Wingate Wilderness Therapy

Lawsuits

• Court record - Wingate Wilderness Therapy 2020 | Unknown | Utah Supreme Court | 20190953-SC Names this facility

  Outcome: Certified question addressed regarding whether wilderness therapy constitutes health care under the Utah Health Care Malpractice Act.

  This document is an appellee response brief filed in the Utah Supreme Court regarding a certified question of law from the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. The plaintiff, who was injured while participating in a wilderness therapy program, argues that his claim for simple negligence is not subject to the Utah Health Care Malpractice Act. The defendant contends that wilderness therapy constitutes health care and that the program operates as a health care provider under the Act, bringing the negligence claim within its scope.

• Court record - Wingate Wilderness Therapy 2020 | Unknown | Utah Supreme Court | 20190953-SC Names this facility

  Plaintiff Jacob M. Scott filed a lawsuit against WinGate Wilderness Therapy, LLC following an injury he sustained while participating in a hiking activity during his enrollment in the wilderness therapy program in March 2015. The program was intended to treat behavioral, substance abuse, and mental health issues according to a treatment plan prepared by a licensed counselor. The primary legal issue before the court is whether the claim constitutes a medical malpractice action subject to Utah's Health Care Malpractice Act, given that the injury occurred during a mandated wilderness activity.

• Court record - Wingate Wilderness Therapy Unknown Names this facility

Every case in the lawsuit directory

News coverage

• 

  KSL.com Jul 25, 2021 Lawsuit

  Former residents who sue Utah programs for troubled teens can face big obstacles in court

  Former residents pursuing legal action against Utah youth treatment facilities face significant judicial obstacles, including strict statutes of limitations and the classification of their claims under medical malpractice statutes. Courts have recently ruled that certain allegations involving assaults and injuries fall under medical treatment plans, capping potential financial damages and dismissing cases filed past shortened deadlines.

Staff

Administration

• Shayne Gallagher

  Former Program Director, Executive Director (2008-2010)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Anasazi Foundation Field Manager and Program Director, 1990
  • Second Nature Wilderness Program Field Instructor, 1999
  • Outback Therapeutic Expeditions Co-founder, 2001

• Blaine Fisher

  Program director

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • SageWalk Wilderness Former Field Director

• Chris Tarver

  Executive director

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • St. James Behavioral Hospital Program Director, before 2016
  • Aspiro Wilderness Adventure Therapy Former Clinical team member, Clinical team (2020)

• Sharon Sperry-Clegg

  Program director

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Outback Therapeutic Expeditions risk manager
  • Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Industry Council member
  • Aspiro Wilderness Adventure Therapy risk and compliance manager

Notable staff

• Amy Jeppesen

  Former Primary Wilderness Therapist (2008)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Alamar Ranch Executive Director and Co-Owner, 2006
  • CERTS – Kolob Canyon Residential Treatment Center Staff, 2006
  • Alamar Ranch RTC Executive Director, 2007

• Brad C. Matheson

  Former Director of Admissions, Admissions Director/Partner, Director of Admissions and Partner, Director of Admissions/Partner, Admissions Director (2008-2010)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Homeward Bound Family Transition Management Director of Enrollment, 2007
  • Brighton Center’s Homeward Bound Shelter Director of Marketing and Enrollment, 2008
  • Monuments RTC Director of Marketing, 2018
  • WinGate Wilderness Director of Admissions, before 2018
  • Outback Therapeutic Expeditions Former Director of Admissions (2001)

• Clark Hammond

  Former Primary Wilderness Therapist, Primary Therapist (2008)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Alpine Academy Staff
  • Kaizen Academy Executive Director

• Derrick Cook

  Former Therapist (2010)source

• Eric Fawson

  Former Primary Wilderness Therapist (2011)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Silverado Academy Program Director, Program / Clinical Director and Therapist, Clinical Director, 2007-2025
  • Provo Canyon School Direct Care Staff / Therapist, Therapy, Therapist, before 2007
  • WinGate Wilderness Therapist, before 2012
  • RedCliff Ascent Clinical Director, 2012

