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Clinical Team 1-888-266-5136 |
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 Aspiro
staff are experienced, professional, and
highly effective. In addition to years of
experience working with adolescents and
families, all therapists have college
degrees and are licensed. |
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The Aspiro Clinical Team |
Clinical Director - Gordon Day - Ph.D.
Gordon L. Day, Ph.D. (previously
of Psychological Testing and Summit
Preparatory School and Outback Therapeutic
Expeditions) is the clinical director of
Aspiro Group including Aspiro, Kairos and
his specialty Vantage Point -- a specialty program for
neurologically diverse students.
This
specialized student group of Vantage Point specializes in
assessing and treating students with a wide
range of learning and psychological
difficulties, including those in the
pervasive developmental disorder spectrum.
Dr. Day has long had a dream to create a
specialty program that makes the rich
assessment and treatment opportunities in
adventure therapy available to students with
more significant learning disorders. Dr. Day
is convinced that Aspiro provides the ideal
foundation for helping these students.
"Aspiro has a strong adventure therapy model
and a track record of helping students in a
safe, respectful manner. It’s the perfect
place to help these students learn and
grow."
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Jessi
Irvine, LPC
I joined the
Aspiro team in May 2009.
I have worked in the wilderness
therapy industry for nearly four years
and was previously employed at Three
Rivers Montana, which has since closed
its doors.
Prior to entering this industry, I
maintained a private practice where I
loved my work with several adolescent
clients. In addition, I worked in
various traditional clinical settings,
including a community counseling center
and a university clinic. I believe
strongly in the wilderness as a healing
place and have seen significant change
emerge when families and students slow
down their communication and increase
objectivity and accountability in their
lives. I was fortunate enough to be
raised in the beautiful, fresh mountain
air of southwestern Montana and then
maintained my good fortune by moving to
the Cayman Islands with my family in
1990.
This is where I finished high school
and worked for two years before
attending college at Florida State
University. I majored in Psychology at
FSU and subsequently returned to Montana
where I worked as a Montessori educator
for three years. I then returned to
college at Montana State University
where I obtained my Master’s degree in
Counseling.
I currently reside in Salt Lake City
and am just leaping into the world of
rock climbing and kayaking. In addition,
I enjoy yoga and snowboarding and am
currently training for my first
marathon. The challenge of running is a
great fit for me!
I also love to cook, read and enjoy
quality time with the wonderful people
in my life.
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Brad
Carpenter - Psy.D.
Brad comes
to Aspiro with over 10 years of clinical
experience working with adolescents in
both therapeutic and assessment
settings. His experience has brought
him to understand the extraordinary and
distinct characteristics of our students
as well as the individualized needs of
their families and consultants. Unlike
most psychologists in traditional office
settings, Brad has been fortunate enough
to utilize and refine a model for
“interactive assessment,” which we feel
is uniquely suited to our program.
Brad is
originally from Atlanta, Georgia where
he worked in adolescent residential
treatment while obtaining his Doctorate
of Psychology from the Georgia School of
Professional Psychology. During his
education and training in clinical
psychology, he specialized in
psychological assessment and
Neuropsychology. He received advance
training at the Emory University School
of Medicine and completed a dual track
pre-doctoral internship in health &
clinical psychology at Tewksbury
Hospital outside of Boston,
Massachusetts. He has most recently
worked as the testing director and
associate director of academics for a
therapeutic boarding school where his
responsibilities included assessment,
therapy and research. In addition, Brad
has facilitated psychological
assessments for a short-term wilderness
program. Here, he served as an academic
consultant, helping to develop
experiential curriculum and eventually
guiding the program through
accreditation. In his spare time, he
served as an adjunct professor for North
Georgia College and State University
where he taught psychological theory,
assessment and therapy for their
undergraduate program as well as their
nationally accredited Graduate School of
Counseling.
For the
past few years, Brad has volunteered the
majority of his resources and time to
the development of the music program and
business club with students in a
long-term therapeutic boarding setting.
He enjoys playing guitar, performance
and music production. He loves
competitive sports and other outdoor
activities such as hiking, mountain
biking, boating, wakeboarding and snow
skiing.
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Ed Callahan, Ph.D.
Dr.
Ed Callahan was born and raised a
Colorado native where he enjoyed an
abundant love of the outdoors with his
family as a youngster camping, fishing,
skiing, biking, and baseball.
As a young adult, Dr. Callahan
ventured off to Utah to start school,
took a break and spent 2 years in doing
volunteer work in Southern California
before returning to finish out his
education back in Utah.
Dr. Callahan found a new love in
Mountain Biking, which he pursued
passionately during college.
Dr. Callahan also discovered
Wilderness Therapy for adolescents as
his first real job as a therapist
working at Aspen Achievement Academy.
He could not imagine a better
combination of things he loved, therapy
and the outdoors!
Dr.
