Clinical Team
Admission Team
Wilderness Team
Residential Team
Animal TeamPassionate, Caring Expert Staff
Your family’s team will include your child’s primary therapist, a Family Coach, a medical coordinator, a certified teacher, an equine specialist and many more. Together, this team of experts will work to understand your child’s behavior in various contexts – family, peers, school, recreation, and alone. Combined, these diverse perspectives allow our team to customize your child’s treatment plan so they can experience success throughout their life.
Graham Shannonhouse
Founder
Graham Shannonhouse has been actively involved in wilderness therapy for more than twenty years. Graduating from the University of North Carolina in 1991, she spent the following decade working with a leading wilderness therapy program in central Idaho, serving as a hands-on Field Instructor, Field Supervisor, and finally Wilderness Program Manager. She returned to her Carolina home in 2002 to serve as Executive Director of a therapeutic wilderness program, where she remained until she resigned in 2008 to form Trails Carolina.
JEREMY WHITWORTH
Co-Executive Director
Jeremy has worked in therapeutic youth programs for the past decade. With a degree in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education, Jeremy has run a wilderness program, boarding school, and summer camp programs all over North America. He grew up camping, rock climbing and trail running, and found the wilderness to be an incredible teacher of character, accountability, and confidence. Outside of Trails, he enjoys hiking with his wife and dogs, cooking healthy meals, and doing Crossfit.
Clinical Team
Our highly skilled clinical team creates individualized treatment plans for each child and family. As a parent, you can expect to be working with therapists who will help your child gain personal insight, provide treatment, and produce a thorough assessment of your child. Combined, our clinical team has many decades of experience working with teens and their families.
Jeniveve Rollins, LCSW
Clinical Director / Primary Therapist
Jeniveve leads the clinical team and helps support staff with the therapeutic process.
Leah Madamba, MS, NCC, LCMHC
Family Services Director
Leah has worked in the therapeutic field for over 20 years in a variety of roles.
Travis Wireback, LCSW
Travis uses his depth of experience to lead groups for boys ages 14 – 17.
Amanda Mojave, LPC
Amanda leads and works with our younger girls group, students ages 10-14.
Jana Eilermann, NCC, LCMHC
Jana works closely with students and families throughout the therapeutic process.
Shalene Pierce, MSW, LCSW
Primary Therapist
Shalene has been with Trails since its inception and leads girls groups ages 14 – 17.
Justin Messinger, MA, LCMHC, LCASA
Primary Therapist
Justin works directly with families and help supports students in their journey to healing.
Sarah Hutchison, MSW, LCSW
Sarah is a Primary Therapist who works closely with families and students at Trails Carolina.
Sarah James, MA, LCMHC, LCAS
Primary Therapist
Sarah helps students learn resilience and self-awareness as they work toward change.
Cass McCormick, LMFTA
Primary Therapist/Family Coach
Cass meets students and families where they are at to create lasting change.
Erin Cantalini, MA, LPC
Family Coach
Erin helps guide families throughout their therapeutic journey.
Melissa Turner, LCSW
Family Coach
Melissa helps guide Trails Carolina families throughout the therapeutic process.
Francie Blair
Clinical Assistant
Julia Ruff, NCC, LCMHCA
Primary Therapist
Julia helps provide therapeutic support to students’ throughout their time at Trails.
Admission Team
Our admissions team understands that the decision to send your child to a wilderness therapy program is a difficult one. We’re here to help you to understand the value of our program and if it is the right fit for your child. You will be met with professionalism and compassion as our team works to meet your family’s individual needs.
Julia Andrick
Julia has helped countless families make the decision to go to Trails.
Dottie Lank
Dottie works with families to help them make the transition to Trails.
Brooke Stewart
Brooke helps provide support and logistical details to families as they head towards graduation.
Paula Woods
Paula helps guide families through the admissions process.
Wilderness Team
Expert wilderness and adventure camp staff for student success and safety Above all else, our wilderness team is there to ensure your child’s safety. Dedicated field instructors provide direct, individual care to students as they explore the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, as Field Staff work alongside our Clinical Team and Medical Coordinator to ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of your child are tended to.
Kyle Shepard
Experiential Education Director
Kyle leads experiential programming at Trails.
Thor Jones
Adolescent Field Director
Thor supervises and manages the field instructors and staff.
Brandon Berthrong
Youth Field Director
Brandon leads field staff and helps support students.
David Lackey
Adventure Program Facilitator
Rachel Bisker
Hiring Manager
Luke Johnson
Youth Field Manager
Luke is the Youth Field Manager at Trails Carolina.
Residential Team
The Residential Team provides quality programming in the classroom and beyond. Our dedicated teachers work hard to design an engaging curriculum, and accreditations ensure that credits earned by your child will transfer to most other schools. Beyond the classroom, our equine specialist facilitates students’ connection with our herd of horses, helping them connect with their emotions and better understand non-verbal communication.
Steve O’Neil
Ecology Specialist
Steve helps our students understand the misunderstood through experiential learning.
Robin Lively Summers, Ph.D.
Teacher
Robin helps students thrive in the classroom.
Lindsey Elliott
Health and Wellness Director
Lindsey manages our health and wellness programming, Trails to Wellness.
Dr. Tony Fisher, MD
Consulting Physician
Tony completes all physicals and tends to basic medical needs.
Debi Whitmire
HR Director
Debi oversees human resources and risk management.
Ben Holtzclaw
Facilities Director
Ben manages all facilities at Trails Carolina and keeps our campus beautiful.
Serena Sackett
Logistics Director
Serena manages the day-to-day logistics at Trails Carolina.
Anne Westall
Equine Specialist
Anne oversees the horse programming for Trails.
Animal Team
Maggie
Primary Therapist Jana Eilermann’s Pup
Chuck
Primary Therapist Amanda Mojave’s pup