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Flanagan

Teresa obtained a BS degree in Physical Therapy at California State University, Long Beach.  She moved to Northern Arizona, taught at NAU in the Physical Therapy Department, worked in the Indian Children’s Program, and obtained a MA in Forensic Medicine from NAU.  She worked in the field of physical therapy for 30 years.

After working with families around addiction, physical and medical trauma, she found a love for psychology and moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico to attend the graduate program at Southwestern College, where she earned a Counseling degree with specialties in Transpersonal Eco-psychology and Grief, Loss and Trauma.  She had a private outpatient practice for 5 years in Santa Fe that focused on the connection between addiction and trauma. She is excited to be back in Arizona both to be closer to family and also as a therapist at Spring Ridge Academy.

Teresa has an integrative style designed to meet the individual needs that can foster connection, healing, and hope. Her philosophy as a counselor is to offer support by creating a nonjudgmental and heart-centered environment that allows everyone to find balance and wholeness in their mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. She uses trauma-informed techniques to enter gently into tender areas and finding safe ways to help clients negotiate life’s obstacles and work toward greater personal freedom.

By using the most effective and evidence-based therapy tools–including Brain Spotting, Trauma Resiliency Model, EMDR, Narrative Therapy, and Trauma-based CBT—non-working thought and behavior patterns can be unlocked that are holding the client and the family back. These tools uncover the inner truths that to inform choices, relationships, and brings awareness to the wholeness that has been there all along.

Teresa grew up in Southern California and enjoyed an active lifestyle of bike racing and surfing. She nurtured this love in her family and continues an active lifestyle of backpacking around the world.

“Together, let’s discover the human connection we all long for. Together, we can find healing and hope.”

Fusillo

Tara grew up in New York State, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from SUNY Cortland and her master’s degree in Special Education from The University of Albany. Tara developed a love of teaching with special needs children of all ages. She decided to move to Arizona in 1999 to be close to her parents and continue teaching. Tara taught in the field of Special Education (K-12) for 20 years. She decided to become an Exceptional Student Coordinator, which involved leading a team of professionals dedicated to supporting students with unique needs. Her love of interacting with students and their families led her to pursue a degree in counseling.

Tara obtained her master’s degree in Addiction Counseling in 2013 from Grand Canyon University. After, she worked as a therapist at a rehabilitation center with clients of all ages who struggled with various addictions, trauma, and mental health issues. As a mental health therapist, she utilizes a holistic, integrative approach. Tara is a life-long learner who has completed several classes in Somatic Experiencing Therapy and is looking forward to continuing her education, as well as working toward her independent licensure.

Tara believes in living by example. She is thrilled to be at Spring Ridge Academy and to be part of a team that is committed to empowering teens to cultivate resilient life skills and shine their best selves.

In her free time, Tara loves spending time with animals and enjoys hiking, biking, and anything outdoors.

Denison

Starr grew up near Los Angeles, California, then moved to Sedona, Arizona in her late teens to pursue her educational goals. She earned a BS degree from Northern Arizona University (NAU) in Zoology/Chemistry which led her to a career in the Animal Behavior and Training field for 30 years.

She enjoyed training animals for movies, service animals for people with disabilities, and consulting for rescues and sanctuaries. She found her passion for helping others while working in the sport of equestrian vaulting (gymnastics and dance on the back of a moving horse), and volunteering with helping young people with physical and mental difficulties in Malibu, CA.

She obtained her BS in Psychology from NAU and her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Prescott College specializing in trauma-focused therapy with a concentration in experiential and animal-assisted mental health.

As a licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Starr uses an integrative holistic approach in therapy focusing on the client’s whole person while treating the client as an integral member of the treatment team. Starr’s specialties include working with those struggling with trauma, mental health issues, addiction tendencies, and life skill difficulties. Her goals are to motivate clients, have fun in therapy, and develop a client’s willingness and passion for healthy life-change.

