Asheville Academy Introduces Flora As Clinical Director

With pride and excitement, Asheville Academy for Girls announces the appointment of Mary Flora, LPC, LCAS as Clinical Director. With more than 12 years' experience working directly with at-risk youth and their families in wilderness-based and equine-assisted therapeutic programming, Mary is exceptionally qualified to lead the AAG clinical team in the treatment of socially, emotionally, and developmentally immature girls. Says Bryan Tomes, Executive Director, "Mary brings a diverse background to her position at Asheville Academy that supports our mission as an independent, therapeutic school for girls.

Clinically, her strengths-based and relational approach to build rapport, trust, and safety while facilitating shifts away from self-defeating behavioral patterns, and experience incorporating Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills training synch inherently with the therapeutic vision of AAG. And, importantly, her experience with wilderness and equine will add value and depth to our clinical interventions. She is a wonderful addition to our AAG family."

Mary is assuming the position of Clinical Director from Interim Clinical Director, Dr. Michelle Lechman. Dr. Lechman has played a defining role in building AAG from a vision to a reality, and as the school moves into its second year, will continue to provide support and guidance as an advisor and therapist. "We are very pleased and thankful that Michelle will remain as a primary member of our team," states Bryan. "Her skills, knowledge, and expertise regarding this developmental age group help ensure that we are providing the best possible treatment available for middle school girls."

Mary received her MA in Counseling Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute and is currently in her second year of doctoral studies in Psychology. She is dually licensed in NC as a Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Clinical Addictions Specialist (LCAS), and has extensive hands-on experience with equine-assisted therapeutic interventions. Her background working with special needs youth, adolescents, and their families in equine assisted and wilderness-based therapeutic programming includes tenures at Second Nature, Phoenix Outdoor, and most recently at Trails Carolina as primary therapist for adolescent females. "I enjoy working with girls specifically," says Mary, "and am very excited about the 10 to-14-year-old population. They are at an initiatory threshold developmentally- and trying to navigate the transition to becoming young women physically, emotionally, and socially. It is AAG's goal to provide positive constructs and tools to help them through this tenuous developmental stage empowered and with a healthy self-concept. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to impact them at this defining and crucial point in their lives. I am thrilled to be here."

And Asheville Academy is fortunate to have her. In addition to her skills as a clinician, her kindness and compassion are evident. Says former colleague, Jason McKeown, MS, LMFT, CPE, "Mary is a terrific therapist. She is knowledgeable and creative in working with students and families and truly has a gift. She touches the lives of those around her."

Graham Shannonhouse, Executive Director of Trails Carolina agrees, "She is a talented therapist, and a lovely individual. We know she will be an asset to AAG and wish her all the best."

Mary lives in Asheville with her horse, dogs, and cat, enjoys the outdoors, horseback riding, snowboarding, running, reading, writing, travel and animal welfare. Please join us in welcoming her to the Asheville Academy for Girls team.

Asheville Academy is a therapeutic boarding school for troubled girls 10-14 years old. Founded by professionals with over 75 years experience in designing and operating therapeutic placements for adolescent girls, Asheville Academy is working to become the international leader in emotional, behavioral, and academic interventions for young ladies.