At The Crossroads (ATC) is proud to announce that Dr. Vaughn Heath is the new Clinical Director. Dr. Heath is carrying a caseload of females and males and transforming the program from an outpatient therapy model that connects their daily life to the work that they have to do. "ATC is already a successful program. I am bringing the therapist into the day-to-day with the client. The therapist then enters into the crucible between the client and their parents, as well as being in the crucible between the client and the program culture," said Dr. Heath of the change he is bringing. He was clear to state, "The success and failure of ATC is not about how well we can control young adults while they are in the program, but how well they implement the changes they learn here into their future."
Dr. Heath comes to ATC with 17 years of experience in the private pay behavioral health industry and private practice. Dr. Heath has worked in a variety of settings with various clients ranging from women who were sexually abused as children, to sexual perpetrators. He also co-founded and was Clinical Director at Second Nature Therapeutic Wilderness Programs. Dr. Heath has published articles in Contemporary Family Therapy Journal, Journal of Mental Health Counseling, American, and the Journal of Family Therapy. All of these experiences have lead him to being a strong clinical director for ATC and perfect to work with female clients who have trauma histories and male clients that are on the spectrum. Dr. Heath received his doctorate at Brigham Young University in Marriage and Family Therapy. Where he focused his research on, "How the effects of childhood sexual trauma differed in women from current negative life experiences." He received his Master's degree in Marriage and Family therapy from Brigham Young University, with a minor in Statistics. His undergraduate studies were at the University of Alberta in Canada with a Bachelor's Art and Specialty in Psychology.
At the Crossroads (ATC) is also excited to announce that Ryan A. Forbes, MA is the new Operations Director and Clinician working with the male participants. His will be working with the clients in the community and helping them find and meet their goals professionally, vocationally, or educationally and assist in developing their daily living skills. "Ryan has a rare combination of skills with his clinical sophistication and organizational management which we have needed to complete our team," said founder Brian Virgin of Ryan joining ATC. "It is exciting to use my skills, experience, and relationships from the public sector in a more personalized setting like ATC," said Ryan about joining ATC.
Ryan previously worked for the state of Utah at the Southwest Behavioral Health Center for 20 years. His background ranges from case management to managing day treatment centers and managing residential transitional housing for 175 state clients. He is a certified trainer of Crisis Intervention Training for police officers and Mental Health Providers. While working for the state he trained and evaluated different settings in the Clubhouse Model, based out of New York City. Ryan has also served as the chair, co-chair, and treasurer of the Utah State Coalition for Adults with Mental Illness. Ryan graduated with a Master's in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Phoenix, writing his Master's thesis "Relationships Mediated by Work: Overcoming Obstacles and Gaining Skills through Meaningful Activities." His undergraduate work was in Southern Utah University, with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Business Administration.
Founded in 2005, the ATC model is focused on behaviors as assessment through their clients' experiences learning, working, or attending college in the city of St. George. ATC has clinical oversight, professionally trained mentors, and individualized treatment plans, combine with structured homes and apartments that aid each client in finding their path to success.
To find out more information about ATC, please call 435.627.1788 or visit www.guidingyouth.com
At The Crossroads(ATC) is a transitional co-educational young adult program designed to assist clients in finding their balanced life.