"I find it hard to put into words the difference in [our daughter]. She is literally a better person than she has ever been. I knew she had it in her, but it took Greenbrier Academy and Ron in particular that brought out the caring, nurturing, fun, intelligent, insightful young woman that she is today."

"My absolute favorite part of the GBA parent experience was the time I spent with my daughter during the family meetings that started on Friday and ended on Saturday.  The therapist was fantastic and made us see how the family dynamics needed to change for us.  Very emotional and healing.  I am so happy to have my daughter back."

"We have been fortunate to take a little of the Greenbrier experience home with us.  [My daughter] and I drum together in a local drum circle, (where she receives lots of kudos for her skills), and we have [our] therapist...for support by phone once a week.  [Our therapist's] guidance continues to support our family."

Therapeutic Staff

Ron Schwenkler, LPC, NCC, ALPS
Clinical Director
With 15 years experience working with youth and families, Ron engages others with depth. One dimension that makes Ron special to Greenbrier Academy is his programmatic experience. He has worked in a group home setting for adolescents and served as a wilderness instructor, counselor and a family program facilitator for numerous years. Ron has continued to advance in this field and has served as the Director for two prominent program phases, both in a wilderness setting and a longer-term program.  Ron also co-developed and facilitated After Care programs, which supports families to leverage their success in integrating their hard-earned gains from a residential setting experience when they return home.

Ron knows youth and families. Ron also knows balance as seen in the other parts of his life. He and his wife are raising two beautiful and energy-filled boys and recently welcomed a beautiful baby girl to their family. He has a black-belt in Kenpo, and is a 15-year veteran of the martial arts. Ron also loves to be in the wilderness. Anyone working with Ron has an experience coming to them. They can trust they will be pushed to live more authentically.

Ron continues to strive in his relational development, seeking supervision with Dr. Slife regularly to understand how relationality is applied implicitly in theories. During Ron’s academic and theoretical training he has studied Gestalt and Jungian extensively and currently is pursuing further training in Jungian Depth Psychology and Dialectic Behavioral Therapy. Ron continues to seek expertise in all neurological matters from Dr. Hipskind. Ron holds the following licenses and certificates:
National Certified Counselor
Licensed Professional Counselor (West Virginia)
Approved Licensed Professional Supervisor (West Virginia)
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (Montana)
Distance Credentialed Counselor
Grief Recovery Specialist

Dinah Palmer
Medical Coordinator
With over ten years of healthcare experience and her compassionate and caring nature, Dinah has spent her nursing career promoting the quality of life in her community. She is committed to working closely with local political, community, and medical leaders to promote economic, social, and educational growth for her fellow citizens. Dinah says, "My passion is to see my fellow man gain education, healthcare, and happiness in life regardless of social and economic status." She is a staunch spokesperson against domestic violence, "so our children and their family can become productive citizens and little children can feel safe and loved."

During past work at an adolescent behavioral science hospital unit, Dinah had the opportunity to work with adolescents from various economic and social backgrounds. As part of the treatment team, she was able to gain valuable insights regarding the issues that teens face today. She says, "Each person has his/her own unique personality and must be approached accordingly. I love watching the growth and development of each student as they advance toward a successful life and career, knowing that I am a small part of their success. Through kindness, consideration, and guidance, I want to serve as an example to these young students."

Dinah also enjoys singing, writing stories for her granddaughter, and being involved in community and church activities.

Ginger Conley, MA, AT
Assistant Clinical Director
Ginger comes to Greenbrier Academy with a variety of experiences working with young people. She earned her B.S. degree in Psychology from Fairmont State University and her M.A. in Art Therapy with Specialization in Counseling from Seton Hill University. She has worked in several settings, including educational, psychiatric and residential treatment. She has received training in techniques that foster self exploration and assist in processing traumatic events.

In her training and work experience Ginger has developed a passion for working with young people and their families. Working at the Greenbrier Academy offers a wonderful opportunity to continue living her life mission. When Ginger is away from the Greenbrier Academy she enjoys spending time with her family, being in the outdoors, painting, and reading.

Jennifer Parson
Counselor
Jennifer originally hails from NY and received her Bachelors degree in Social Work in 1994 and Masters degree in social work from Adelphi University in 1999.  As a social work intern, she worked in Birch Elementary School. She also interned at the West Nassau Counseling Center, providing services to mildly mentally ill and severely and persistently mentally ill clients. After completing her Masters degree she began her career as a licensed social worker at the Bridge Back To Life Substance Abuse Counseling Program where, over a 10 year period, she treated substance abusing adolescents and adults who presented with a range of drug and alcohol problems that were often accompanied by significant mental health issues, legal issues, and serious drug and alcohol related medical problems.  Jennifer's work with her client population included intensive family counseling and work with all significant others whose participation would impact the well being of the primary clients. During her tenure at Bridge Back To Life, she became the director of two of the organization's adult outpatient programs.

Prior to entering the field of social work, Jennifer was a certified fitness trainer, working as a group fitness instructor and personal trainer. In her spare time, she enjoys mountain biking, all forms of exercise and all nature related activities. She is also an avid gardener. Her recent relocation to West Virginia is a long sought after dream to live in a beautiful year round environment where she can fully appreciate the activities she enjoys most and to continue her passion for working in the field of social work with young adults.

