Introducing the Dragonfly Team of Professionals

Glenn White — Program Director/Founder/Co-Owner

Glenn, a graduate of Old Dominion University with a B.S. degree in Education and Outdoor Recreation, is also a certified Wilderness First Responder and has over twenty years experience leading wilderness trips on both coasts of the United States, as well as in Alaska, Mexico, and Tanzania. He has designed and implemented adventure programming for college students, corporate management teams, high schools, the general public, and has extensive experience working with troubled adolescents in the outdoors.

Glenn’s knack for building community and helping students discover meaning in their lives is central to the Dragonfly curriculum. Having struggled himself as a young adult, Glenn found his calling helping young people rediscover themselves, take responsibility for their lives, and find their own unique path. He motivates and inspires young adults using an insight-oriented approach that allows students to discover themselves, articulating their own beliefs, values, gifts and strengths.

In addition to mentoring students and staff, Glenn manages the day-to-day Dragonfly operations and is responsible for staff training. He also guides students and families on wilderness journeys.

Mona Treadway, MSW, CADC I— Treatment Coordinator & Admissions Director & Co-Owner/Founder

Mona is a graduate of Portland State University with a Masters in Social Work and a graduate of Prescott College with a B.A. in Human Development and Wilderness Leadership. She has worked with a variety of populations, including women survivors of breast cancer and Native Alaskan teenagers dealing with substance abuse issues. Mona has led therapeutic wilderness trips, taught college level outdoor courses and wilderness skills such as rock climbing, skiing, kayaking, glacier travel, and backpacking. Her graduate internships included work at Hospice, a drug and alcohol outpatient program and as a counselor at Oregon Institute of Technology. While at OIT she received training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Suicide Assessment and Prevention.

Mona loves working with people and is a natural-born therapist with a knack for helping young adults "let go" and accept their situation so that they can begin building meaningful lives. Mona has a clear understanding of family dynamics and an ability to help families move from crisis into stability.

Mona manages treatment coordination, admissions, marketing and accounting and is responsible for Dragonfly's family program.

Jennifer Mason, M.A. — Therapist for Dragonfly Transitions

Jennifer received her M.A in counseling psychology from Lewis and Clark College. She received a B.S in nursing from Linfield College. She has over twelve years of experience working with "at risk" and traumatized youth and families. Jennifer sees her practice through the lense of the family systems model. She believes that family of origin work can be very powerful and revealing in self discovery. Jennifer approaches her work objectively, meeting her client's where they are, and empowering them to guide their own treatment. Jennifer has worked in schools, in residential programs, in the court system as an expert witness, and in clinic settings with youth and families. She has extensive training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Collaborative Problem Solving, Seeking Safety Suicide Assessment and Treatment, and Understanding and Treating Those Who Harm Themselves. Jennifer is eclectic in nature and will often try many different approaches to help clients find success. One size certainly does not fit all!

Jennifer was raised in the Klamath County on a working cattle ranch. She is returning to the area after seventeen years away. She enjoys yoga, hiking, traveling, great music and spending time with friends and family. She is excited to be back in town and to be joining the Dragonfly team.

Joe Keefe, M.A. — Therapist for Dragonfly Transitions

An explorer and adventurer at heart, Joe has always had a deep love for the wilderness and has spent countless days camping, hiking, canoeing, rafting, climbing, or whatever else comes his way. From the forests of New England to the deserts and canyons of the South West, to the Mountains of South America, Joe has combined his love of nature and spirituality into a way of life. For over ten years he has be working with young people in many different capacities such as: mentor, teacher, therapist, wilderness counselor, and adventure guide, amongst other titles. Joe has a B.A. in Anthropology and a M.A. in Wilderness Transpersonal Psychology from Naropa University and is working toward his license in counseling. He is also a Wilderness First Responder and a student of Tom Brown Jr's Wilderness-Awareness School. Joe brings a passion and love for life that infects those that surround him. He seeks to bring out the best in others while challenging them to do something new and beyond their capabilities. "Doubt is a pain too lonely to know that faith is his twin brother" - Kahil Gibran

Sharon Melnick, M.D. — Psychiatrist/ Medical and Clinical Director

Dr. Sharon Melnick has provided psychiatric services to Dragonfly Adventures since it’s inception and became the Medical Director in January, 2005. As Medical Director, Dr. Melnick provides psychiatric oversight to the program and Transitions students, including psychiatric evaluations, medication management, group therapy, psychotherapy, five element acupuncture and staff training. Dr. Melnick’s program involvement goes beyond the traditional office visit that typically occurs in most therapeutic schools and programs. She interacts with psychiatrists and therapists who have previously worked with Transitions students to gain insights that can be incorporated into the work the student does here at Dragonfly. Dr. Melnick’s focus is bio-psychosocial and spiritual, using medications not to “fix” the problem, but rather to decrease symptoms so that the individual can continue his/her work of healing, growth and development. Dr. Melnick interacts with students on their level, using plain language to help a student experience themselves in a new light.

Dr. Melnick is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and has worked extensively with adolescents and young adults. She completed a psychiatry residency at UCLA/San Fernando Valley, with additional training at the Los Angeles Family Therapy Institute and the Los Angeles Jung Institute. Before practicing in Klamath Falls, Dr. Melnick was Assistant Training Director at the UCLA/SFV Psychiatry Training Program, had a private practice of psychiatry and psychotherapy in both California and Montana, and worked with Clackamas County Mental Health outside of Portland, Oregon.

“The staff at Dragonfly is caring and professional. They maintain a very well balanced interaction with our daughter, so that she can grow and mature in the process.”

— Father of a Transitions Student

Kelly Skidgel Elliott — Medication Management and Clinical Intern

Kelly is currently in her final year of the Master in Social Work program through Portland State University and will be graduating in June 2010. Kelly is working to complete her practicum requirements at Dragonfly Transitions. Kelly graduated from Oregon Institute of Technology (OIT) in 2005 with a BS in Applied Psychology and in 2006 with a BS in Communication Studies and a Dispute Resolution Certificate. Kelly received full funding from The Ford Family Foundation to complete both her undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Kelly and her husband Jeff, moved to Klamath Falls in 1987 after Jeff was hired at the Air National Guard, Kingsley Field. Kelly and Jeff have five children ages 4 to 19 and their family is currently waiting for a referral from Ethiopia for a new baby daughter. Previous to college, Kelly operated an in-home childcare business for 15 years and has spent 20 years providing foster care for medically fragile infants in Klamath County. When not working, studying, cleaning house, or taking care of kids, Kelly attends dance classes several nights a week; tap, ballet, jazz, gospel and modern.

Kelly is highly motivated to learn and has become a student of life. Kelly has experience in behavior modification, research, attachment theory, and preparing curriculum for groups or class. Kelly is looking forward to learning about therapy from the Dragonfly staff and students.

Karen Nielson — Transitions Mentor

Karen is a graduate of the culinary institute in Portland, Oregon and uses those skills to teach Dragonfly students food safety and cooking skills. She is currently enrolled at Oregon Institute of Technology and is pursuing a Bachelors in Applied Psychology. Karen recently received the Ford Foundation Scholarship which will extend through a Masters program.

She is the mother of three young adults. Karen works as a mentor and her personal goal is to help each individual student find his or her strengths and passions which can be built upon to create a happy and healthy life. Karen believes that everyone should have a sense of humor and a hobby that they enjoy during their spare time. She believes this will help with social skills, healthy down time, and that it will help improve self-esteem.

Karen's favorite saying: Blessed is she who laughs at herself, for she will never cease to be amused!