Founders
Lynn Smith, LCSW
Clinical Director, Co-Founder
lynn@elementswilderness.com
801-910-7286
Working in therapeutic wilderness programs is a natural fit for Lynn as it combines his enthusiasm for outdoor recreation, passion for personal growth and graduate training in social work. Lynn’s specialty is using the wilderness to promote insight, motivation and change in adolescents. Lynn has worked with adolescents in many therapeutic settings, including residential treatment centers, therapeutic boarding schools, group homes and an outpatient substance abuse counseling clinics. Lynn started his career in wilderness therapy as a field instructor in 1994 for Aspen Achievement Academy. He later joined a multi-site wilderness therapy program where he trained new staff, mentored senior field instructors and served as a wilderness therapist.
In addition to earning a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in clinical social work at the University of Utah, Lynn also completed a one year substance abuse treatment certificate program. This training included an internship as a substance abuse counselor in a program that served inmates in the Utah state prison system. Substance abuse and dependence continue to be a focus of Lynn’s clinical practice and he believes the wilderness is an ideal setting to start the course of recovery.
While in graduate school he completed an advanced practicum working with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, and an additional practicum at the Veteran’s Hospital. In this setting, Lynn worked with veterans suffering from a wide variety of mental health issues. His most rewarding experience at the hospital was co-facilitating a therapy group for WWII veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. Lynn has been able to use these experiences to identify and work with mild developmental disorders and to work effectively with young men who have experienced trauma.
Lynn is originally from Lodi, California and grew up playing in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. He spends much of his free time enjoying the mountains and deserts of Utah. He has spent the past 8 winters teaching and coaching snowboarding at Snowbird and currently coaches part-time for the Snowbird competition snowboard team. He also enjoys biking, rock climbing, mountaineering, fishing, scuba diving, backpacking and traveling. He is currently training for his second LOTOJA double century bike race.
Karen Hesselman
Program Director, Co-founder
karen@elementswilderness.com
801-712-3372
After earning her Bachelor’s degree in park administration and business from Indiana University, Karen went to Alaska to be a professional raft guide in Denali. During her time in Alaska, Karen learned the art and science of safe wilderness guiding while exploring some of the world’s most powerful and beautiful waterways, including the Nenana, Chulitna, Matanuska, and Talkeetna Rivers.
Her love of the outdoors and of people led her to a wilderness therapy program, where she worked for seven years serving as the company’s senior field instructor and then assistant field director. Karen was responsible for numerous business and program functions, including quality management, personnel management, training, and logistics. Karen’s experience with business, management, professional guiding and wilderness therapy prepared her well to be a part of the founding team at Elements.
Karen is the president and one of the founders of the Indiana University Outdoor Adventures Alumni Association, which helps young people pursue an education and career in an outdoor profession. Karen is still and active booster of Indiana University, which she credits with opening the door to her beloved career as an outdoor professional.
When she’s not busy managing the Elements field program, you can still usually find her outside! She enjoys tennis, snow skiing, road biking, and rafting.
John Karren
Admissions Director, Co-Founder
john@elementswilderness.com
801-505-8481
John has been serving families in wilderness therapy programs for over a decade. Prior to founding Elements, John had extensive experience as both an admissions counselor and an admissions director.
John loves the outdoors himself and is passionate about its power to change and heal families. Born in the California Bay Area, John moved at a young age to Salt Lake City, Utah where he became involved in skiing, snowboarding, rock climbing and cycling. John is now an avid triathlete where swimming is his best event and he does his best to grind through the other two events.
John spends a lot of time with his family and they are a huge support for him. He has been married to his wife Melanie for 21 years and has two children, Kolby (22) and Blair (20) both of whom are currently enrolled in college. His son plays college volleyball and John and Melanie rarely miss a game or tournament. His daughter is attending Utah State where she is studying to be a pharmacist. The whole family happily signs up to root for dad in his triathlons, especially when they’re in great locations like Mexico!
John has spent many years coaching his kids in their various events and loves sports of all kinds.