Cody grew up in Texas and Florida before attending University of Missouri, graduating with a Bachelor of General Studies and a minor in Multicultural Studies. After having worked in security, dog training, and Child Protective Services, Cody is proud to be helping residents find success at Mountain Valley.
In his spare time, Cody enjoys reading, biking and going to movies as well as spending time with his wife, Shea, and Wendy, his dog.
Will has a long history in behavioral healthcare including providing psychotherapy at a community mental health center, a hospital, a private practice, and a boarding school. He is the co-founder of Summit Achievement, a hybrid wilderness therapy program located in Maine, which he owned and operated from 1996-2022. Will completed his master’s in social work (MSW) degree in 1987 and completed his Doctorate of Arts (DA) in leadership in 2011. His doctoral dissertation traced the evolution of wilderness therapy through critical leaders and incidents. He has been a licensed mental health professional (LCSW) in New Hampshire since 1987. Will wrote the book, Stories from the Field: A History of Wilderness Therapy and is the host of the podcast, Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy.
Will has been drawn to Mountain Valley for many years as the organization is seen by behavioral healthcare professionals as the leader in the country in the anxiety treatment field. Will is truly honored to advise Mountain Valley as it moves into the second decade of helping young people and their families, and has always been impressed by the clinical sophistication of its treatment team as well as the caring professionalism of the program staff.
Will has been immersed in outdoor settings since he was born as he spent the first months of his life, and every summer thereafter, at his Great Grandfather’s home in the White Mountains. He currently runs a tree farm on his Great Grandfather’s property. Will hikes, backcountry skis, and trail runs along with his wife, Lisa from their home in Jackson, New Hampshire, where they raised their two sons.
Anne has worked as a teacher since receiving her Bachelors Degree in Education. She loves learning and traveling; she earned several scholarships to serve as a visiting student/teacher in India, Malaysia, Australia, England and United States. Before moving to the US, Anne also attended an industrial and community college for designing, baking and cooking, which led to her passion for opening a bed and breakfast at her home in Perkinsville, Vermont. Anne started working at Mountain Valley in 2019 as a residential overnight counselor. Her favorite part of the shift is cooking healthy and delicious breakfasts for the residents and she sometimes cooks authentic asian food or bakes cookies and cakes for special occasions.
Anne has many interests and always keeps herself busy. She loves to cook and grow her own food. She enjoys indoor activities like yoga, swimming, painting, baking and cooking as well as outdoor activities like hiking, biking, paddleboarding, gardening and taking her cats out for a walk.
Antoinette has over a decade of experience working within the mental health field to include both inpatient and outpatient settings. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Castleton State College in VT and her Master of Arts in Psychology from The Derner Institute at Adelphi University in Garden City, NY. Throughout her years of providing treatment, she has become skilled at Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Her clinical style is that of synthesizing the dichotomy of acceptance and change. Antoinette’s passion to help initiate change earlier in individuals’ lives is what inspired her to start working with adolescents and young adults at Mountain Valley.
Antoinette was born and raised on Long Island, NY though decided during her master’s studies that she preferred the VT living experience she was exposed to during her time at Castleton. For her own practice of self-care, Antoinette reads and spends time outdoors, specifically swimming in the summer and snowmobiling in the winter. Spending time with her family which includes her three-year-old black Labrador Retriever, Betty, is on the top of her priority list.
TJ is happy to be back at Mountain Valley after teaching at a private school in Laconia, NH. TJ has worked in environmental education, corporate teambuilding, k-12 education, and previously for Mountain Valley Treatment Center. TJ holds a bachelor’s degree in Adventure Education from Plymouth, NH and is currently perusing a master’s degree in child and Adolescent Development from Southern New Hampshire University. TJ worked for Mountain Valley Treatment Center in 2018 for one year before moving on to teaching at Acton Academy NH. After three and a half years there he returned to Mountain Valley and is excited to further develop the Adventure Therapy program.
TJ grew up in Vernon, NJ. After high school TJ taught hang gliding and snowboarding professionally before returning to college later in life. TJ has two young children and currently lives in Rumney, NH with his wife.
J’Amy attended school in her home state at the University of Utah, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Recreational Therapy (RT) and a minor in Psychology. J’Amy focused her studies on mental health and specifically how physical activity and recreational can act as powerful intervention tools for those suffering from mood disorders. While in school her passion for the outdoors was fostered even more as she learned about research linking time outside with a plethora of health benefits. J’Amy has spent time with children of all ages as a teacher of a forest preschool and an early learning center, an RT student in the pediatric unit of a mental hospital, and with students k-12 as a Recreational Therapy Intern.
J’Amy found Mountain Valley as a young professional, passionate about the holistic approach she found here. She was especially drawn towards the adventure-based programming provided here. J’Amy has loved providing opportunities for residents to engage in meaningful leisure activities during the club program.
