La Europa Academy Announces O'Kelley As New Executive Director

The CERTS group, an organization that owns a number of residential treatment centers for girls, is pleased to announce that Robbi O'Kelley, MSW, LCSW, CADCII, has accepted the position of Executive Director of La Europa Academy.

La Europa Academy is a clinically sophisticated, 36-bed, fine arts-based residential treatment center that specializes in using the arts to help girls ages 13-17 heal and work through emotional pain. La Europa blends the best of traditional treatment (DBT, specialized groups, small caseloads, outstanding family systems work, etc.) with a focus on the arts (dance, photography, ceramics, watercolors, choir, piano, yoga, guitar, etc.) that allows girls to both deepen their therapeutic process and build on their strengths.

O'Kelley comes to La Europa with 24 years' experience working with adolescents and families. She has worked in inpatient and outpatient settings and has direct experience working with substance abuse, eating disorders, trauma and mood disorders. Most recently, O'Kelley was Executive Director of New Leaf Academy, a therapeutic boarding school for girls. Prior to that, she was Executive Director and Clinical Director of NorthStar Center, a recovery program for young adults. O'Kelley has extensive training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing.
"I'm excited to become part of the CERTS Group management team and the clinical team of La Europa," O'Kelley said. "I believe strongly in the mission of La Europa because I have experienced the transformative power of the arts myself. I am looking forward to a job where I will combine my professional and personal interests." O'Kelley has been involved in the arts personally as a solo and choral singer, musician and visual artist.

La Europa Academy was started in 2005 with a mission that is unique in the industry. Girls at La Europa may be facing a number of difficult challenges including self-harming behaviors, inability to regulate their emotions, poor academic performance, family issues and peer relationship problems. At La Europa, they work with a primary therapist, an art therapist and other artistic professionals to move toward resolution of their issues through art modalities. The process culminates in each student showcasing her artistic creations to family and the La Europa community as a way to embrace and validate her journey.

"La Europa has a great reputation and my intention is to continue integrating the programming components that are already in place," O'Kelley said.

Certified Educational, Recreational, and Therapeutic Schools and Programs (CERTS) is a family of adolescent schools and programs recognized nationally and internationally for providing unique, specialized treatment programs for specific student profiles and also for providing outstanding care. CERTS group was founded in 2001 and includes: Kolob Canyon Residential Treatment Center, Moonridge Academy, Mountain Springs Preparatory Academy and La Europa Academy.