• Greg Burnham

  Former Primary Wilderness Therapist (2013)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Cedar Ridge RTC Therapist, 1999
  • New Haven RTC Therapist, later Assistant Clinical Director, Therapist--South, 2005-2021
  • Wingate Wilderness Therapist and Clinical Director, 2014
  • Cedar Ridge Academy Therapist, 2019
  • Outback Therapeutic Expeditions Clinical Director, 2017

• John Cohen

  Former Clinical Director (2013)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Pure Life Aspiro Clinical Director, 2014
  • Wilderness Quest therapist
  • Open Sky Wilderness Program therapist

• Rachael Schneider

  Former Therapist (2010)source

• Scott Hess

  Former Clinical Director, Partner, Primary Therapist (2008-2013)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Fulshear Treatment to Transition – The Ranch Staff, 2004
  • Ascent Wilderness Program Clinical Director, later Executive Director, before 2004
  • Trails Carolina Therapist, 2015
  • Outback Therapeutic Expeditions Staff
  • Aspen Ranch Clinical Director, 2000
  • Fulshear Ranch Staff, 2004
  • Fulshear Treatment to Transition helped found

• Sheri Gallagher

  Former Director of Operations (2008)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Outback Therapeutic Expeditions Staff, 2008

• Tim Dupell

  Former Founding Capital Partner (2008)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Family Help & Wellness Founder, former CEO, Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the Board, Founder and CEO, 2008-2025
  • Sunwest Management Services Staff, before 2026
  • Aspen Education Group Former CFO and Executive Vice President

• Woody Crowell

  Former Director of Business (2009)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Aspiro Group Inc. Program Director, 2013
  • Aspiro Wilderness Adventure Therapy Program Director
  • Aspen Education Group Regional Director of Admissions
  • Right Direction Adolescent Services Owner
  • Adirondack Leadership Expeditions Field Guide
  • Outback Therapeutic Expeditions Director of Admissions

• Beth Fogel

  Former Staff (2010)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Evoke Entrada Therapist
  • IWLS Expedition Therapy Primary Therapist, 2010
  • Expedition Therapy CEO, Primary Therapist, 2012-2014
  • Passages to Recovery Staff

• Tracy Schrunk

  Former Staff (2010)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Vista RTC Therapist
  • Logan River Academy Therapist
  • Ascent Wilderness Therapy Clinical Director
  • Fulshear Ranch Academy Executive Director
  • Fulshear Ranch Executive Director
  • WinGate Wilderness Therapist
  • Fulshear Treatment to Transition – The Ranch Executive Director, 2009
  • Outback Therapeutic Expeditions Therapist, 2011-2017
  • Vista Magna RTC therapist
  • Vista Treatment Centers therapist
  • Fulshear Treatment to Transition exec director

• Greg Hitchcock

  Former Staff (2013)source

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Wilderness Quest Executive Director, 2005-2007
  • AIM House Staff, 2008
  • Mount Bachelor Academy Wilderness Program staff, 2009
  • Abundant Life Academy Principal, Board Member, Corporate Officer, Principal, Board Member and Corporate Officer, Board Member/Corporate Officer, 2010-2026
  • Zion Educational Systems Principal, Board Member, Corporate Officer, 2010-2026
  • InnerPathWorks Co-Director, 2012
  • WinGate Wilderness Therapy Expeditions Staff, 2013
  • WinGate Wilderness Director of Outreach, 2013
  • Cedu Staff, before 2019
  • CEDU High School Headmaster, Director of California Operations
  • Rocky Mountain Academy administrator

• Craig Rogers

  Executive marketing director

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Rite of Passage, Inc Social Worker Supervisor
  • Wingate Wilderness Executive Director of Digital Marketing
  • Wwasps Staff
  • Zion Educational Systems Staff
  • Positive Impact Program Director
  • Abundant Life Academy Co-Founder and Executive Director, Executive Director, CEO, Director of Marketing, Executive Director, Founder and CEO
  • ROP Nevada social work supervisor
  • Koinonia Foster Homes program director

