PDFStaff
Shawn Farrell, MEd.
Executive Director
In 1996, after several years working as a climbing guide and canyoneering specialist in southern Utah, I found my way to the Aspen Achievement Academy. There I launched into a career of working in wilderness therapy programs. Since those days as a field instructor, I have traveled the country learning from and working for a variety of therapeutic wilderness programs. In the intervening years I have worked in a number of positions, including Field Director, Operations Director, Program Director, and Academic Director. Most recently, I spent three years as the Director of Operations for the Outdoor Division of Aspen Education Group, assisting in the oversight of their wilderness programs.
My professional experience has been complemented by an academic career attending Sterling College in northern Vermont. There I was immersed in an experiential educational curriculum, where classroom study was tested with real world application. My time there ultimately resulted in an Associate of Arts degree in Resource Management, but more profoundly taught me the importance of engaging students in multiple learning styles and the power of “experience” in education. I later continued my studies completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Master’s in Education from the University of Kentucky. The master’s program allowed me to further explore the theoretical foundations of education, school system reforms, and the necessity of reaching students on a variety of academic, intellectual, and emotional levels.
Throughout my professional and academic career I have been a student of adolescent development and wilderness programming. I have maintained leadership positions within the industry and the Aspen Education Group including membership on the Outdoor Best Practices and Academic Best Practices committees, and Chairman of the Ethics committee for the Outdoor Behavioral Health Industry Council. I continue to look forward to the future of Phoenix Outdoor and positively impacting our students’ and families’ lives.
Professional Experience:
AEG Outdoor Division - Operations Director
SUWS of the Carolinas – Executive Director, Program Supervisor, Academic Director, Senior Field Instructor
Explorations Wilderness Program - Program Director
Aspen Achievement Academy - Senior Instructor, Logistics Coordinator
On Track - Field Instructor
Special Project Experience:
Project Manager opening Four Circles Recovery Center
Family Brat Camp UK - Program Director
Television Documentary: “Britain's Youngest Boozers” - Program Manager
Jesse Quam, MSW, LCSW
Clinical Director
Jesse Quam is the Clinical Director for Phoenix Outdoor. Before earning his Master’s of Clinical Social Work from Boston College (May, 2005), Jesse worked for Aspen Achievement Academy, a therapeutic wilderness program in Utah. There, he worked as a Field Staff, Reunion Coordinator (facilitating the three-day reunion with families for students graduating form the program), and Field Director. After a year hiatus, Jesse returned to wilderness therapy to work as a senior field staff. While in graduate school, Jesse worked at The Walker Home and School, a residential home and school serving emotionally disturbed children and their families as a residential counselor and individual therapist. He also provided group and individual therapy to homeless veterans with substance abuse issues at the Brockton Veteran's Administration. Jesse is particularly interested in family systems, attachment theory and spirituality. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, reading, hiking, grilling out, and fruitlessly hoping that the Minnesota Vikings will win the Super Bowl.
Kevin Waller, MS, NCC, LPC
Therapist
Kevin Waller is a Nationally Board Certified Counselor as well as a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of North Carolina. Kevin has a strong belief in wilderness as an effective setting for therapy. Prior to entering graduate school Kevin earned his undergraduate degree in Outdoor Education with an emphasis in the therapeutic use of adventure and then worked as a field instructor for four years at a wilderness therapy program. As a graduate student at Western Carolina University earning a master’s degree in Community Counseling, Kevin worked with high-risk teenagers in a therapeutic, residential setting. He also developed and implemented a group therapy curriculum for middle school children. After graduation Kevin worked for two years at a therapeutic boarding school. His clinical interests include substance abuse, oppositional behavior, anxiety, family systems, ADHD, grief work and developing healthy coping strategies. Kevin brings to Phoenix Outdoor several years of experience working with at-risk youth, their families, and issues evolving around substance abuse.
Phil Ellis, Ph.D., BCIA
Board Certified in Neurofeedback
Licensed as a psychologist in North Carolina, Certified in EEG Biofeedback, and the founder of FOCUS CENTERS, PLLC, Dr. Ellis has been providing clinical services to youth and families for more than thirty years. He has designed and implemented programs that address behavioral, emotional and learning difficulties for children and adults. He specializes in treating attention, behavior, stress, anxiety, autism and mood disorders utilizing both neurofeedback and psychotherapy.
In addition to the services available at the downtown office, Dr. Ellis supervises the biofeedback program in a local charter school and mentors other professionals seeking to learn to provide neurofeedback.
Kedar S. Brown, M.Ed. LPC
Counselor
Kedar S. Brown, M.Ed. LPC is a licensed professional counselor with over 25 years of counseling practice. He has worked extensively with teens and young adults with chemical dependency and duel diagnosis issues. Kedar has developed and facilitated wilderness rites of passage programs as a primary modality of treatment for addictions, and emotional and physical trauma. He also integrates family systems therapy, body-centered psychotherapy, story-telling, poetry and music into his work. In 1995 Kedar founded Rites of Passage Council, non-profit organization that offers nature based retreats for men, women and teens. His Workshops and retreats have been offered across the US and in Ireland. Kedar has two daughters ages 21 and 14 and lives in the mountains of Asheville, NC.
“Kedar is a talented therapist who employs a variety of clinical methods. His work is grounded in various indigenous healing practices from around the world. He is uniquely talented at the use of story telling and ceremony to help clients regain a positive sense of themselves. He does a wonderful job at facilitating our experiential group process ceremony and purification lodge ceremony as part of our client’s Rite of Passage week. Our clients report an overwhelmingly positive experience after their time with Kedar.”
Jack L. Kline, MS, LPC, LCAS, CCS-I, NCC Executive Director Four Circles Recovery Center
“My two daughters continue to be my most inspiring teachers about life, love and happiness.” “I look forward to working with you and your family.”
