About Us

Patti Hollenbeck-Dial, Ph.D. - Admissions

Dr. Patti Hollenbeck-Dial has twenty two years of extensive experience in working with adolescents. With a doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy, Patti has specialized in working as a therapist with adolescents and their families in private practice for 6 years and in residential treatment for 11 years. Prior to being a therapist, she was a full time educator, teaching biology to junior high and high school students for five years.

During her experiences as a therapist, Dr. Hollenbeck-Dial has worked intensely with adolescents diagnosed with language based and nonverbal learning disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, chemical dependency and abuse, oppositional defiant disorder, eating disorders, borderline personality disorder, codependency issues, trauma issues, and attachment disorder. One of her favorite passions is working with families in family therapy to develop or to re-establish healthy ways of working together.

Patti is a dedicated mother of one daughter and feels it a privilege to work with so many daughters of other mothers and fathers. She lives on a small farm and enjoys raising milk goats, hiking, gardening, and horseback riding in the nearby mountains with her family. Continual education and growth are integral pieces of her life.

Nichol Holwege - Residential Director

Nichol Holwege began her experience as an intern at the Utah State Hospital working on the Youth Unit where she led daily recreational groups. For the last 10 years Nichol has worked in residential treatment with adolescent girls and has found this to be her passion.

Nichol obtained her Bachelors Degree in Recreational Therapy from Brigham Young University. Through her experience and education at various workshops, Nichol has specialized working with adolescents with oppositional defiant disorder, depression, borderline personality disorder, substance abuse, eating disorders, trauma and those with various learning differences. Nichol has a natural ability and talent in working with adolescents and has helped many see their potential and achieve challenging goals. Nichol is also a member of Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) and Nonverbal Learning Disorders Association (NLDA).

Karen Nickl, Ph.D. - Therapist

Karen has her doctoral degree in counseling psychology from Northern Arizona University. She is a Psychology Resident, and Licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Utah.

Karen’s clinical experience has been gathered at Catholic Social Services in Flagstaff, Arizona, the Children’s Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, The Institute of Marriage and Family Counseling, in Ogden, Utah, and Outback Therapeutic Expeditions, in Lehi, Utah.

Karen has expertise in developmental psychology and non-verbal learning disabilities of children. She also has experience in attachment theory and is especially effective with children and teens with attachment and adoption issues. Karen has taught group therapy to clinicians and brings exciting techniques to her groups, often using psychodrama to engage kids in the process. The students respond to her kind, straight forward approach. Parents like the wisdom Karen has from clinical experience and but especially enjoy the insight she’s gained from being a parent herself. Educational Consultants and referring home therapists appreciate Karen’s detailed accurate feedback and sound judgment.

Denise Larouche, CPCI - Therapist

Denise Larouche has a Bachelors degree in Human Services and a Masters degree in Counseling. She has tremendous enthusiasm for working with adolescents and families. Denise loves the challenges of working with students with learning disabilities, as well as difficult emotional / behavioral problems. She also enjoys working with adolescents with histories of substance abuse. Additional experiences include working with adolescents and families in contracted private therapy as well as working with adolescents in programs such as, Cornell Corrections, Juvenile Justice Services, and the Division of Child and Family Services.

Denise loves spending time with her family and enjoys traveling

Logan Valentine, LCSW

Logan is a licensed therapist who has worked clinically with adolescents over the past thirty years. He has worked in a variety of clinical settings, specializing in childhood and adolescent disorders. Logan specializes with psychiatric disorders that include; Asperger's disorder, Autism, Bipolar disorder, Depressive disorders, substance abuse, Tourette's, trauma, psychosis, and comorbidities with these illnesses. He has been a clinical supervisor of student interns for the past 15 years. Logan graduated from Arizona State University in psychology and interpersonal relations. He has presented in juried presentations at the National Conference of the National Association of Social Work, the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists annual conference. Recently he presented at the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and Programs' annual conference. He is married to a delightful partner, Patricia, of 27 years, and have eight children. All of his children are now adults. He loves to travel, play with his seven wonderful grandchildren, play hockey with his younger sons, and engage in waterskiing and snow skiing.

