Crossroads | Approach

Sam K. Dahlin

PhD, LMFT

BIO

Sam received his B.S in psychology at the University of Utah. He then attended Brigham Young University where he completed his M.S and Ph.D in marriage and family therapy. Sam has over 20 years of experience working with adolescents and their families.

Sam spent the first 22 years of his life growing up in the Bay Area (Campbell, CA). He has now been living in Utah for over 25 years. He has also been married to his wife Melanie for that same amount of time (he followed her to Utah). Together they have three beautiful daughters: Haylee, Kambrie, and Gwen. Sam’s family enjoys many outdoor activities together, with snowboarding and wakeboarding/wakesurfing as some of their favorites. Sam has been snowboarding since 1989 and wakeboarding since 1997.

Sam is one of the three founders that started Crossroads Academy in the summer of 2007. It has been a dream of his to create a program where young men can learn the importance of working hard, and then playing hard.

Ian D. Feinauer

PhD, LMFT

BIO

Ian has a Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy from Brigham Young University. His research emphasis was on implicit process rules and their effects on adolescent symptomology such as depression and anxiety.

Ian also received his B.A. in psychology with an emphasis in recreational therapy from the University of Utah and a M.S. in marriage and family therapy from the University of Kentucky.

Ian’s clinical experience at the University of Kentucky included working with couples, individuals with depression, lower SES families, and juvenile sex offenders and their victims. After completing his master’s degree, Ian worked at Turn-About Ranch in Escalante, Utah. While at Turn-About, Ian gained an appreciation for the experiential therapeutic potentials of working with adolescents in a residential treatment/ranch setting. He became more interested in working with adolescents and their families. While at Brigham Young University, Ian specialized in working with adolescents and their families, premarital couples, those struggling with addiction, juvenile sex offenders, and trauma survivors. Ian also pursued more training in psychodynamic and developmental theory. This has helped shape his approach to individual issues and complements his systemic background that is entrenched in family therapy theory. After Ian attended BYU, he sought out a job with and worked for Second Nature Wilderness Program in Duchesne Utah. While at Second Nature, Ian was able to truly develop and come into his own as a therapist. He had the opportunity to work with both adolescent boys and girls. It was at Second Nature that Ian developed a passion for the conceptualization of adolescent issues and an appreciation for the hurdles that youth are faced with in today’s society.

Since leaving Second Nature in April of 2007, Ian has worked for various programs and has done some private practice work. Ian was able to run one residential program for adolescents in addition to consulting for and developing two other programs. Ian is excited to be working at Crossroads and has dedicated himself to continued education and skill development both clinically and personally.

Additionally, Ian has conducted and facilitated discussions and has presented research and theory related to family differentiation and eating disorders, family leisure patterns, family of origin and adult alcohol use, juvenile sex offenders, and the effects of marital quality on individual health at national and regional conferences. Ian has also published papers relating to family literacy, family rules, and family and child well-being and has submitted several publications related to family process rules, the effects of sex abuse on male victims, and the epistemologies of learning and knowing.

In addition to Ian’s clinical background, he also has a degree in fire science as he once pursued a career as a fire fighter. He also spent ten years as a river guide in the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Besides having a substantial effect on his own life, his experience as a river guide helped Ian to notice the effects that wilderness and experiential learning has on individuals as well as family systems. This influenced him as he pursued his career as a therapist and has shaped his thoughts and feelings regarding change and each person’s potential.

Ian still loves to run rivers, snowboard, wakeboard, ride his mountain bike, rock climb, and eat ice cream. Ian is the oldest of five children and an avid Portland Trailblazers fan. He is fluent in French and loves to travel when he can.

Matthew Dahlin

MS, LCSW

BIO

Matt Dahlin has worked with adolescents and their families in both residential and outpatient settings and has been involved in the field of mental health since 2007.

He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology at Weber State University, where he volunteered and conducted research with youth from low-income families to help establish a safe place for kids and teens to be after school. Coincidentally, while working on his bachelor’s degree, he also worked at Crossroads Academy as a direct-care staff. This proved to be of great benefit as he experienced many aspects of the kids’ daily lives and connected with them while participating in all of the recreational activities, academics, and daily living. Matt then left Crossroads in 2010 to pursue his master's degree in clinical social work at Brigham Young University. His emphasis was on working with individuals with substance abuse problems and unhealthy family dynamics. After finishing his master’s degree, Matt worked in an outpatient facility with teenagers and families. From there, he went on to work with adolescents at the Oakley School and eventually became the assistant clinical director before joining the team at Crossroads.

