Matt Potako
Matt hails from the woody western suburbs of Philadelphia, PA where he always preferred to play outside. He developed an early love for the ocean, growing up sailing, surfing and kiteboarding. While studying Hydrogeology and Music Technology at Penn State, Matt fell in love with the mountains and land-based activities such as hiking, skiing and mountain biking.…
Read MoreAimée Seaborne
As the Medical Coordinator and Safety Officer at Deschutes Wilderness Therapy, Aimée oversees the medical and risk management systems. Coming from Winchester, England, Aimée graduated with a Bachelor of Science from The University of Lincoln in the UK. She was president of the Women’s Football (Soccer) Team and a competition cheerleader! Originally coming to the…
Read MoreAJ Frithiof, LCSW
AJ Frithiof (pronounced Fritch-off) is the clinical director of the young adult program at Deschutes Wilderness Therapy and is a licensed clinical social worker in the State of Oregon and the State of Utah. She began working in wilderness therapy in 2004 and has since worked in a variety of clinical and programming positions throughout wilderness and…
Read MoreXela Goodman LCSW
After receiving a B.A. dual degree in Education and History, Xela served in the Peace Corps for nearly three years in South Africa. It was during this pivotal time when she fully understood her passion for being of service to others. Upon returning to the States, Xela started her work in wilderness therapy as a field instructor, where…
Read MoreLeah Chambers, MA, LPC
Leah Chambers, MA, Professional Counselor Associate, is a Family Therapist with Nest Family Services. Leah began working in wilderness therapy in 2017, completing a clinical internship with Deschutes Wilderness Therapy and growing into clinical roles that included Clinical Specialist and Primary Therapist for adolescents, young adults, and their families. Since leaving DWT in 2020, Leah…
Read MoreElizabeth Deardorff, LCSW
Liz is driven in her practice by her purpose- to bring togetherness and understanding to families and communities so we can feel more connected and less isolated in this lonely and traumatized world. Liz believes in communal and relational healing, starting with the family system. Liz deeply believes in the importance of repair, healing, and…
Read MoreMike Sullivan
Mike is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with 15 years of experience working with adolescents, young adults, and families. His fascination with the wild and natural environment led him to pursue a career in wilderness therapy. Inspired by the years, he spent working as a field instructor for a wilderness therapy program in the desert…
Read MoreFelicity
Having healed in the San Bernardino National Forest myself, I learned how important of a tool mother nature can be. I acquired a B.S. in Outdoor Adventure Leadership and a minor in Counseling to pair my passions of helping individuals grow and getting them outside. I personally enjoy climbing mountains, swimming in varying bodies of…
Read MoreMac
Mac escaped from the suburbs of Pennsylvania to seek out experiences in the wider world, creating a love of travel and desire to intimately understand diverse ways of living. This can be seen in her admittedly multifarious professional activities – which include stints at Bridgewater Associates, the CIA, and Backpacker magazine – and international interludes…
Read MoreMaddi
Maddi hails from Seattle, Washington. She grew up traipsing through Olympic rainforests and swimming in the high alpine lakes of the North Cascades. Eventually she ventured east for four years to study Psychology and Spanish at Wheaton College in Massachusetts. During her college career Maddi ran for the cross country and track & field teams,…
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