Matt Dietz- Educational Director

Matt has a Bachelor's degree in Business from Utah Valley University and a Special Education Endorsement from Utah State. He has 5 years teaching experience working with junior high and high school students and loves working with kids and watching them succeed. A lot of his experience comes from the business world where he has worked as a customer service and purchasing manager. He enjoys coaching his children in sports and loves to play golf with his dad and son whenever he can. Matt would love to join the senior tour when he turns 50, but realizes an 8 handicap keeps him from his dream. Matt has coached in several competitive positions, including golf and baseball. Matt has four children and is engaged to be married this July.

Deanne Shields - Special Education Coordinator

Deeane was born and raised in Utah. She received a B.S. degree in Zoology Composite Teaching and a M.Ed. in Educational Psychology from Brigham Young University. Deeanne worked for 18 years at Provo Canyon School. While there she taught a variety of science and special education classes. She was also an Academic Supervisor and the Special Education Coordinator. Deeanne worked with students, parents, school districts and mental health agencies in developing and implementing Individual Education Plans (IEP’s).

In her spare time, Deeanne reads, gardens and supports the interests and talents of her four unique children.

Michelle Broadbent "Shelley", B.S., R.N. - Nursing Director

Michelle Broadbent has been a registered nurse for thirty two years.  She received her nursing degree from Brigham Young University.  Her vast experience includes but is not limited to prenatal and obstetrics,  immunization and travel nursing, family medicine, and home health care.   Michelle feels that in addition to her clinical experience she has gained a great deal of practical experience from rearing her eight children (five daughters and three sons).  Michelle’s unique dedication and commitment to quality care in working with the adolescents at Maple Lake Academy, comes from a highly professional and very personal approach that centers on treating each girl as if she were her own daughter.  In her leisure time, Michelle enjoys sewing, cooking and showing/breeding exotic Himalayan and Burmese cats.

Karie Swenson, CTRS, MA - Recreation Therapy Director

Karie Swenson received her Masters Degree in Recreation Therapy from Brigham Young University and is Nationally Certified. In her twenty-two years of experience as a recreation therapist, Karie has worked intensively with adolescents and adults diagnosed with learning disabilities, attachment issues, depression, bi-polar disorder, chemical dependence and abuse, oppositional defiant disorder, eating disorders, personality disorders, and trauma issues.

Karie believes in the power of experiential therapy. She uses initiative games and experiences to help the girls and their families make positive, lasting changes. This modality improves communication skills, bonding, problem resolution, leadership acquisition, and developing support systems.

Karie loves spending time with people, traveling, experiencing history sites. She enjoys sewing, quilting, reading, and doing anything where she gets to know everyone’s business, bosses people around, and gets to play! What she loves most about her job, is that she gets to see people become happy, productive human beings.

During her experience as a recreation therapist, she has worked at Utah State Hospital (Mentally Ill), Atascadero State Hospital (Criminally Insane), Psychiatric Nursing Home, Charter Canyon Hospital (Acute Psychiatric Hospital), The Gathering Place (Substance Abuse and Addictions), Center for Women and Children in Crisis (Domestic Violence), and New Haven Residential Treatment Center (Adolescent Girls). Currently, she is thrilled to be at Maple Lake Academy (Adolescent Girls).

Jason Anderson - Psychiatrist

Dr. Jason Anderson, a board certified child psychiatrist has been with Maple Lake Academy since June of 2007. He was born in Alamogorgdo, New Mexico. He attended Medical school at Oklahoma State University, and did his psychology residency and fellowship at University of South Dakota. He and his wife have lived in Utah for 3 years and have 4 children. His hobbies include baking, cheese making, and woodworking.