Matt has experience working with adults in substance abuse residential treatment centers as well as doing crisis work and assessments at the Utah State Prison, but he is most passionate about working with adolescents and their families. One of the reasons Matt cares so much about working with teens is because he believes that they are at a very crucial turning point in their lives and that they have such great potential to better their own futures.

Matt specializes in treating cognitive distortions, oppositional defiant behaviors, and addictive behaviors, as well as restructuring families, creating healthy boundaries, and teaching emotional regulation. Matt's primary modalities are cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused therapy. He finds that as he assists adolescents in gaining self-confidence, as well as establishing their own values, they then begin to live much happier lives. "It's no secret that adolescents don't like being told what to do, but I believe with the right guidance and a strong relationship, they can begin to establish a healthy version of who they want to be. This guidance and relationship is a cornerstone to what Crossroads allows to take place. The adolescent will begin to feel different about their choices, and at that point, internal change has begun to take place."

Born and raised in San Jose, California, in early 2007 Matt moved to Utah at the age of 22 to continue to pursue his goals of helping others. He has lived in Utah ever since and loves all that it offers. When not with the boys of Crossroads, he loves being with his gorgeous wife Val and his three beautiful little girls, Berkley, Cecelia, and Noelle. Depending on the season, he enjoys snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, volleyball, watching football, and is usually up for any type of competition. But there is no denying, he really misses the days of scuba diving out in California.

Noah Lattin

MS, LCSW

BIO

Noah first began working with Crossroads as part of his undergraduate practicum at Weber State University as a direct-care staff. He quickly realized that Crossroads had something unique in their approach to individual and family therapy and wanted to be a part of that in the future.

Upon completing his bachelor’s degree in social work at Weber State University, Noah immediately began pursuing a master’s degree in clinical social work at Boise State University. During his time at Boise State, he completed his graduate degree practicum at a wilderness therapy program in Utah.

Noah has worked in a variety of treatment settings including residential, wilderness therapy, intensive outpatient, and young adult transition. Through his experiences with these different populations and their diverse needs, Noah has been able to gain the skills required for working with the students at Crossroads and their families. Noah takes a person-centered approach with his students that involves recognizing the student as an individual component of what can often be a complex family system. Noah works to create a safe emotional space for his students that fosters authenticity and allows them to share their experiences and perceptions without fear of judgement or shame. He then works to help his students identify a path moving forward that aligns more with their identified goals and personal values. Noah takes an eclectic approach with students and their families to improve communication skills, set healthy boundaries, and resolve past traumas. Noah works well with clients who struggle with ADHD, anxiety, depression and other mood disorders, autism-spectrum disorder, and trauma. Noah enjoys everything about the outdoors and realizes the powerful metaphors for change that can be found in nature. He utilizes outdoor experiences in therapy to build his students’ self-efficacy and create a new narrative that isn’t dependent on old and often unhealthy patterns for dealing with the challenges of their lives.

Outside of working at Crossroads, Noah enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. He understands the importance of healthy connections with the people we care about and works every day to model healthy relationships for and with the students at Crossroads Academy. He enjoys a wide range of outdoor activities that vary all the way from pickleball to ice climbing. Noah routinely participates in adventures that fall under the “type 2” category of fun, such as endurance mountain biking events like the “Park City Point 2 Point” and “Eden Epic.” He believes that setting goals that force us beyond our comfort levels are typically the ones that provide the most meaning in our lives and promote the most growth as a person.

Mike Mein

MEd, CMHC

BIO

Mike has over 15 years of experience in the mental health field. He specializes in working with adolescents by creating a therapeutic alliance with clients built on authenticity.

After graduating from East Stroudsburg University, Mike began his search for a career in the outdoors working as a counselor at a wilderness therapy program for juvenile offenders in Florida. Impassioned by his experience in Florida and seeking to improve his clinical skills, Mike joined the Second Nature Entrada team (now Evoke at Entrada) in 2007 and worked as a field instructor for three years before returning to school to pursue a graduate degree in counseling psychology. Mike received his M.Ed. at William Paterson University in professional counseling. During graduate school, Mike worked at a community mental health agency where he split his time between the family counseling program and the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC). After graduating, he worked as a wilderness therapist for over seven years.

