About Our Team
We get results at Eagle Ranch because we have an effective Value Based Behavior Change Program implemented by talented professionals in a safe, loving, and nurturing environment.
As long-time college and professional football coaches, we know what it takes to build a winning team; and we are proud of the talented team of Youth Development Professionals we have brought together for this noble cause. There is no greater cause than providing a life-line for someone in need.
Our Goal is very clear – help YOU help YOUR Child; and as you read about the people responsible for this Goal, you will see that not only do we possess the formal education and life experiences in working with a variety of children and issues; but we have clearly demonstrated the sincerity and ability to effect powerful change in the lives of struggling teens.
Paul Arslanian
Executive Director (Co-founder)
• Education: B.S. degree in Special Education – Northern Arizona University
• M.S. degree in Public Administration – Utah State University
• Related Experience:
25 years coaching football at Division 1A schools and professional in the Canadian Football League (CFL); Director of Residential Living and Youth Programs (Snow College); Assistant Director of Youth Corp Camp (YCC); Started and ran the Snow College Job Corp Program; Director of Special Education Snow College and Mt. Nebo Training School
Dave Arslanian
Former Admissions Director (Co-founder)
• Education: B.S. degree in Education, emphasis in HPER and Psychology – Weber State University
• M.S. degree in HPER (with projects in Educational Programs) – Arizona State University
• Founder of a non-profit foundation dedicated to helping people rise to new heights.
Dave says – “Not only have we assembled an outstanding Team of Youth Development Professionals, but over the years we have coached a lot of talented young men that understood how to play the game of football, but many of them lacked the basic core values that they needed to be successful after football.
They helped us win a lot of football games, but even more, we helped them win in life. We did it on the football field, where the objective was to win; and now we are excited about doing it on our campus, where the objective is too help young people and their families win, by getting their lives back, and learn the joy of tapping into their true potential.”
Julie
Director of Administration & Operations
Education
B.A. degree in Architecture Design, Colorado State University
Related Experience: Administrative Assistant to the President at West Texas State University & Snow College; Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the College of Nursing at Weber State University.
Robyn
Admissions Coordinator
435-773-2902 / 888-698-7095
Related Experience: “I have been working at Eagle Ranch Academy for over 6 years. It has been one of the most rewarding and challenging jobs I have ever had, next to my role as a mother. I know what it is to face fear, and feeling overwhelmed by not being able to help my own. I have spent some dark days, like most of us have. Those challenges have prepared me well, to help families work on solutions with their children. It is those lessons, and the knowledge I learned from life experiences that brought me to Eagle Ranch Academy. I feel very privileged to have the opportunity, on a daily basis, to help families go from fear, confusion and frustration to a plan that creates hope for their child, and a brighter future for everyone. I have watched a myriad of young people walk in our doors lost, angry and distant, and in less than a year head back out our doors, safe, more mature and guided by their value system, equipped to take on the world that once made them afraid. Please feel free to call me, and we can work together to find the right answers for your family.”
J. Annie, LCSW
Clinical Director
Education
B.S. degree in Psychology and Sociology, Southern Utah University
M.S. degree in Social Work, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
‑ Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), State of Utah
Related Experience:
Youth Foster Care Program (Clinical adolescent); Youth Residential Treatment Center (therapist); PTSD Expert Witness State of Utah; Mindfulness Therapy IOP; Private Practice ages 4-99 (Individual, family, and couple therapy); Southern Utah Home Care and Hospice (Social Worker); Danville Services (Behaviorist); Kolob Care and Rehabilitation (Director of Social Services); Rocky Mountain Child Services (Internship)
Area of Special Training:
Trauma and Substance Abuse: Children=s trauma, Attachment Disorders; Death and Dying Counseling; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT); Working with Adolescents with dual diagnosis of mental heath and substance abuse: Foster care; Adoption Family Reunification; Domestic Violence; Anxiety Disorders; EMDR (Trauma Treatment) Specialized working with RAD Children.
Additional:
– Adjunct Faculty, University of Utah (Aging Field Instructor); Supervise BS and MS level students in practicum setting.
– Adjunct Faculty, University of Southern California (Aging Field Instructor); Supervise MS level students in practicum setting.
– Presenter at national and regional mental health conferences, (i.e. Critical Issues Conference, Community Social Worker Forum)
– Psycho‑educational Webinar presentations
Don, MFT
Therapist
Education
B.S. degree in Psychology, Columbia College
M.A. degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, Argosy University
‑ License in State of Utah, Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT)
Related Experience:
Southwest Behavioral Health Services (Therapist); Youth Residential Treatment Center (Therapist); Youth and Family Services (Therapist); Counseled with Military Veterans and Families, SLC Veterans Hospital.
Area of Special Training:
Crisis Intervention Screening, Assessment, and Treatment Planning; Community Crisis Prevention; Provide Emergency Room Assessments for Patients Admitted at Emergency Room at the hospital; worked closely with law enforcement to provide education to community; provided consultation and education to community agencies, schools, etc.; psychosocial assessments for families in crisis; Specialized in ASAM chemical dependency for Veterans.
Kelly Bawden, LMFT, SUDC, PHD Doctoral Candidate
Director of Eagle Ranch Outpatient Services
At age 37, her desire to be in the psychology field took over. She began the journey of school and working with teenagers in crisis. She loved what she was doing and worked hard to finish school. Her dream of being a therapist happened she was working, spending time with her kids and grandkids.
