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About the Academy

clinical Team

Dan Tadlock, LMSW
Director of Family Services

Dan brings the experience of working with a variety of mental health facilities, where he developed competencies treating all levels of acuity from Anxiety to Post Traumatic Stress Disorders. Prior to Northwest Academy, Dan spent three years working as a wilderness therapist for adolescents and has a passion for helping students and their families effectively transfer momentum from wilderness to therapeutic boarding school. In fact, Dan's passion for effective collaboration between wilderness and therapeutic boarding schools has gained him recognition as a presenter at the annual Wilderness Therapy Symposium at Naropa University. Dan is also an active board member of the National Association of Therapeutic Boarding Schools and Programs (NATSAP), an organization which is committed to implementing and upholding appropriate standards for the mental health care of adolescents and young adults. Dan completed his Bachelor of Arts at Brigham Young University and his Master's of Social Work at through Eastern Washington State University.

Dan enjoys working with teenagers and values their spirit and enthusiasm. Dan has been helping teenagers tackle life's challenges through many different roles including: therapist, mentor, ropes course instructor, wilderness guide, directing international charity projects, and coaching high school soccer. Dan is a gifted musician and can often be found building relationships with students by jamming out on the guitar with them.

During his free time you can find Dan out hiking with his boys, helping a friend finish a project, or playing volleyball or basketball.

Treva Rawlings, LPC
Clinical Therapist

Treva has a total of 7+ years experience working with adolescents in a therapeutic boarding school environment, where prior to her role as clinical therapist she has worn the hats of teacher, program staff, and family resource coordinator.

Treva originally sought her degree in Physical Education K-12 to help teach children to cooperate, learn discipline, live healthy lives and experience good physical exercise that is good for the soul. She later went on to complete her Master's of Science in Counseling and Human Services. Treva credits experience as a high school teacher and Psychosocial Rehabilitation Provider for developing the understanding necessary to be an empathetic and caring Family Therapist. She completed both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees at University of Idaho.

Treva's area of specialization include trauma and eating disorders and she has received training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), which is a cutting edge modality used in the treatment of trauma, anxiety, and various other pathologies.

Treva grew up in Great Falls Montana and her favorite past time is spending as much time as possible with her husband and two daughters. Her favorite quote is "Attitudes are contagious, let yours be the one worth catching."

David Donaldson, MS
Clinical Therapist

Dave has a Bachelor of Science in Recreation Therapy and a Master of Science in Counseling from San Diego State University.

Dave joined Northwest Academy clinical team in 2009, bringing with him experience in many areas including wilderness therapy, vocational rehabilitation, and adventure education. Dave retired from the U.S. Navy in 2003 after a 20 year career as a medic and serving in hospitals and clinics both in the U.S. and overseas, with the Marines and with the Navy Seals, where he developed a passion for leadership development.

Dave's area of expertise include leadership development and experiential therapy. He believes challenging activities are a key modality for building a student's sense of self-efficacy. Dave has used everything from climbing to surfing to skiing to create metaphors for life and facilitate transformative insight in his clients.

If you drop in for one of Dave's groups be sure to wear your sneakers, as you will most likely be going outside to participate in some type of game or activity designed to build team cohesion or develop leadership skills.

Jaime D. McManus, LLP
Clinical Therapist

Jaime comes to us from Michigan, where she completed her final practicuum at Michigan State University/Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies as a clinician working with families and adolescents in their Department of Behavioral and Developmental Pediatrics. Prior to that, Jaime completed an internship at the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services working with undergraduate students whose primary problems surrounded personal, educational, and vocational concerns. Jaime's areas of specialty include holistic health psychology as well as healing through visual arts. Mellow music, a giant box of crayons, miscellaneous art supplies, and her registered therapy dog, Charlie, are just a few things you'll find find when visiting Jaime's office. She completed both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees at Western Michigan University.

Jaime grew up in Troy, Michigan and lived for a brief time in North Carolina. In college, Jamie studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic to study creative arts. During graduate school she joined AmeriCorps, a branch of the National Service Corps , reaching out to community members to volunteer and mentor. In her free time she enjoys practicing yoga, snowboarding, cooking, running, playing guitar, and spending time with Charlie, her delightful golden retriever. Jaime's favorite go-to response for students is, "it is entirely possible that everything will be okay." Her favorite part about being a therapist at NWA is that "my students challenge me almost as much as I challenge them; I learn something new everyday."