J’Amy moved to NH from UT to complete her RT degree in 2020. Since moving here she received her RT license and certification. J’Amy met her fiancé here, with whom she shares two cats, Lucy and Jerry. J’Amy loves spending time with her nieces and family, some of whom she is lucky enough to share a back yard with. Whenever possible, J’Amy flies home to Utah to see even more family and spend time in the dessert. J’Amy loves being outside whenever possible, but especially during the warm weather.
Kelsey’s journey to start working in mental health has been nonlinear. Following attendance at SUNY Purchase for her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in graphic design, Kelsey worked in communications and marketing for 10 years. She returned to school in January 2020 for psychology, seeking to fulfill a long-held dream of working in mental health. At the same time Kelsey started training and volunteering with a local organization known as WISE which provides crisis support to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Being present with and supporting others during their most challenging and dark moments proved to be personally and professionally fulfilling. Those experiences confirmed a desire to work in mental health full time and Kelsey officially changed careers to join Mountain Valley in June 2021. Kelsey began as a Residential Counselor, then supported the “back half” second shift as a Supervisor for just shy of a year before transitioning into the role of Milieu Support Specialist. To continue supporting her career and education Kelsey is now working towards her Master of Social Work (MSW) with a clinical focus at Boston University’s School of Social Work.
Kelsey was drawn to Mountain Valley because of a desire to work with adolescents. Adolescence is a challenging time for anyone, and even more so if serious mental health struggles are added on. Being able to address these challenges sooner than later gives the chance to improve outcomes later in life for current teens and young adults to experience an enjoyable and fulfilling life. The commitment and courage Mountain Valley’s residents demonstrate throughout their treatment is awe-inspiring, and the clinicians and residential teams are truly passionate about the work and relationships built with the residents. Additionally, Kelsey has been able to develop professionally in numerous ways through direct care work and management in her supervisor role, and with Mountain Valley’s professional development support. As a Milieu Support Specialist, Kelsey gets to work more closely with the clinicians and residents to support their ERP and other therapeutic work.
Outside of the bustling community that is Mountain Valley, Kelsey embraces a quiet home life with her two cats and husband (who is also her high school sweetheart). She finds enjoyment and calm in drawing and painting, kayaking, and hiking in the summertime, and starting more crochet projects than she finishes.
Olivia has a partial education in Athletic Training and holds a CPR Certification. For several years she has worked with younger children from infants to 2nd grade age. Olivia also has 4+ years experience working in environments that require fast pace, accurate, reliable and approachable communication and sustaining a healthy atmosphere.
Olivia found interest in working at Mountain Valley and in the MV milieu because she enjoys working with adolescents while they improve and grow! Olivia loves helping people flourish while learning life’s lessons, showing them that hitting potholes and bumps is all part of the journey and helping them recognize how to be proud of their achievements and what they did to reach their destination.
Olivia is originally from New Hampshire, but has spent time exploring South Carolina and Virginia for a few years. Olivia’s hobbies include studying interior design, raising her 20 chickens, playing ukulele, training her beautiful Great Dane, driving her Honda CB500, camping and other outdoor activities, researching her way around her personal nutritional and fitness needs, & taking part in the ever changing fashion industry!
From his first hike at four years old to becoming a wilderness trip guide in Yosemite Valley National Park, Jacob’s connection to the natural world has profoundly shaped his life. A true New England native, Jacob was born on the North Shore of Massachusetts and grew up in New Hampshire, where he developed a deep love for the region’s mountains and coastline.
Jacob pursued his passion for the outdoors by studying Adventure Education at Plymouth State University. There, he learned to use his enthusiasm for nature as a powerful teaching tool to address the challenges of living in a world filled with mental health obstacles. Beyond his formal education, Jacob spent many years working in various summer camp settings, where he discovered a passion for working with youth of all ages.
Drawing from his own journey through mental health challenges, Jacob now shares his knowledge and passion for life with others. His unique blend of personal experience and professional expertise makes him a valuable advocate and mentor in the field of mental health and outdoor education.
Cora joined Mountain Valley after deciding to take a semester off from college to gain real-world experience in a field she was eager to study. She found Mountain Valley to be exactly the place she hoped for—a setting where she could work alongside residents and support their treatment and growth. Cora has always prioritized building connections with those who struggle and are motivated to better themselves.
Her interest in helping others began in eighth grade, when she started working at a nonprofit retreat center. There, she gained skills in hospitality and built meaningful relationships with individuals seeking to improve their mental health. While in college, Cora served as a teacher’s assistant in early childhood education on weekends and worked as a counselor at a local children’s summer camp, where she discovered her love for nurturing creativity and growth in young minds.
Cora grew up nearby in Cornish, New Hampshire, just a town over from Mountain Valley. She studied ballet for eleven years, drawn to its artistry and expression. Today, she enjoys painting murals, reading, sculpting, and creating multimedia collages. She also spends her free time hiking and exploring new places in the region.
