Costa Rica’s abundant nature and providing them with opportunities
for positive change using nature adventure activities.
Pablo is from a large local family (he is the 14th child in a family of 18!) and how has two sons of his own.
He enjoys playing soccer and fishing in his free time and loves spending time with his