Allison Ball
Counselor
Allison is excited to be part of the Greenbrier team. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a Master’s in counseling. In addition, she brings over ten years of clinical experience in a variety of contexts, including: residential substance abuse center, legal advocacy for domestic and sexual abuse, crisis intervention and stabilization. She has a great drive for helping young women to overcome their trials to live joy-filled, meaningful lives. “I have always been passionate about working with adolescent girls, because I know how difficult that stage of life can be, even under the best of circumstances.” 

Ruth Ann Neeley
Counselor
Ruth Ann brings her zealous love of life to Greenbrier Academy, along with her passion to help youth “dream high”. Ruth Ann takes an existential, narrative approach to therapy with an understanding that each youth she works with is more than the labels that have been placed on them. Her goal is to help the girls she works with to rewrite their life stories so they can become the woman of their own dreams.

Ruth Ann received her B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Communications from Southern Utah University and a Masters of Science in Mental Health Counseling at the University of Phoenix. A mother of four, Ruth Ann has 20 years experience working with youth in several different settings, including a drug and alcohol recovery program, a therapeutic working ranch for adjudicated youth, and private practices working with individuals and groups. Her therapeutic interests are in trauma work, addiction recovery, and neuro-psychology.

Mike Beswick, LICSW, BCD
Director of Family Programming and Counselor
Mike has developed a national reputation for his work in facilitating healing workshops for young people and their families. It is Mike’s belief that the solutions to many adolescent issues are best addressed through working with the entire family system and he utilizes innovative methods to assist young women in coming to an understanding of the intent of their parent’s actions.

Additionally, he is convinced that modern adolescent culture provide minimal guidance for today's teens, and, in fact, frequently leads them towards self-destructive behaviors in their search for identity. These "acting out" behaviors, including substance abuse, unhealthy relationships, defiance, and life apathy, are transformed into psychiatric diagnoses, which may paradoxically become stigmatizing and lead to further deterioration. Mike came to Greenbrier Academy out of recognition that it is one of the few places where young women's "problems" are viewed contextually; their negative actions are their attempts to find acceptance or relief from pain.  Greenbrier Academy’s philosophy reduces the shame associated with their past and sparks the desire to discover the authentic self.

Mike brings a wealth of experience to his work at Greenbrier, including advanced training in psychodrama, numerous years of working with students and families regarding significant substance abuse issues, guided imagery, experiential therapy and facilitating nearly 1000 intensive family workshops. He's listed in the Cambridge Registry of Who's Who in America and has presented at numerous national conferences.

Mike is married and has two boys, ages 8 and 11, who constantly ask why he wants to spend his day working with girls.

Sara Frost, LMHC
Continuing Care Counselor
Sara comes to Greenbrier with a life-long dedication to experiential education and family counseling. Sara earned B.A. degrees in Communications and Therapeutic Recreation from Davis & Elkins College and her M.A. in Mental Health Counseling from Southwestern College in Santa Fe, NM. Sara has received specialized training in psychosomatic, grief and loss, eco-psychology and transpersonal counseling. She presented to the National American Art Therapy Association conference on the subject of grief and loss.

Before coming to Greenbrier Academy, Sara worked as a counselor for a wilderness program for two years. After her stint “in the woods”, she was employed by the Hyde School as the Assistant Dean of Students. Sara was drawn to Greenbrier Academy for the opportunity to honor each young woman’s potential, journey and uniqueness. “This is truly a wonderful experience for me. The community atmosphere and authentic relationships that are generated in this setting inspire me daily.“

With Sara’s free time she engages the outdoors - trail running, alpine skiing, white water rafting - and finds these activities most rewarding when she is accompanied with good friends and family. Her best counsel is to remember to laugh on a daily basis.

Emily Webb
Counselor
While working as a camp counselor for seven years, Emily realized her love for working with adolescents in an outdoor environment. And during her graduate assistantship, she “fell in love” with experiential education and saw the value of incorporating it into counseling.  Since graduating with a Master’s degree in School Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Emily has worked as a counselor at an inner-city high school, fostering students’ social, mental, and academic development.  She also helped facilitate gang prevention and gang assistance programs.

Emily says, “I love working with Greenbrier Academy because of the focus on therapy and academics. My prior experience has shown me the need for more therapy in the school system and the benefit it plays on a student’s academic and personal future. Greenbrier’s philosophy blends well with my personal philosophy and it will help me continue with my life mission.”  Emily enjoys spending time with family, friends and her dog, Cassie. She also enjoys photography, painting, rock climbing, canoeing, and just being outside.

Kristal Straub, LSW
Counselor
Kristal is a committed counselor who has been working in the field for over eighteen years. Her approaches to help students find greater meaning in themselves and their lives are often very creative.  “I am excited about working at Greenbrier Academy, because I have always enjoyed working with youth. And, I like how the Greenbrier model allows students and staff to be creative,” she states.

When she is not on campus or working with students, Kristal enjoys making jewelry, gardening and outdoor adventure activities such as skydiving, rafting and hiking. She also loves to spend time with her two children.

Dennis Thompson, LSAC
Dean of Student Life and Equine Assisted Therapy Coordinator
Dennis Thompson is an icon in the field of adolescent therapy. He began working with L. Jay Mitchell in 1984 at SUWS and has since gone on to help several other programs. Both he and L. Jay are excited about working together once again and Greenbrier Academy is grateful to have him. Dennis’s experience and wisdom about making a difference in lives of adolescents and their families has been featured in such prestigious venues as PBS, ABC, The Seattle Times, Parade Magazine and Parabola Magazine.