Leadership Team, Blue Ridge

Clayton, GA

Dan McDougal

Partner, Program Director

Phone: 706.212.2037
Fax: 706.212.0354
Cell: 706.490.1427
Email: danm@snwp.com

Dan brings in over 11 years of experience with program development and work with adolescence in a therapeutic setting. Dan started by working with the prestigious Gordonstoun School in Scotland teaching adolescence sailing, backpacking, windsurfing and climbing. He then went on to work as a senior wilderness instructor at Aspen Achievement Academy in Loa, Utah. He was hired by Second Nature Utah to assist in the development of the field program at its inception in 1998. He has worked as a Senior Mentor and Field Director with Second Nature Utah. In 2002 he developed and co-founded Second Nature Blue Ridge. Prior to his work with the Gordonstoun School, Aspen and Second Nature, Dan volunteered in Middle Tennessee Public Schools working with troubled youth. He also has extensive experience as an instructor in Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Dan is a native of Nashville, TN.

Diana Gordick, Ph.D.

Co-Clinical Director, Primary Therapist

Phone: 706.212.2037
Fax: 706.212.0354
Cell: 706.982.1038
Email: dianag@snwp.com

Dr. Gordick is a licensed psychologist experienced in working with children, adolescents, adults, and families.  She has worked in various aspects of the mental health field since 1993 and completed her doctorate in 2002.  She received her B.A. in Psychology from Michigan State University, her M.S. in Community Counseling with a focus in family systems from Georgia State University, and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology in Georgia State University.  Diana enjoys working with teens struggling with self-concept, anxiety, depression, low-self esteem, peer difficulties, trauma, ADHD, learning difficulties, avoidance/withdrawal, oppositional behavior, and substance abuse. Diana has specialized training in understanding and working with attention-deficit disorder as well as psychological assessment.  In addition to working with teens and parents, she provides psycho-educational evaluations for Second Nature Blue Ridge. Diana enjoys hiking, camping, and renovating her 1928 home.

Jeff Scott, M.S., L.P.C.

Co-Clinical Director, Primary Therapist

Phone: 706.212.2037
Fax: 706.212.0354
Cell: 828.301.0511
Email: jeffs@snwp.com

Responsibilities include Clinical Director, Treatment Team Coordination, and Primary Therapist. Jeff has been a clinician since 1994 and has been primarily involved in wilderness therapy since 2000. He is licensed as a professional counselor in Georgia and North Carolina. Jeff has specialized training and experience in adolescent development, addictions, identity disorders, sexual abuse, and is also a master practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming. In addition to wilderness therapy, Jeff has worked with at risk youth in a wide variety of treatment modalities, including residential treatment centers, outpatient therapy and special needs boarding schools. Jeff has worked at SUWS of the Carolinas as well as the Aspen Achievement Academy. He has also worked at Charter Provo Canyon School and the Heritage School.

Tyson Farmer, B.S.

Co-Field Director

Phone: 706.212.2037
Fax: 706.212.0354
Email: tyson@snwp.com

Tyson has enjoyed the outdoors since growing up near the Appalachian Mountains in Eastern Pennsylvania.  Tyson would spend his time participating in outdoor activities such as hiking, backpacking, rafting, bird watching and bouldering.  To pursue his love of the wilderness, Tyson studied wildlife biology at Purdue University.

After graduating with a B.S. in Wildlife Biology in 1999 Tyson wanted to educate others about nature and worked as an outdoor educator over the next two years at South Mountain YMCA in Pennsylvania and the Tybee Island 4-H center in Georgia.  Through his experiences Tyson realized what the wilderness had to offer people and wanted to be able to facilitate that relationship.

Tyson became a backcountry instructor at Alternative Youth Adventures in Loa, Utah in 2001.  AYA focused on the rehabilitation of adjudicated youth from the state of Utah. Tyson became a Field Specialist for the program.
Tyson decided to return to the mountains and rivers of the East Coast and started working at Second Nature Blue Ridge as a field instructor shortly after it opened in December 2002.  Tyson became a senior field instructor at Second Nature Blue Ridge and then moved into a management position as one of the Field Directors in 2004.  The Field Director position involves staff supervision, field development and overseeing field operations. Interest and hobbies of Tyson include kayaking, snowboarding and enjoying anything Philly from the Eagles to the famous cheese steaks.

Andy Dunn, B.S.

Co-Field Director

Phone: 706.212.2037
Fax: 706.212.0354
Email: andyd@snwp.com

Andy received his B.S. in Outdoor Education from the University of New Hampshire in 1998. He spent his last year at UNH teaching several college courses including Management of Challenge Courses, Wilderness EMT, and Mapping and Orienteering.

He went on to lead adventure trips for adolescents at various programs in New England, while continuing to facilitate challenge course programs for various populations. Andy then worked as a field guide for an adventure therapy program in Maine and a residential therapy program in Hawaii for adjudicated youth, using sailing voyages and service work throughout the Hawaiian islands as a therapeutic medium. Andy arrived at Second Nature, Utah in the Spring of 2000, where he worked with families in transition, served as a senior instructor and instructor trainer. He arrived at Second Nature Blue Ridge in 2003 to become one of the field directors, maintaining a love for telemark skiing and playing that bluegrass music.

Dana McFarland, B.S.

Parent Coordinator

Phone: 706.212.2037
Fax: 706.212.0354
Email: dmcfarland@snwp.com

Dana has always had a love for the outdoors and helping those in need. From childhood and on in to adulthood, she has had many opportunities to travel and see amazing things.  In 2005, Dana hiked the entire Appalachian Trail (2100 miles), which extends from Georgia to Maine through the Appalachian Mountains. This is what really opened her eyes to the amazing strength and clarity that can be gained from the wilderness.

Dana graduated from Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, GA with a BS in Psychology in 2002. After college, she worked for two years as a clinical assistant at Ridgeview Institute on the Child/Adolescent Program.  After working at Ridgeview Institute, Dana came to Second Nature Blue Ridge as a field instructor and worked for two years out in the wilderness with the students and then one year as a transporter. Dana knows a great deal about the Second Nature Blue Ridge program both in the field and in the office.

Responsibilities of the Parent Coordinator include initiating preliminary calls with parents and continuing on going contact with families currently/previously enrolled in our program.

Nicholas Seaver, B.S.

Parent Coordinator

Phone: 706.212.2037
Fax: 706.212.0354
Email: nseaver@snwp.com

Born in New York, Nicholas had the opportunity to move frequently in his youth, living in several different states along the East Coast. Nicholas was able to travel the world during his military service and gained valuable experience, learning to appreciate other cultures and world views. In 2001, Nicholas settled in the mountains of North Carolina and continued to foster his love of backpacking, climbing and exploring the natural world.

Nicholas graduated from Appalachian State University in 2005 with a degree in Secondary Education, and has been working with youth since 2002. After gaining experience working in the Wilderness Therapy Industry, Nicholas joined Second Nature in 2009. Working as a Senior Field Instructor, Nicholas gained a passion for facilitating positive change in the students of the program. As Parent Coordinator his responsibilities include initiating preliminary calls with parents and continuing ongoing contact with families currently/previously enrolled in our program.