She is owned by several animals including dogs, a pig, horses, and a parrot. She has a wonderful teenage daughter who inspires and teaches Starr daily.

 

Borges, Veronica

Veronica began working with battered women as a volunteer over 22 years ago, which prompted her interest in psychology. She began her education at Sonoma State University, where she received a BA in psychology.

At the same time, Veronica cut her teeth in the streets of some of the roughest towns in the San Francisco bay area counseling at risk adolescents, and managing programs at a non-profit clinic for youth in the criminal justice, and foster care systems. Veronica loves working with teens because they embody the process of transformation from caterpillar to butterfly.

Wanting to practice a holistic approach to counseling, Veronica pursued a MA in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from J.F.K University where she developed skills in Gestalt, Jungian, psychodynamic, and attachment theories. SRA is the perfect fit because her background aligns with the philosophy and mission of our community.

Shook

Belle is so inspired to work at Spring Ridge Academy with a team of experts who share her same passion for helping young women and their families heal. With 12 years of experience working as a licensed therapist in residential treatment prior to SRA, she continues to be grateful for the life-changing transformation this level of treatment and expertise provides.

Belle was born in England and moved to Greenwich, Connecticut when she was six. She moved west at 18 to begin Prescott College where she attained an undergraduate degree in Experiential Learning. She earned her Master of Counseling degree from the University of Phoenix and has been licensed in Arizona since 2008.

Belle is currently Licensed at the independent level (LPC) in Arizona since.  She has spent most of her career working in therapeutic boarding schools; though, she also has experience in adult drug and alcohol residential treatment and adult psychiatric units.

Belle specializes in treating trauma and is a student of Peter Levine’s 3-year Somatic Experiencing trauma training. Belle is certified in Pia Melodies Post Induction Therapy, Brene Browns Daring Way and Rising Strong programs. She also has training in EMDR, positive parenting, grief and loss, CBT, DBT, and was a pioneer in the field of equine therapy.

Belle joined the Spring Ridge Academy team in June 2016.

Sarah Keefe

Keefe

Sarah has always had a passion for helping teens and families. This passion fueled her desire to obtain her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work from Northern Arizona University. Sarah started her career in behavioral health in 2010, working with young adults struggling with addiction, trauma, and other varying mental health issues. Sarah loved helping those struggling with addiction but came to realize her passion was helping those work through trauma. She joined the Spring Ridge Academy team in 2013 as a community coach, became the Transition and Alumni Coordinator in 2014, and served as a CLD in the spring of 2020 before becoming part of the clinical team as a therapist. Sarah considers Spring Ridge to be her second family and loves seeing and contributing to the growth of the girls and their families.

Sarah utilizes an attachment-based approach to intervene in all aspects of the family system. Sarah implements a holistic, integrative approach through the use of TF-CBT, Motivational Interviewing, EMDR, Narrative Therapy, and Mindfulness-Based Techniques.

A native Arizonan, Sarah is a mom to two children and enjoys watching them grow. When she is not with her family, Sarah enjoys relaxing in the sun, being in the water, reading, and baking.

Cindy Fogel

Fogel

Cindy grew up in Minnesota and moved to AZ where she completed her Master’s in Counseling Psychology at Prescott College. Cindy was always the kind of person who people trusted and opened up with. It made sense that she would pursue counseling psychology as her career.

Cindy has been working therapeutically with children and families since 1991. Her career started in social services where she became a supervisor. Always being drawn to the healing of the natural world Cindy moved in to wilderness therapy in 2001, working therapeutically with a diverse population of adolescents and their families.

Cindy has spent years developing advanced techniques in counseling psychology. After many fulfilling years as a wilderness therapist, Cindy moved back to AZ in April 2013 to work at Spring Ridge Academy.

She chose to come to work at SRA because of their extensive family therapy component as well as their stellar clinical team and cutting edge therapeutic approaches to addressing trauma and mental health issues.