Therapists
Our Clinical Team made up of Masters and Doctoral level therapists who work together for the therapeutic benefit of our students. Therapists work hard to continue learning about the most effective therapeutic practices through continued education and constant supervision. We place a strong emphasis on professional responsibility as well as powerful relationships with the students that combine for the most productive therapeutic experience.
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Courtney Merrill, MFTI
Clinical Director/Therapist
Courtney Merrill earned her Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Brigham Young University and her BA in Psychology from Purdue University. She has been working with adolescents and their families for over seven years, with over four years at La Europa Academy. Courtney has a strong background in working with individuals with eating disorders and their families as well as adolescents with addiction and behavior issues. Her clinical background is in family systems theory and she feels strongly that most problems and most solutions occur in the context of relationships. She loves being a part of the process as adolescents and their families change their hearts as a result of individuals taking responsibility for their choices and for their relationships. Courtney has presented to numerous groups of young women on the issues of body image, eating disorders, and self-esteem and has developed therapeutic groups to address those issues. She is thrilled to be a part of the La Europa clinical team.
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Natalie Nylund, LCSW
Assistant Clinical Director/Therapist
Natalie Nylund graduated from Columbia University with a Masters in Social Work. Her field of study was Advanced Clinical Social Work Practice with a focus on Family, Youth and Children’s Services. She is currently licensed as an L.C.S.W. Natalie’s experience includes providing psychotherapy for adults, adolescents and children in New York City and the Bronx with mental illness, substance abuse, severe trauma, physical and sexual abuse, HIV and homelessness. Her research includes directive behavioral play therapy for young children with developmental delays and behavior disorders and the effectiveness of a multiple theoretical approach to treating eating disorders.
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Kristin Lambert, CSW
Therapist
Kristin Lambert earned her Master of Science degree in Social Work from Columbia University where she concentrated her study on Family, Youth, and Children's Services. Most recently, Kristin provided therapy to refugee adults and youth who are survivors of political torture and severe war trauma. The wide-ranging psychological consequences of severe trauma allowed Kristin experience in treating numerous mental health problems including severe depression and anxiety, grief and loss, post traumatic stress disorder, and adjustment and personality disorders. She has extensive training experience and has trained mental health professionals in refugee mental health issues throughout the Salt Lake Valley. Kristin's background also includes working with adolescent mothers and families receiving services through New York City's child welfare programs. |
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Karen McElligott, CTRS
Recreational Therapist
Karen is originally from Houston,Texas although has lived in Utah for 8 years. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation. Karen went on to become Nationally Certified as a Recreation Therapist. She has been working in the residential treatment setting for over 7 years and absolutely loves it. Karen’s clinical areas of experience include adoption issues, personality disorders, and trauma related issues. She also specializes in experiential therapy and sand tray therapy. She enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her husband, Brian. |
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Ashley Ord, CSW
Therapist
Ashley Ord earned her Masters degree in Social Work at The University of Utah. While at the University of Utah she emphasized in clinical work with children and families. Ashley completed her 2nd year internship at La Europa Academy giving her the chance to be trained specifically in residential work with adolescents and their families. She has also work in outpatient counseling with children and adolescents specializing in trauma and attachment issues. Through undergraduate and graduate school, Ashley completed several international internships in Thailand and Peru working with street kids and young children. She has also worked at an eating disorder treatment center. Ashley loves working with adolescents and thrilled to part of the La Europa team. |
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David Mayeski, LCSW
Admissions Director/Therapist
David has worked in residential treatment for the last five years serving as a primary therapist, utilization review coordinator and admissions director. He received his Bachelors in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland at College Park. Later he earned his Master in Social Work from the University of South Carolina at Columbia. David has taught credited courses at both the University of Tennessee Knoxville and Georgia Institute of Technology in adjusting to college for freshman. David brings a clinical perspective to the Admissions Department and will be happy to assist you in answering your questions, explaining our programs, and how they can benefit your family. |
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Michael Lambert, LCSW
Therapist
Michael Lambert received a BA in Sociology and a Masters of Social Work with a mental health focus at the University of Utah. He specializes in adolescent mental health and substance abuse treatment, with a family-system consideration. Prior to La Europa, Michael has had previous residential treatment experience under Primary Children’s Medical Center, as well as psychiatric services for adolescents on inpatient, day treatment, and intensive outpatient substance abuse programming with the University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics. Michael believes in comprehensive, strength-based therapeutic interventions and has done significant work with adolescents using resiliency modality to assist development of essential skills necessary for successful transition to young adulthood. Aside from child and adolescent work, Michael has gained valuable exposure to sexual addiction, treatment, and victim impact when interning with an adult sex-offender treatment program during his graduate studies. Away from work, he enjoys and values his friends and family, the outdoors, community involvement, sports, and travel.
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Mariel Balzotti, LCSW
Therapist
Mariel is a Licensed Social Worker with an emphasis in clinical practice. She received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from The University of Utah. Mariel has experience working with children, adolescents and families dealing with trauma, divorce, grief, and mental health issues. She comes to La Europa from The Children’s Center where she worked for three years as a child and family therapist, supervised paraprofessional staff and ran groups for teen parents. Prior to her work at The Children’s Center, Mariel worked with adolescents in residential treatment at Turnabout, addressing substance abuse, depression and suicidality, trauma, sexual reactivity and family conflict. Mariel volunteered for many years as a group facilitator at The Sharing Place, helping children and families cope with loss, with a specific focus on suicide survivors. In addition to working for La Europa, Mariel is a wife and mother who is actively involved in her neighborhood community.
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Sandra Priedeman, LCSW
Therapist
Sandra grew up in Ohio and is a die hard fan of OSU Football. Sandra has been a part of the helping profession since 1994 doing a college internship at a homeless shelter for teens, a Special Education teacher, a Hospice Bereavement Counselor and Hospice Case Manager, and 10+ years experience in wilderness therapy. She was involved in just about all aspects of client care in wilderness from direct care staff to therapist to administrator. She earned her Special Education degree from Brigham Young University and her Masters from Colorado State University. She subsequently taught at the elementary school level for two years. While there, she specialized in working with children with emotional, reading, and writing disabilities. Her greatest strengths were in building relationships with her students and creating an environment where they felt important and capable of learning. An opportunity to work in wilderness presented itself and she soon found herself hiking in the back country. After earning her Master's degree, she specialized in working with students who struggled with anger/opposition, issues around grief, depression, trauma, and family conflict. Sandra is a trained Arbinger facilitator since 2005. In her free time, Sandra enjoys reading, laughing with friends, running, and taking road trips.
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Kari Nielson, CPCI
Processing Specialist |
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