In 2008, her 26-year-old son passed away in a car accident. Her world shattered. She was functioning and existing, but she was not living. From the years 2009 to 2011, there are times that were a blur because she was running on auto-pilot- just to make it through the day. Her only goal was to get to bed at night and sleep. She was sleeping much of the time. Eventually she lost her job, endured five more deaths in the family and felt lost.
The mental health tips in this book are tips that she used and have helped her clients use for years. Now, it is her time to put her feet to the fire and do the work that she had helped others do. “Not as easy as I have made it seem,” she says.
Mental Health Tips is her journey and how she learned to live in spite of the loss that affects her life every day. Mental health matters; these mental health tips work.
Darrell, LCSW
Therapist
Education
B.S. degree in Accounting, Southern Utah University
M.A. degree in Social Work, University of Southern California
‑ Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), State of Utah
Related Experience:
Adolescents Residential Treatment Center (Case Manager); State Mental Hospital (Shift Supervisor); Adolescents Residential Treatment Center; Adolescents Residential Treatment Center (Intake Therapist and After Care Coordinator); Adolescents Residential Treatment Center (Therapist).
Area of Special Training:
Substance Use Disorders; Mental Health Disorders including Anxiety, Depression, etc,; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT); Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT); Experiential Therapy (Play Therapy and Sand Tray Therapy).
Dr. Nielsen, M.D.
Psychiatrist/Medical Director
Education
B.S. degree, Utah State University
M.D. degree, George Washington University
-Certified American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
-Member of the American Psychiatric Association
-Member of the Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Related Experience:
Private Practice of Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatry (St. George, Utah); General Medical Officer (USAF); Clinical Director, In-Patient Child Psychiatry Unit for Primary Children’s Medical Center (Salt Lake City, UT); Director of Youth Services, Utah State Hospital (Provo, UT); Consultant for numerous Hospitals and Mental Health Centers including Idaho State Correctional Institution, SLC Mental Health Center; Program Director Adolescent Unit (St. Alphonsus Regional Center, St. Lukes Regional Center and InterMountain Hospital (Boise, ID); Adult Mental Health, Family and Children Services (Boise, ID).
Jake, APRN
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, Medication Management
EDUCATION
M.S.N. degree, APRN Psychiatric, BC, University of Utah
B.S.N. degree, Southern Utah University
A.S. degree, Dixie State University
Licensed APRN, State of Utah
WORK EXPERIENCE
Private Practice of Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatry (St. George, Utah)
LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT. Charge RN Psychiatric, Adult and Child Psychiatric; Dixie Regional Medical Center, St. George, UT.
Cora, RN
Nurse
Education
B.S. degree in Nursing, University of St. LaSalle
Related Experience:
Adventist Health Simi Valley (RN Case Manager); Verdugo Hills Hospital (Charge Nurse – ICU/Telemetry; St. Luke Medical Center (Charge Nurse – SubAcute).
Katherine
Program Director
Related Experience:Katherine has worked in this industry for 20 years in the following areas: Eagle Ranch Academy (Assistant Program Director), Millcreek Youth Center (Psychologist Assistant), Youth Residential Treatment Program (Assistant Program Director), Mississippi State Hospital (CNA)
“I have worked in different programs, but nothing compares to the program we have developed here at ERA. Our Value-Based Program is creating healthy young people that are becoming leaders of great character.”
Megan
Academic Director
Education
B.S. degree in Behavioral Science, Utah Valley University
B.A. Special Education K-12 Licensed State Of Utah, Western Governors.
M.Ed Learning and technology, Western Governors
Kathy
Director of Seminars
Kathy says, “An important part of our program at Eagle Ranch is our involvement with the Parents and the Child. Our Emotional Growth Seminars help provide Students and Parents with valuable tools for rebuilding and then maintaining their relationship. It is all about letting go of the past, and moving into the present with the tools and skills to look forward to a great future.”
We Are Here To Help
At ERA we understand how important it is to get results. Our program is designed to help your teenager quickly.
Dedicated Staff
Our Staff comes from all different walks of life. We have kids of our own and want to help yours recover.
Our Goal
“Our Goal is to Help You Help Your Child.”
Choice Based Program
We are a Choice Based program using Core Value Behavioral Change Model.
Recent Blog Posts
Learn from the top thought leaders in the industry.
Top Drugs Teens are Using: Illicit Drug Use and Abuse in Teenagers
The abuse of illegal drugs and misuse of prescription medications has become a risky practice by many teens. Although most teenagers have reported engaging in drug misuse occasionally, a few do it regularly. A study shows that by the 12th grade, more than 50% of...
Teens and Cell Phone Addiction: The Definitive Guide
Cell phone addiction is a serious issue in teenagers. Pew Research shows that a whopping 54% of teens in the United States spend too much time on their phones. Most teens spend free time on their phones while others use theirs to learn new things or connect with...
Teens and Gaming Addiction: A Practical Guide to Dealing With It
In moderation, gaming can be beneficial. It can help improve and expand the teen’s IQ. However, too many teenagers are now compulsively playing video games as if their lives depend on it. In doesn’t! This has led to gaming addiction, which is a major concern for...