Passionate, Caring Expert Staff
Your family’s team will include your child’s primary therapist, a family therapist, 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
Executive Director, 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.
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.
Jeremy Whitworth
Co-Executive Director
Jeremy leads and oversees all day to day programming and operations.
Jeniveve Rollins, LCSW
Clinical Director
Jeniveve leads the clinical team and helps support staff with 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.
Todd Green MSW, LCSW
Primary Therapist
Todd 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.
Sarah McGahran, LCSWA
Primary Therapist
Sarah guides teens and helps facilitate lasting change in family systems.
Jana Eilermann, NCC, LCMHC
Jana works closely with students and families throughout the therapeutic process.
Sarah Hutchison, MSW, LCSW
Sarah is a Primary Therapist who works closely with families and students at Trails Carolina.
Travis Wireback, LCSW
Travis works closely with Trails Carolina students throughout their therapeutic journey.
Erin Cantalini, MA, LPC
Family Therapist
Erin helps guide families throughout their therapeutic journey.
Kaitlin Kertesz, MSW, LCSW, RYT
Family Therapist
Kaitlin works closely with Trails Carolina families throughout the therapeutic process.
Melissa Turner, LCSW
Family Therapist
Melissa helps guide Trails Carolina families throughout the therapeutic process.
Cass McCormick, LMFTA
Family Therapist
Cass McCormick is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFTA)
Nicola Zollinger, LCMHCA
Transition Therapist
Nicola works closely with Trails Carolina students throughout the therapeutic process.
Julia Ruff, NCC, LCMHCA
Primary Therapist
Julia helps provide therapeutic support to students’ throughout their time at Trails.
Mara Mueller, MSW, LCSW
Family Therapist
Mara works closely with Trails Carolina families throughout the therapeutic process.
Taisir El-Souessi, LCMHCS, LPC
Family Therapist
Taisir supports and guides families over the course of their child’s journey.
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.
Candace Bynum
Candace helps referral families successfully transition to Trails.
Brooke Stewart
Brooke helps provide support and logistical details to families as they head towards graduation.
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
Head of Instructor Development
Thor supervises and manages the field instructors and staff.
Brandon Berthrong
Field Director
Brandon leads field staff and helps support students.
Patricia Orr
Adolescent Program Manager
As a Program Manager, Patricia helps support and manage field staff.
David Lackey
Adventure Program Facilitator
Rachel Bisker
Hiring Manager
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.
Elizabeth Chancellor
Academic Director
Elizabeth helps maintain our academic accreditation and supports our academic team.
Steve O’Neil
Ecology Specialist
Steve helps our students understand the misunderstood through experiential learning.
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.
Anne Westall
Equine Specialist
Anne oversees the horse programming for Trails.
Betty Ervin
Office Manager, Parent Liaison
Betty is the “glue” involved in all aspects of Trails.
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 Manager
Serena manages the day-to-day logistics at Trails Carolina.
Animal Team
Maggie
Primary Therapist Jana Eilermann’s Pup
Maven
Primary Therapist Sarah McGahran’s Pup
Chuck
Primary Therapist Amanda Mojave’s pup
