Our staff is comprised of professionals with the experience, maturity, qualifications and enthusiasm necessary to create a nurturing learning atmosphere for our students.

Santiam Crossings therapists are mature and experienced master’s level clinicians that specialize in working with adolescents and families. Our teachers demonstrate the enthusiasm and expertise necessary to get our students excited about learning, are certified and have success working with non-traditional learners. Our youth counselors hold bachelor's degrees, preferably in psychology, social work, or a related field, and have experience working with adolescents.

Ryan brings to Santiam Crossing a rich background of therapeutic and private business expertise. His association with two prominent wilderness treatment programs, combined with his success in private business management and the financial marketplace, offers a unique blend of management skills. Ryan appreciates the opportunity Santiam Crossing presents to work with both students and their families and to help them move towards making positive, long-lasting changes. He values the work done at Santiam in empowering students to be the best they can be through setting and reaching goals and enjoys watching the students self-confidence grow as they start to realize and embrace all of the wonderful qualities and attributes that reside inside them. Ryan is a graduate of the University of Kansas.

Jeniveve has dedicated her professional life to addressing the wide range of mental health needs of adolescents. Her drug and alcohol training, clinical education and diverse work experience allow her to teach adolescents skills to work through abuse and trauma issues. Additionally, she helps students develop skills for sobriety, perform better in school, and improve relationships and communication with their families. Jeniveve is a strong believer that all students are capable learners and has created a therapeutic environment to support healing and education. Before joining the Santiam Crossing team, she worked as a clinical counselor for Lincoln County Health and Human Services. Here she was responsible for providing mental health assessments, individual and family counseling sessions, psychiatric medication referrals, and facilitated a drug and alcohol treatment and education class at Toledo High School. She received her Master’s of Social Work from Portland State University and completed her undergraduate studies at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. Jeniveve is a licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor. She enjoys horseback riding, backpacking, and softball.

Joy works well with young men working through anger and defiance issues by weaving yoga into her traditional clinical work. Additionally, she is skilled in facilitating inter-generational communication to allow for family growth and healing. She is a seasoned clinician with more than 10 years of experience in the field of Social Work and six years of direct practice experience working with adolescents with co-occurring disorders.

Melissa has extensive experience working with adolescents and families suffering from trauma and inner-family violence. Her work as a wilderness therapist and a primary therapist for a wilderness therapy program has given her an opportunity to support teens challenged with a variety of mental health, behavioral and substance abuse issues. Her areas of clinical focus include working with adolescent girls and teens with substance abuse issues.

Aaron specializes in utilizing expressive art therapy – art, music, visualization, and movement – to help students' process trauma, grief and loss, and other issues while fostering hope and personal growth. He is also skilled at working with families on developing effective communication skills and improving family dynamics. His work as a counselor in a wilderness therapy program helps him connect with our students and apply lessons from wilderness to Santiam Crossing.

Dave has a diverse background as a biologist, teacher and has worked with at-risk-youth with Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Hannah Neil Center for Children. His work at Santiam Crossing allows him to combine his passion for wilderness, education, and helping young people reach their full potential as learners. Dave earned his undergraduate degree at Ohio State University in Environmental Science and earned his master’s in Education at Western Oregon University.

Shana's experience includes working with young adults and adolescents in many different settings and with students struggling with attention/focus issues. She has also worked as an SAT prep tutor and supported students with college essay construction. She received her Bachelor's degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in Secondary English/ Language Arts Education with a focus in Special Education. She is a certified Wilderness First Responder. When she is not working, she enjoys backpacking, canoeing, reading and playing with her adorable puppy, Utah.

Greg has worked with adolescents since 1992. It is their ability for growth and capacity for change that inspires him in his work on behalf of youth. He came to Santiam Crossing from Vision Service Adventures, a program that combines community service, cross-cultural immersion, and outdoor adventure. He holds a degree in Sociology from Western Washington University and is certified as a Wilderness First Responder, a Swift Water Rescuer, and in CPR. In his spare time Greg enjoys hiking, climbing, poetry, meditation and mindful living, and sampling teas from around the globe.

Dave has been working with adolescents for more than four years. He enjoys the challenge of discovering where each individual student is at, and finding a common ground to connect with them. Fortunately his job is all about creating opportunities for these youth to challenge themselves in discovering where they are at, and likewise, what they can become. Dave has worked as a Head Instructor at a therapeutic wilderness program and as a custom experience coordinator at Indiana University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Radford University and is certified as a Wilderness First Responder, in First Aid, CPR, and as an Ocean Lifeguard. He has also taken tracking and search and rescue courses. In his spare time Dave can be found exploring foreign lands, visiting with family, cooking, hiking, and surfing.

As a registered and licensed dietitian, Dana brings to Santiam Crossing science-based nutritional knowledge with a real-world approach. Her experience includes working as a clinical dietitian with hospitalized patients and managing a variety of nutritional concerns. She has also consulted in long-term care facilities. The majority of her profession has centered managing staff and helping them gain the tools and knowledge to serve great meals! Dana realizes the connection between proper nutrition and health and her passion for helping our students learn how to cook tasty meals to support this connection is a major focus for her. Dana graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelors of Science in Food and Nutrition and completed her Dietetic Pre-Professional Practice Program at the University of Alaska, Anchorage.