Staff

Randy Soderquist, LCSW, Owner and Clinical Director
Randy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 20 years experience working with children, adolescents and families in both residential and out patient settings. Randy has 13 years of administrative, supervisory experience of out patient treatment teams and served as the Program Director of a Federally funded childrens mental health grant to improve mental health services to youth and their families. Randy has worked closely with several therapeutic boarding schools providing individual and group counseling to the youth, clinical supervision to the clinical director and therapists and clinical consultation to the owners and clinical directors.

Randy enjoys working with youth and helping them to see who they really are and their potential to become anything they can dream to be! Randy has many years of experience working with adult and adolescent women who have experienced abuse, trauma and substance abuse. Randy is also a Level I Certified Equine Assisted Therapist.

Randy and his wife Toni are the parents of five children. One son and four daughters. The motivation for Re-Creation Retreat came from the personal experience of helping one of their daughters through a very abusive dating relationship. As they attempted to help their daughter, they were amazed at the difficulty dealing with the legal system, the educational system and the well meaning but uninformed community in which they lived. Due to the lack of knowledge about abuse and its dynamics and a lack of resources it was a challenge to get their daughter the help she needed and to find support for themselves as parents.

As a result, Randy and Toni have founded Re-Creation Retreat. A private school for girls with the mission of helping young women Re-Create their lives around true principles leading to a correct understanding of who they “really are” and who they “can be”. Re-Creation Retreat is a resource for parents who are at the point of not knowing what to do to help their daughter who may be making poor decisions, failing in school, involved in unhealthy relationships and/or just defying parental authority.

Pamela France, Administrative Assistant
Pamela has her Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in sociology, and obtained her secondary education teaching certification. Pamela worked for five years as a child protection worker for the State of Michigan. She worked for Southern Utah University for five years as the Academic Support Coordinator for Student Support Services serving disabled students and first generation college students. She obtained her Master's Degree in Psychology with an endorsement in Comprehensive Guidance from Utah State University and then worked for the Iron County School District, Cedar City, Utah, for eleven years as a school counselor for elementary and middle school students.

Pamela is a member of the Utah School Counselors Association, she received the Educator of the Year award for the year 2007 and the Teacher of the Year award 2008 for Cedar Middle School. Pamela is a certified "Love & Logic" parent program instructor and a Marriage and Family Relations Instructor for her church. Pamela has been married to a great guy for 40 years and has six children and nineteen grandchildren.

Robert Nording, Assistant Administrative Director
Robert was born in Los Angles, California, but grew up in Idaho. He went to Hawaii to pick pineapples as a teenager and did service work for his church for two years. He completed a Bachelors degree in fine arts. He and his family are active in sports and outdoor activities. He has worked with youth since 1993. He enjoys working with a team of professionals dedicated to helping youth and families live a more quality life.

Sharla Christie, Therapist
Sharla Christie is a masters-level therapist with experience working with experiential groups and with trauma survivors. She has experience in individual therapy for adults, adolescents and children, family therapy with troubled youth and their parents. She has worked with youth on a daily basis for a number of years. She has been married for 26 years to Phillip Christie and has 7 children and 3 grandchildren. In her spare time (if there is any?!) she enjoys photography and graphic design, reading and spending time with family.

Linda McCowan, Instructor/Medical Coordinator
Linda McCowan has a bachelor of Arts degree from Brigham Young University, majoring in English Literature. She is the author/illustrator of a children’s book Cancer Rhymes with Dancer and an author /contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tough People for Tough Times. She has worked with youth for over 20 years.

At Re-creation Retreat Linda puts her arts background to use--leading drama workshops, teaching cultural appreciation, organizing art and craft activities. Having moved countries, had cancer, been married for over seventeen years, and as a mother of four--2 of them teens-- she brings a wealth of useful life experience to our team.

Max Bertola, M.S., Education Director
• 20+ years of educational experience including teaching and administration
• Masters of Science Degree in Technical Writing & Professional Communications
• University professor teaching English Composition
• Recipient of the UVU Teacher of the Year Award in English
• Developed literacy program for the Utah Department of Corrections
• Awarded the Utah Governor’s Medal of Commendation.
• Created and developed i-Instructor, a virtual classroom technology

http://tlseminars.webs.com/ourteam.htm

Dean Nixon, Seminar Facilitator
For the past 10 years, Dean has been sharing his gifts as an Emotional Growth Facilitator. Dean dedicates his seminars to helping people connect with their true self and as a result, each participant comes away with a unique personal experience. As the participants open up and learn more about what these seminars have to offer, their input helps determine the focus and direction of their seminar. It's Dean's way of giving each person what they need, and making sure they get out of the seminar as much as they put into it.

"It's a struggle for me to watch people going about their daily lives full of hurt, fear, shame or resentment, and feeling hopeless about the possibility of things ever improving. I know better! I've been there! When given the proper tools, in the proper setting, a receptive and willing participant can begin moving forward toward peace and happiness almost immediately."

Dean's down-to-earth attitude makes him easy to identify with and his unconditional acceptance of people really puts them at ease. He has a remarkable ability to connect with the people he works with and he truly cares about each participant's well-being and growth. Dean has a passion for this work and puts his heart and soul into making each seminar a life enhancing experience.

Dean Nixon has almost 20 years of experience working with both adults and teens in the treatment industry. Dean has been instrumental in the creation and success of several local treatment centers, acting as Program Director, and facilitating seminars for teens and their parents.

Clifford K. Tapusoa, Seminar Department Director
Clifford K. Tapusoa has worked in Human Services for 14 years with experience in Residential treatment. He has served in various capacities from Direct Care Staff to Program Director. His passion is helping others realize their personal greatness, create meaningful relationships, and Embracing THEIR POWER! His approach is to help others build strength in their family. His fulfillment comes by watching other people's lives change before his eyes. He lives by the philosophy, "Find value in the past, live in the moment, so you can create your future."

Nichole Wisenhunt
Nichole is married and has worked for seven years in this field. She loves working with young women!. She is dedicated to individual improvement and is kind and talented.

Charlie Casper
Charlie is married with two young boys and he values his family above all else. He has worked in this field for eighteen years. He has a wonderful sense of humor and has a gift for helping students be accountable and ever learning.

Additional Staff:
Eni Moeai
Darlene Barnes
Christine Chamberlain
Linda Chatterly
Austin Soderquist
Abrianna Soderquist