Erik Flaten
Erik has been working with Deschutes Wilderness Therapy (DWT) since February 2021 and has experience as a Field Guide, Logistics Transporter, and now as a Family Specialist with Nest Family Services. Erik is an Oregon native who has traveled extensively and lived in many places worldwide. Erik has his BA in Psychology. Before working with…
Read MoreRyan Janac
Ryan grew up in Salem, OR, and came to the Bend area in 2015. Throughout his career, Ryan has held many management positions. Looking for a role aligned with his logistics experience and finding a sense of purpose, Ryan found his way to wilderness therapy logistics, where he combines his management skills, interest in fitness…
Read MoreTim Moore, LPC
Tim offers his insight into attachment, developmental trauma, and addiction by utilizing treatments grounded in interpersonal neurobiology. Sharing specific tools such as Mindsight, Heartmath, Brainspotting, and Mindfulness techniques lead to greater compassion, kindness, resilience, and well-being. Tim is is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Oregon with over 23 years of experience working as a psychotherapist.…
Read MoreBrittney Dane
Brittney grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, and spent her childhood romping around longleaf pine-sawgrass forests. With a degree in Psychology, her early career was as a part of a clinical anxiety research team. Since her transition to the outdoor industry, she has seven years of guiding under her belt. She started her outdoor career as…
Read MoreCassie Schwartz
Cassie grew up on a farm in rural Minnesota. She has been playing in the snow, wandering in the woods, and swimming in lakes for most of her life. Having earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, Cassie taught elementary and middle school in the Minneapolis school district for several…
Read MoreJeremy Hipps
Jeremy is someone who has never been on a straight path. By 30, Jeremy will have worked around 30 jobs, including property management, law enforcement, cooking, teaching, and more! Jeremy’s background in psychology and a passion for helping others drew him to working with Deschutes Wilderness Therapy. He loves being a calm presence in the…
Read MoreBridgette Hutton, MSW
Bridgette (she/her) was born and raised in a small town called Platteville, Colorado, where she grew up playing many competitive sports such as softball, volleyball, and basketball. Bridgette studied at Colorado State University and received her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2019. During her undergraduate degree, she was also a student-athlete at Colorado State University…
Read MoreAllison Hinkle
Allison (she/her) comes to Deschutes Wilderness Therapy with a wealth of experience in case management, program design, and recruitment. She has worked locally in the Central Oregon community for the past five years, supporting different non-profit organizations. During this time, Allison gained a strong understanding of community needs and built connections to create accessible resources…
Read MoreMary Catherine Mareno
Mary Catherine originally hails from Austin, Texas, and is enchanted by central Oregon’s beauty and unique ecology. With a master’s degree in conservation biology, she is passionate about nature’s power to affect positive change in our lives. This passion drew her to the work of Deschutes Wilderness Therapy. She believes connecting people to the earth…
Read MoreSarah Golemon-Mercer
Sarah joined Deschutes Nest Family Services as a Family Specialist in the summer of 2021. She graduated with a BA in Religious Community and Environmental Studies, which continues to nourish her understanding of systemic and individual healing. Sarah is passionate about family services and strives to support transformation and growth by facilitating the daily schedule,…
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