Callahan received his PhD in Marriage
and Family Therapy (MFT) from Brigham
Young University, where he also
completed his Masters in MFT and BS in
Psychology. After finishing
graduate school, Dr. Callahan conducted
a successful private practice with
families in Denver, Colorado for over
nine years. During that
experience, Dr. Callahan came to realize
the limitations of outpatient therapy
for many of the adolescents with whom he
was working, and was struck by the
overwhelming pressures facing youth
today. He remembered back to his
Wilderness Therapy experiences early in
graduate school and became re-interested
in working with adolescents in
specialized programs in order to help
those adolescents that could not be
helped in a traditional outpatient
setting. Dr. Callahan believes
that intervening at such a critical
developmental point as adolescence, he
can have a profound positive impact on
the course of their lives and help
salvage the relationship with their
families.
In
2005, Dr. Callahan left his practice in
Denver and began working as a therapist
at Second Nature Wilderness Program for
adolescents in Duchesne, Utah. He
once again found the wilderness
experience extremely impactful, not only
in his personal and professional life,
but especially in the lives of the youth
and families he served. Dr. Callahan
became increasingly interested in
creating a therapeutic school for
students, where they could build on and
extend the skills and insights they
gained in the intensive wilderness
setting and learn to apply those skills
in a setting that more closely related
to home life.
Particularly, Dr. Callahan
developed a passion and compassion for
students dealing with learning
differences and social relationship
issues associated with Attention
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD),
Asperger’s spectrum disorder, Nonverbal
Learning Disorder (NLD) and executive
functioning related issues.
It was clear that these students
were not being served effectively, and
that many of the prejudices and
misunderstandings surrounding these
students were being perpetuated in
treatment environments.
Dr. Callahan set out to create
environments where these students can
thrive and flourish.
Dr.
Callahan took a position as the
Executive Director of a Therapeutic
Boarding School for adolescents in
Springville, Utah, where he gained
invaluable insight and experience into
residential therapeutic programs and
processes. This experience
prepared him to break away and create
Daniels Academy, a unique and innovative
therapeutic boarding school for
adolescent boys dealing with Executive
Functioning issues relating to AD/HD,
Asperger’s, NLD and other associated
learning and social relationship issues.
Dr.
Callahan also has extensive experience
in working with couples, families, and
adolescents in outpatient, wilderness,
and residential treatment settings.
He also specializes in trauma, grief and
loss, addiction issues (including
technology addiction) and divorce
adjustment.
Dr.
Callahan continues to enjoy recreational
and physical activities such as running
(the occasional 5K, half & full
marathon, and is training for the Ragnar
Relay Race) weight training, practicing
Yoga (his new love), wake surfing, and
wake boarding. Dr. Callahan is
married, has two sons, which are the
loves of his life, and currently resides
in Pleasant Grove, Utah.
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Caitlin Galt, CPCI
Caitlin received her
BFA from the School of the Art Institute of
Chicago focusing on Art therapy, sculpture,
and painting. In 2008, she merged her love
of art therapy and the outdoors by earning
her graduate degree in Transpersonal
Counseling Psychology, with an emphasis in
Wilderness Therapy from Naropa University in
Colorado. From 2007 through 2008, Caitlin
worked as a clinical intern at Second Nature
Wilderness Program in Duchesne, Utah. Prior
to her graduation from Naropa University,
Caitlin guided mountaineering and Rites of
Passage trips for adolescents in Washington.
As a
Wilderness Therapist, Caitlin’s
concentration combines psychological
counseling skills with disciplines such as
adventure therapy, nature awareness, and
outdoor interventions. Caitlin supports her
clients in healing from anxiety, depression,
addiction, Oppositional Defiance, pervasive
developmental disorders, trauma, attachment
issues and family systems through a wide
range of cognitive, Gestalt therapy, and
mind/body-based practices. Her work at
Aspiro helps students develop insight into
their decision making and emotional growth.
She
seeks to bring out the best in others while
challenging them to try something new;
exceeding what was once thought impossible.
Caitlin believes that while
traditional therapy in an office setting can
be perfectly effective, sometimes an
adventure or even just a walk in the woods
can truly enhance the therapeutic
experience.
When not
working, Caitlin loves to spend her time
tending to her garden, camping, hiking,
kayaking, canoeing, rafting, rock/ ice
climbing, fly fishing, biking,
mountaineering, creating art, and listening
to live music.
 Justin Robinson, LCSW
Justin worked in Hawaii,
Alaska, and Puerto Rico before returning to
his roots in the mountains of Utah. Justin
started working with families and at-risk
youth in 1994. Justin joined the Aspiro
Team so he could use his passion for
recreation, experiential learning, and
therapy to better the lives of youth and
their families. Justin specializes in
Family Systems Work, Addictions of all types
and working with neurological challenges.
With a BS in Recreational
Therapy and a Master’s degree in Social Work
from the University of Utah, Justin has
worked in numerous other programs in
leadership and key management positions.
The father of four children, Justin and his
wife Janet love the outdoors, skiing, and
taking family vacations.
Justin
is currently working on his PhD from the
University of Utah.