Anna Tidwell- Equine Therapist

Involved with equine therapy for over twenty years, Anna has trained and certified through Utah State University, North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, A.V.A. and continues her education through regular participation in various seminars and clinics.

Anna has been involved with Equine Vaulting (gymnastics and dance on the back of a moving horse), with her team bringing home to Utah several National Championship Titles and numerous Regional Championship Titles.

Anna is especially enthusiastic about helping people or animals with special needs. She has worked extensively with adolescents and adults with learning disabilities, emotional problems and physical impairments. Anna understands and believes in the value of equine therapy for the purpose of contributing positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional and social well being of people young and old.

A mother of six, a small business owner and always the first to volunteer in the community, Anna feels she possesses a wealth of life experience to share with her students as they interact during all aspects of equine related activities. She truly cares about each individual and teaches with the primary goal being a safe, enjoyable experience for both rider and equine.

As well as anything equine related, Anna enjoys gardening, cooking, biking, and reading. She is especially excited about her two grandchildren and plans to rodeo with them every summer.

Holly Stansbury- Assistant Residential Manager

Holly Stansbury obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Marriage, Family and Human Development at Brigham Young University. Through her college experiences, she found her passion and ability to work with many different types of people. She lived in Santiago, Chile for 18 months where she learned Spanish and an understanding for families of different cultures. She volunteered at the Special Education Seminary where she helped severely challenged autistic children. She also worked at a Community Center at Timpanogos elementary where she taught parenting classes to Latina mothers and a 4-H class to students ages 6-8 in the afterschool program. Another exciting experience was being involved with the Flourishing Families National Study of Family Life, where she traveled to Seattle, WA to interview families for a long term research project on family resiliency. All of these experiences have taught her about the importance of the individual and their need to connect, find success and be happy.

Holly is a very energetic and happy person who loves life and all that it has to offer. She has greatly enjoyed the past year that she has worked with the students here at Maple Lake. She finds joy in seeing them make changes and become the young ladies that they are capable of becoming.

Elizabeth (Beth) Palethorpe. - Office Manager/Bookkeeper

Beth was born in South Africa. She speaks three languages, English/ Afrikaans and Zulu.. After graduating High School she enrolled at the Durban Business College in South Africa, where she gained her Secretarial and Bookkeeping diplomas. Beth was employed for 20 years at the University of Natal, Faculty of Medicine, where her secretarial and bookkeeping skills were used extensively. While employed at there, Dr. Ann Barrett, a Psychiatrist, who lectured part time, offered Beth a position to work for her in her busy Psychiatric Practice. Beth accepted the offer and worked for seven years as Receptionist,Office Manager and Bookkeeper. Beth became familiar with the challenges patients faced with Depression, BiPolar Disorders and Schizophrenia. She developed a deep love and compassion for these patients. Beth and her family emigrated to the U.S.A. in November 1996. She came to Maple Lake Academy in August 2006. She loves being part of this great school, which provides such important care and love for the young girls with their diverse challenges.

Beth and her family lived on a farm and raised a dairy herd and bred pigs. She has also owned a fast food restaurant and she her husband also developed and ran a RV Park in South Africa. She is married and is a dedicated mother of three daughters and one son. She has nineteen grandchildren and two great granddaughters. She loves working with children of all ages. Her hobbies are gardening, Genealogy and swimming. She loves the outdoors and camping.

Steve Baumgarten - Chef

Steve has been with Maple Lake Academy since 2006. He attended culinary school in San Francisco at the National Maritime Union. After graduation Steve spent 15 years working as a head cook or Kitchen Manager for various restaurants such as Carvers, Olive Garden, and Outback Steakhouse. Steven then spent six years as a chef for Center for Change and then joined Maple Lake Academy in 2006. He makes amazing food...

Steve enjoys riding his ATV, watching movies, reading, camping, and cooking. He and his wife Christine have been married for 10 years and reside in Orem, Utah. He has two dogs named Bailey and Tucker.