Mike is known for his high energy, creativity, and ability to build rapport. These qualities allow him to break through barriers and reach clients effectively. His approach is built around the therapist-client relationship. Adolescents who are often turned off by traditional approaches appreciate Mike’s authenticity. The therapeutic alliance Mike is able to cultivate provides the support necessary for self-exploration, reflection, and acceptance. This skill also allows Mike to utilize confrontation and generate growth through discomfort. Mike’s focus on empowering his clients maximizes the effectiveness of his therapeutic interventions.

Mike works well with impulsive, defiant, aggressive, and substance-using adolescents. He works from the model that these conspicuous behaviors tend to camouflage deeper issues often related to identity development, self-esteem, trauma, and peer and family relationships. Mike excels at addressing these behaviors while exploring the underlying causes. His enjoyable and engaging nature matches well with the adolescent male population who benefit from a healthy balance of hard work, intensive therapy, and fun.

Mike is an avid distance runner who loves running in the beautiful Utah mountains. He used to play guitar in a punk rock/rock & roll band, and although his days of bright lights, roaring crowds, and big stages have long since passed, he still enjoys plugging in once in a while and reliving the dream. He is also an avid sports fan, some of his favorite teams being the NY Giants and NY Knicks. Mike was a graffiti artist for many years and enjoys all kinds of creative expression.

Micky Knapton

BIO

Before joining Crossroads, Micky was a mechanical designer in the Silicon Valley working for Johnson and Johnson in the research and development department. In addition to mechanical design, Micky has professionally taught skateboarding to a wide range of students.

Ranging from first timers to professionals such as Nyjah Huston, several of Micky’s students have gone on to become sponsored skateboarders. Micky is the designer of the Crossroads Skate Park, along with the skate features at all the Crossroads properties. If a boy that attends Crossroads is interested in learning these skills, he is given the opportunity to work with Micky on such projects. Every ramp, rail, or park made for Crossroads has incorporated the new skills of a student with Micky as teacher. Because of Micky’s mechanical background, he has taught valuable skills to the students such as wood and metal work, welding, fabrication, design, analytical cost of materials, and team work.

In addition to being the recreational director and teacher, Micky is also the CPR/ First Aid and PCS certified instructor for the staff at Crossroads Academy. He is also the designer and co-owner of The Skateboard Tool company. This company’s team riders include professional skateboarders like Steve Caballero, Jason Adams, Caswell Berry, and Louie Barletta.

"Over the years, board sports have been my escape. These are sports that constantly challenge us and have helped provide me with a healthy escape from the pressures and trials of life. I have used these sports to help overcome my own personal struggle with substance abuse in my adolescent and young adult years. I believe that it is imperative for anyone who is trying to conquer hardships and/or addictions in his/her life to have some healthy form of escape—an activity that is good for the body and soul. For me, this escape has always been boarding. Board sports have helped me replace the bad with the good and provided a way to keep the world from conquering my spirits in dark times. I have been fortunate enough to see this type of escape also work in the lives of many of my students. I still get Christmas cards/letters from grateful parents and students of years past. I love this work. It has been very rewarding to see the positive changes in the lives of these awesome youth! Now as a parent, I understand more fully the importance of good role models, good friends, and healthy escapes in the lives of our children."

James (Jamey) Seabrook

MS, CMHC

BIO

James received a bachelor’s degree in psychology and philosophy from Syracuse University and a master’s degree in mental health counseling from the University of Pennsylvania. He is licensed as a clinical mental health counselor in the state of Utah.

James grew up in New Jersey and at 17 years old attended a wilderness program in Utah. Afterwards, he attended a therapeutic boarding school in Utah for the duration of his senior year of high school. These experiences laid the foundation for his desire to work in the field of mental health, specifically wilderness and residential treatment for adolescents. The experience was life-changing and has inspired him to be a part of these interventions professionally for adolescents and families in need.

