Meet Our  Academy’s Mentors

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Scott Winters Owner, Executive Director

As Owner and Operator of a Residential Treatment Program for over 22 years

Scott’s goal is to build an effective team to honor and carry out his legacy

to help struggling youth thrive while providing top treatment for all.

During Scott's childhood he experienced foster care and overcame many hardships and challenges. Scott started volunteering and mentoring youth before starting his Residential Treatment Program.

Scott’s goal is to provide these young women with a safe place to land, while giving them the time and resources to figure out who they are, where they are going in life and how to get there.

It is important that this program bridges, strained family relationships, teach communication skills, and behavioral skills.

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Jen Cook Office Administrator

Jennifer Cook (Jen for short) is Horseshoe Mountain Academy’s Office and Program Administrator, and just recently took over the role of Chief Financial Officer. However, Jen plays a much bigger role here. Jen is the heart and soul of the company. With over 10 years of behavioral health experience and working almost every position within the company Jen is beyond qualified to be the unsung hero and courageous leader of our amazing team. Jen is responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating anything and everything behind the scenes to keep the companies’ wheels turning. Jen is consistently reaching out to all the company's team of advocates in search of possible clients that may benefit from our program. Jen oversees both homes on the campus by supervising the administration team and serving as the team's moral compass for all decisions made during the administrative meetings. As the program owner's right hand, Jen is responsible for managing the program's budget and is consistently evaluating the success of the program and the clients we serve.

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Whitlee Winters Academic Coordinator

As the Academic Coordinator, she is focused and dedicated to understanding each student’s individual needs, meeting those needs. Maintaining flexibility is the main goal for each child attending Horseshoe Mountain Academy.

Whitlee is the third generation in a family that has been serving youth for over 22 years. She started at a young age working with fostered youth and in residential treatment.

Whitlee is familiar with and accustomed to many different roles within the company.

Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business, she expands her passion for education and the importance of learning, even as an adult.

With her dedication to her work in residential treatment, Whitlee shows up each day determined to give 100% with a “what can I teach our kids today” mindset. She has shown her commitment to carrying out a legacy geared towards healing and path-driven direction.

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Emily Cox LCMHC

Emily graduated from Southern Utah University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and minors in sociology and criminal justice.

She then graduated with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from the University of Phoenix.

Since 2005, she has worked mainly with adolescent females and their families in a residential setting as a therapist from 2007 onwards.

She has extensive training in mental health needs esp. trauma, depression, anxiety, loss and grief, suicidal ideation and self-harm, addiction, RAD relationship repair, and so much more.

Within individual, family, and groups, she will apply dialectical behavior therapy along with cognitive behavioral therapy and trauma-focused CBT to work to best help the students and their families find the appropriate balance and healthy boundaries, effective ways to communicate and self soothe, regulation of behaviors and emotions.

We will add in ranch/farm animal therapy, art, and other ways to emote and regulate behaviors and emotions within a person-centered treatment plan developed by the clinician, family, and treatment team here at HMA.

She employs open communication with families about progress and ways to enhance treatment along with maintaining students’ records and other clinical services with continuing education and training of staff for our student’s needs, PRS, and other life skills classes.

Her goal is to address the whole needs of family and students.

Emily loves challenging the girls to have courage and then be a part of the positive change process and success in achieving their goals.

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Benji Forbes Program Director of Courage House

As the program director of the Courage House, Benji is responsible for the daily program operations as well as all students and staff supervision.

He is involved in all aspects of the student’s treatment, from speaking daily to the student, their families, and the treatment team, ensuring every student’s individual and specific needs are being met.

Benji provides constant training to ensure each member of his team is following every student’s individual treatment plan goal with extra focus on learning to cope with anxiety/depression, appropriate/mature behaviors, confidence, and independence.

Benji also has the role of the corporate compliance officer (CCO) and is responsible for ensuring consistent policy and quality compliance throughout the entire campus.

Benji is a graduate himself of both adolescent and adult treatment centers and uses his personal experiences and his comprehensive knowledge of behavior modification, addiction, and recovery life skills to relate and rehabilitate the students he serves.

Benji believes in an enthusiastic and optimistic leadership style that inspires staff members and empowers students by establishing foundational changes and motivating people throughout the program to gain confidence in one’s self to develop a successful work ethic.

He prides himself in creating a conducive recovery environment that promotes empathy and compassion for both our staff and students.

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Victoria Perry Program Director of the Hope House

As the program director of the Hope House, Victoria has built a team of passionate and well-trained individuals.

Victoria is responsible for the daily program operations while training and supervising staff to be invested in each individual student’s personal success. Victoria’s passion for treatment comes from her own personal experiences with behavioral modification and addiction recovery.

Victoria is a proud alumni graduate of multiple treatment centers and uses her immense knowledge of mental health and addiction recovery every day.

She teaches each student to manage their anger through positive self-talk and verbal affirmations. She instills in the student that in order to overcome life’s difficult times, you must have a team of supporters on your side. To get that support, you must give support, which Victoria ensures all students are doing by building trust and positive relationships with one another through daily team-building exercises and practicing conflict resolutions.

Throughout her time at Horseshoe Mountain Academy, Victoria has developed and implemented multiple innovative and successful systems and processes to ensure a more consistent, positive, and healthy outcome for the residents. Victoria works passionately to continue a culture of excellence by dedicating herself to empowering others to thrive in a life of success, sobriety, and self-love. She has dedicated her career to improving the lives of individuals with behavioral health needs. She leads with professionalism and compassion, helping residents find their true selves.