• Derek Cook

  Therapist

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Turning Point Founder
  • Wilderness Quest Former Clinical Director

• Erin Grover

  Clinical director

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Vista RTC MSW intern, 2012
  • WinGate Clinician, 2014
  • Outback Therapeutic Expeditions Former Field Director (2005)
  • Vista Treatment Centers MSW intern

• Josh Gunalda

  Admissions director

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Aspen Education Group Regional Admissions Counsellor, 2010
  • Four Circles Recovery Center Base Director, 2020
  • SUWS of the Carolinas Admissions Director, 2012

• Josh White

  Clinical director

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Sedona Sky Academy Former Program Director
  • Red Mountain Colorado cofounder, operating partner
  • Red Mountain Sedona executive director

• Kathy Ruiz

  Therapist

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Evoke Entrada Senior Field Instructor, 2016
  • Falcon Ridge Ranch Therapist, 2017

• Michael Sanders

  Field director

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • Anasazi Foundation Field Director (2014)

• Paula Riggs

  Admissions

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • CEDU High School Admissions Director, 1997
  • Wilderness Quest Director of Admissions, before 2009
  • Casa Palmera Director of Admissions, 2009
  • WinGate Wilderness Admissions, 2013
  • WinGate Admissions Counselor/Director, 2014
  • Clearview Horizon Director of Admissions, 2019
  • Elk Mountain Academy Admissions Counselor and Director

• Phillip "Dr Phil" McGraw

  Referrals

  Elsewhere in the industry

  • SUWS of the Carolinas referrals
  • Turn-About Ranch referrals
  • Evolve Treatment Centers referrals
  • Youth Intervention Transport referrals

Connections on the network map

The companies, people and programs our research map ties to this program. Open it on the network map.

Other staff

• ROOTs Transition worked at both

Wiki entries

• WinGate Wilderness Kanab, UT | 2008-2023

Other programs run by Family Help & Wellness

• Asheville Academy for Girls Black Mountain, North Carolina | Closed
• BlueFire Wilderness Therapy Gooding, Idaho | Open
• Discover Seven Stars Syracuse, Utah | Open
• Elevations RTC Syracuse, Utah | Open
• Equinox RTC Hendersonville, North Carolina | Closed
• Foundations Asheville Asheville, North Carolina
• Magnolia Mill School Weaverville, North Carolina | Closed
• New Focus Academy Heber City, Utah | Open
• Red Mountain Colorado Greeley, Colorado | Closed
• Red Mountain Sedona Sedona, Arizona | Open
• ROOTS Transition Park City, Utah | Open
• Sandhill Child Development Center Los Lunas, New Mexico | Open
• Sedona Sky Academy Rimrock, Arizona | Closed
• Solstice West Layton, Utah | Open
• Trails Carolina Lake Toxaway, North Carolina | Closed
• Triple Divide Lodge Marion, Montana | Closed
• Uinta Academy Wellsville, Utah | Open
• Viewpoint Center Syracuse, Utah | Open

Materials and links

External links

A program's own website is linked as an archived snapshot, so the page reads as it did when it was captured.

• wingatewildernesstherapy.com (archived copy) live site

Survivor posts and discussion

• Waypoints Wilderness Therapy (Affiliated w/ Wingate)
• 'Wingate Wilderness Therapy Abuse Story part 2'
• Link to 'Wingate Wilderness Therapy Abuse Story part 1'

Advertising and marketing listings

• Wingate Wilderness Therapy (Affiliated w Waypoint)

Reference and research

• 20/20 ABC Digital Addiction December 1st 2017 Must Watch!! (2018-12-11)

From SCIAD NET.

Other links

• Wingate Wilderness Therapy (Affiliated w Waypoint) (archived copy) live site
• Wingate Wilderness Therapy (Affiliated w Waypoint) (archived copy) live site
• lawsuit