After studying psychology and philosophy as an undergraduate, James decided to move back to Utah to work as a wilderness staff with the intent of “paying forward” the experience he had in the wilderness as a teenager. James worked as a wilderness staff for two years before taking some time off to hike across Spain solo. Afterwards, he worked as a staff in two residential treatment centers for teenagers in Utah.

James returned to school to study mental health counseling at the University of Pennsylvania. During his time at school, he completed a yearlong internship as an assistant wilderness therapist as well as a yearlong internship as a therapist in a private psychiatric family practice. Following graduate school, James returned to Utah to work full-time as a wilderness therapist for teenagers and young adults.

James believes in the power of the great outdoors to not only heal, but to invigorate lives. Utah provides abundant opportunity to create meaningful outdoor experiences in some of the most beautiful scenery there is. James has found that treatment in this setting can produce qualitatively different outcomes than more traditional settings.

In his spare time, he enjoys snowboarding, lacrosse, football, playing music, making art, traveling, and spending time outdoors.

Shawn Thompson

MS, LCSW

BIO

In 2008 Shawn received a B.S. from Weber State University as a student of psychology and philosophy. Published and presented at national symposiums, Shawn’s undergraduate research focus was human self-worth, motivation, and the social & cultural influences that affect decision making.

In 2012 he completed a master's degree in clinical social work.Shawn's career in mental healthcare began in 2008 as a substance abuse group counselor. From 2010 - 2012, as part of his graduate program of study, Shawn began a rigorous 2-year internship at a private outpatient clinic where he provided group, family, couples and individual psychotherapy for diverse adult and adolescent outpatient populations affected by a variety of disorders including depression, anxiety, and addiction. During those years Shawn also worked as a hospital emergency room mental healthcare crisis counselor, and provided individual and group psychotherapy for psychiatric hospital inpatients suffering with acute mental illness. In 2012 Shawn accepted a position as a therapist at a public mental healthcare organization in Ogden, Utah. There Shawn continued to receive formal training in evidence based treatment methods including Motivational Interviewing and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and he continued to refine his clinical skills by performing hours of individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, and crisis intervention services.

In July, 2013 Shawn was invited to join the treatment team at Crossroads Academy. The transition to full-time work with adolescents was easy. Through his own struggles as a teenager, Shawn has personal insight into many of the problems Crossroads students are experiencing. As he emerged from his own tumultuous adolescence, and worked to find his own path to peace, Shawn came to know that the most important aspect of life is how we relate to one another. The value based, relationship focused treatment model created by the founders of Crossroads fits well with Shawn's own philosophy that it is our relationships give meaning and purpose to life. Social pressures, identity problems, substance abuse, family conflict, and other painful experiences that are often part the adolescent experience often detract from sincere love and attachment. Shawn believes the program at Crossroads Academy provides students the opportunity to build and enhance relationships that are essential to live authentically happy lives. Shawn's compassionate therapeutic approach focuses on encouraging his students to be mindful, to be responsible, to expand their awareness, to recognize and live within the boundaries inherent to the human condition, to discover and use their own strength and ability to actualize their potential, to build self-esteem authentically through accomplishment without drugs or alcohol.

The experiential focus of Crossroads program also suits Shawn who maintains his own mental, physical and spiritual well-being through physical activity and outdoor recreation. Shawn has spent most of his life living in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains. He likes to hike, mountain bike, rock climb, snowshoe, and ski. He also enjoys backcountry off-roading, and restoring old cars. What Shawn enjoys most in life is his family who are also fans of the outdoors. Together with his wife Tiffiny, Shawn is the parent of four children.

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Sam K. Dahlin

PhD, LMFT

Derek Bowles

MS, LCSW

Eric Dahlin

Ian D. Feinauer

PhD, LMFT

MESSAGE US

Matthew Dahlin

MS, LCSW

Nik Chertudi

MS, CMHC

Noah Lattin

MS, LCSW

Dakota Bone

MS, LCSW

Mike Mein

MEd, CMHC

Nate Barrus

SUDC

Tyson Fielding

SUDC

Cindy Thurgood

MS

Coultin Porter

Micky Knapton

Malinda Twede

Hunter Taylor

Tyler Becker

Kenneth C (KC) Russell

James (Jamey) Seabrook

MS, CMHC

Shawn Thompson

MS, LCSW