Welcome to Ascent Programs

When a teen’s life gets off track due to significant emotional distress or dysfunctional behaviors, it is not uncommon for their life and their family’s life to unravel. My passion is to bring families the healing experiences they need to reconnect as a family and help their child put their life back together. Using nature and outdoors as our setting, we help struggling teens reconnect with their families. We also help them find happiness, and develop the maturity to handle the challenges ahead of them. Growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada, I spent much time in the outdoors of Southern Utah. Whether hiking in Zion or rock climbing in Veyo, the outdoors was a place of peace and growth. Hence as a Mental Health Professional, I believe that the best environment for healing individuals and relationships is in the outdoors. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and have worked with teens in various capacities. I began working with adolescents as a field guide at RedCliff Ascent in 2000. Subsequently, I’ve held numerous positions at ThreePeaks. These include Senior Field Instructor, Field Support Manager, Assistant Medical Coordinator, Primary Therapist, Research Director. And I am currently the Executive Director for ThreePeaks Ascent. As a clinician, I bring a wealth of experience. This experience includes Experiential Therapies, Narrative Family Therapy, Adlerian Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I have also worked with adolescents and families in many different settings over the years, including residential treatment, community mental health, and foster care.My educational experience includes an MA in Mental Health Counseling and a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. My research focus is on Nature-Based Short-Term Residential Treatment, nature, adolescent development, and counseling ethics. I am actively involved in the counseling and psychology profession and hold regional and national leadership positions. I publish and present on Nature-Based Short-Term Residential Treatment and the use of the outdoor. This is done around the world at the national and international conference level. When not working, I enjoy spending time with my wife (who was also a field staff at ThreePeaks Ascent) and four children. Living just outside of Zion National Park, I enjoy spending time in nature with the family. I also like history and art, and enjoy visiting fine and contemporary art museums when I travel.

At a very young age, Clinton realized that he could have an impact on others’ lives through service and being involved. He is happiest when he is making a difference in other’s lives. Clinton is married and has five children. He loves spending time with them doing just about anything. They are his life. Clinton uses the same principles that they teach at the Ranch at home with his kids. It works. Clinton started in this industry in 2000 and has worked in Wilderness, Therapeutic Boarding and Residential. Residential is where his heart is. He started out his career in admissions and helped start the ranch as the Executive Director in 2005. He loves his work and feels blessed to have found something that he loves to do and gets paid to do it. Discovery Ranch has been a passion for him in that he helps create experiences for others the way his parents did for him when he was young.

Shawn is the Executive Director of Oxbow Academy. Shawn earned a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Brigham Young University. He began his career in residential therapy in 1992 and since that time has served as program director to three facilities, two of which specialize in treating teen boys with sexual issues. A native of Utah, he spent two years living in South America before settling down to become a family man. He and his wife are the parents of three children. He loves coaching little league football, playing the guitar and working with wood. Shawn’s passion for life and personal excellence drive his determination to help his boys at Oxbow discover the same.

Andrea has always known that she would be involved in some aspect of therapeutic services. While pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Family Science at Brigham Young University, she volunteered at The Women’s and Children’s Crisis Center as well as the Utah Valley Crisis Line. Once she graduated from Brigham Young University, she completed a graduate certification from the University of Utah as a certified addictions counselor. Her 22-year journey in the adolescent treatment industry began as a direct care staff and then a supervisor in a Residential Treatment Center for adjudicated adolescent males. She was then promoted to the Director of Individual Residential Treatment, a program that is tasked with placing adjudicated males from a Residential Treatment Center setting into the homes of approved and trained families. Andrea then transferred to Redcliff Ascent, a premier therapeutic wilderness program for struggling teens. She began her role as a member of the Redcliff Ascent Management Team as a Parent Liaison and was promoted to Assistant Executive Director. In 2002, Andrea became the Executive Director of Redcliff Ascent and served in that capacity for 12 years. During her tenure as Redcliff Ascent’s Executive Director, she served as vice-chair for the Outdoor Behavioral Health Council from 2011 – 2013, an industry association that promotes program standards, ethics, and risk management as well as facilitating outcome research of the efficacy of wilderness programs. In the fall of 2011, Andrea co-founded Evolving Women, an industry association for women in the adolescent therapeutic industry. Evolving Women’s mission is to provide networking opportunities, professional development, and service. The organization continues to grow in membership and influence for some of the industry’s most talented women. In April of 2013, Andrea left her beloved post at Redcliff Ascent and was given the remarkable opportunity to lead a dynamic team as the Executive Director of Discovery Ranch for Girls. Set on a 66-acre ranch with a lake, riding arena, barn, and homey living spaces, Andrea began learning more about the intricacies of providing outstanding treatment a Residential Treatment setting. Andrea is dedicated to providing a program that is safe, therapeutic and effective for students and families. She and her husband have two boys, two dogs, and two cats and enjoy the outdoor life in Southern Utah.

Brent has spent his career of almost 20 years working with teens and their families in a variety of different settings including long and short-term residential treatment, acute care, and home based services. He has served in various leadership capacities over the years including clinical director, utilization review director, admissions/business development director, and executive director. Brent relates comfortably and professionally with families and teens alike. He finds great joy in guiding families out of crisis situations and into peaceful solutions. Brent’s experience working within the field of mental health in admissions allows him to have a breadth of knowledge when assessing the needs of clients in acute situations, as well as less critical circumstances. He played an integral part in creating an operational psychiatric facility and most recently helped start a short-term residential treatment program. Brent is passionate about providing more families with quality mental health treatment by accessing their insurance benefits. Brent is an active member of his community and finds the most joy spending time with his family. His wife, Julie, and their three young adult/teenagers enjoy all sports along with hiking, camping and other outdoor activities. Julie is a competitive marathon runner and Brent rides his bike along side her to keep up.

Jake has always had a passion for helping others and working with people. He graduated from Utah Valley University with a Bachelors of Science in Biology and Music with High Distinction from the Center for Advancement of Leadership. Jake’s original plan was to continue medical school and become a doctor but he began working at Discovery Ranch during his last semester part-time and fell in love with the program. Making a difference in the lives of others is what Jake loves to do most. Jake has a long history as the go-to guy here at The Ranch. He has been a part of the team since 2012 and has spent time as our Music Director, Family Services Coordinator, Admissions Counselor, and now serves as the executive director at WayPoint Academy. One of his greatest loves is traveling and exploring the wonders of the world. He considers himself a true foodie, always baking or cooking something new for everyone to try. Jake has a passion for music both teaching and performing, a huge love for his family, a skilled eye for detail, and a keen drive for perfection in everything he does.