 Trevor
Allen, Masters in Counseling
Trevor has been working with adolescence
since 1998.
He has a BA in Recreation Therapy and a
Masters Degree in Counseling from University
of Phoenix. He has worked in settings that
vary from ropes course facilitator, to
employee of the State of Utah in an
Observation and Assessment setting, to a
therapist at a residential treatment
setting. All experience aside, Trevor is a
man who believes in the power of recreation.
It has changed his life and he continues
to be amazed as he watches it change the
lives of the youth he works with. Alone or
with his family, you will find him hiking,
biking, climbing, lake kayaking, cross
country skiing, or running a marathon. He
once took first place in a marathon (he was
the only participant).
It is safe to say that any day of the
year he would rather be up in the mountains
than inside the house. Trevor wants to give
a shout out to the incredible field guides
who spend the time, day in and out, with the
students.
 Josh
Watson - LCSW
Since 1999,
Josh has been working with
adolescents and their families. He holds a
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a minor
in Business Administration from Gardner-Webb
University. He also earned a Master’s Degree
in Social Work from the University of
Georgia. Josh is a Licensed Master of Social
Work in the State of Georgia and a member of
the National Association of Social Workers.
His graduate research focus was in child and
family development, psychiatric assessment
of children, and the integration of
solution-based behavioral approaches into
the public school sector. Josh served for
two years as in internal and field research
analyst for the Great Schools and Families
Research Project funded by the CDC through
the University of Georgia. He also has
experience working for community service
boards, inpatient psychiatric hospitals for
adolescents, and private practice. His
areas of clinical expertise are in
interpersonal relationships, leadership
skills, and resource allocation.
Josh was a
collegiate wrestler and scholarship
recipient. He has been a wrestling coach
and facilitated multiple summer wrestling
camps for adolescents. Josh enjoys the
outdoors, sports (especially wrestling,
skiing, and golf), traveling, politics, and
spending time with his wife and family.
During the
four years before coming to Aspiro, Josh has been a therapist and an
admissions officer for a therapeutic
boarding school. He joins the Aspiro team
with a genuine enthusiasm to make a
difference in the lives of many. “I have
never lived outside of the Southeast.
However, after learning about Aspiro’s
clinical approach and intense adventure
therapy model I made the decision to move
across country,” said Josh. “This
organization is truly a breath of fresh
air.”
Janet Robinson -
Administrative Assistant
 Janet discovered her passion for
working with youth and their
families over thirteen years ago.
After working in various youth
programs as a youth counselor and a
home parent of 14-18 adolescents
Janet wanted to become more involved
with families. Her work as a Peer
Parent, providing support and
education to parents in one-on-one
situations, increased her desire to
do even more.
Supported by her husband and
children, Janet returned to school
at the University of Utah and
graduated at the top of her class
receiving a Bachelors of Social Work
with an emphasis in child welfare.
Janet continued her work with
families as a Child Protective
Service Worker for the state of Utah
where she ensured the safety of
children by protecting them from
abuse and helped support families in
crisis. She and her husband also
became foster parents and opened
their home to adolescents. Years of
having these struggling teenagers in
her home has given Janet
understanding and empathy for both
parents and youth.
The most important thing to Janet is
her family. She and her husband
Justin have four wonderful children.
She enjoys spending time with them
and being involved in their lives.
She volunteers in their classrooms
and actively participates in the
PTA. She enjoys camping, hiking,
boating and just being with her
family.
Janet is excited to be a part of the
Aspiro team as she understands the
calming and healing powers of
nature. She loves being a part of a
program that builds on the strengths
and accomplishments of the student
to encourage them to make positive
changes in their lives.
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 Jessica
Williamson, Clinical Assistant
From Gilbert,
Arizona, Jessica is a certified social
worker with her BS degree in Social Work
from Brigham Young University. She is
working towards Masters level training in
social work. She is pursuing research
interests in the area of group therapy in
the outdoors with adolescents who have
learning disabilities. Jessica was
previously a Field Guide with the Vantage
Point program and loves working with
students in the outdoors. Jessica loves
hiking, camping, biking, swimming, sewing,
reading, gourmet cooking, music, playing
piano, ballroom dancing and most of all her
husband. Jessica has extensive training in
swimming and teaching it to others. With a
desire for helping others excel in life, a
knowledge of people’s potential to change,
and a love for working with youth, Jessica
is excited to be working at Aspiro!
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 Ryan
Coley - Admissions and Clinical Assistant
Ryan is originally
from Fort Wayne, Indiana. He has worked
directly with teenagers and families since
2000 in different capacities. He is
currently obtaining his Master's Degree in
Social Work from the University of Utah.
Ryan looks forward to graduating in May of
2011. He has a passion to deliver treatment
services with long lasting benefits for
students and families.
Ryan is specifically pursuing interests
in assisting those with depression, anxiety,
self-harm, and attachment issues. He is an
inspiring leader and loves being part of the
Aspiro team. Ryan enjoys time with his wife
and daughter, hanging out in the mountains,
skiing, and playing golf.
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