John Tock, MS
Clinical Therapist

John joined the Northwest Clinical clinical team in 2010, coming all the way from Illinois, where he completed his master's degree in Clinical Counseling at Eastern Illinois University. John completed his Bachelor of Arts at Hanover College.

John has experience working with adolescents in a therapeutic wilderness program where he spent time as a program counselor and family worker. Other prior experience includes work as a program leader at a children's residential treatment home as well as clinician at a community mental health center, both in Illinois. John has a spirit of adventure and is always willing to try new things. His favorite activity for building relationships with students is sharing musical interests and using humor.

In his free time John enjoys playing sports, enjoying the outdoors, and spending time with friends and family.

Ashley Wendland, LPC
Clinical Therapist

Ashley has been with Northwest Academy since 2008 as a Clinical Therapist. Prior to her time at Northwest Ashley worked with a non-profit organization in Casper Wyoming, where she worked with adolescents in many capacities including group therapy in the public schools, drug education classes for first time offenders in the legal system, as well as individual therapy, family therapy, and case management. Ashley holds a Bachelor of Arts from Oklahoma Baptist University and a Master's of Science in Counseling from the University of Wyoming. Ashley has 5+ years of experience working with adolescents and their families.

Ashley is a trained EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapist, which is a cutting edge modality used in the treatment of trauma, anxiety, and various other pathologies. Ashley's other areas of special knowledge include Attachment and Family Systems approaches. Her favorite activity for building relationships with students is taking them on outdoor experiences, such as camping trips or off campus day hikes.

In her spare time Ashley enjoys traveling, hiking, bicycling, snowboarding, and music.

Jeff Kukuk, LCPC
Clinical Therapist

Jeff is a licensed therapist who has a desire to assist families, not just the individual. He works with students and families at Northwest and expresses that he finds the most joy in being side by side with a student in their environment. Whether cooking in the kitchen, walking the campus, or even mauling wood! Working with the student in their environment allows him to see and understand their patterns and how they respond to stress.

Jeff received his Bachelors Degree in Exercise Science - Fitness Wellness from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1998. He then started to work with teens at a residential treatment program in 2000 where he implemented exercise into the student's emotional and academic curriculum. Later, he moved to Louisville, KY where he worked at the YMCA Safe Place Services - Shelter House, a crisis shelter where teens in crisis could seek out assistance. While working for the YMCA, Jeff pursued and received his Masters of Divinity Degree with Pastoral Counseling from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2002. With the combination of a Health/Fitness Degree and a Degree in Psychology, Jeff became interested in working with young people in a therapeutic boarding school in Montana, where he spent six years before deciding to transition to the clinical team at Northwest Academy.

Jeff and his wife Dawn have been married since 2002. Originally from Michigan, he is the oldest of four siblings. They have two dogs, Scout and Bear. Jeff and his wife have a son named Zachary. Jeff's personal interests are boating, wake boarding, and hiking with his wife in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Together they regularly enjoy entertaining friends.

Theresa Wardle, LCSW
Clinical Therapist

Theresa is a licensed therapist who has specialized in working with adolescents for over fifteen years, including individual, family and group therapy, as well as extensive training in attachment and trauma issues. Theresa's supportive and non-judgemental approach, combined with her understanding of adolescent development and behavior, empowers young women to recognize their strengths and develop skills to make positive choices.

Theresa holds a Master's Degree in Social Work from Walla Walla College in Missoula, Montana, as well as a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from the University of Montana in Missoula. Theresa worked with NWA and affiliate programs from 1998 to 2003 when she left to stay home with her first child. For the past eight years she has run a private in-home therapeutic care business for girls ages 13-21. Theresa enjoys working with 17/18 year olds because of the unique opportunities and challenges faced as they approach adulthood.

Theresa is married and has three children, an 8 year old daughter and 3 year old twins (boy & girl). She was raised in a large family of nine children, and lived in California, Texas, Arizona, and Montana before moving to North Idaho in 1998.

 

 

Ramon Palacios, LCDAC
Substance Abuse Specialist

Ramon Palacios is a licensed Internationally Certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor (ICDAC) who has worked with addicts and alcoholics for 18+ years. Ramon has worked within the judicial system with the Board of Pardons and Paroles and was the Program Director at Ascent Outdoor Wilderness Program. He also worked at Passages to Recovery, conducting staff training, ensuring program consistency and running groups.

In addition, Ramon was on the founding team of Four Circles Recovery and assisted in the start up of the young adult program at Wilderness Quest.

In his free time Ramon values being with his family and enjoys spending time in the outdoors, hunting, fishing, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

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