Meet the Board
Michael Collins
BOARD CHAIR
Michael Collins is a Therapeutic Educational Consultant, Advocate, and Coach who works with people of all ages to help them transition into a life in which they can be proud.
In his role supporting families, Michael refers adolescents, teens, and young adults suffering from mental illness, substance abuse, and learning differences, and other closely related disorders, to the most appropriate treatment programs and professionals nationwide.
As an independent consultant, Michael is not affiliated with any program or institution but, rather, concentrates on what is best for your family and your child by providing objective recommendations that lead to helping your child to feel better faster.
-
Michael believes that all things, situations, and people ultimately lead toward a pattern of good. His commitment to, and partnership with, his clients produce powerful, transforming, results that last a lifetime.
Inspired to be a difference-maker, Michael has garnered transferable experiences from his time as a cabinet member at Nebraska Wesleyan University where he served as the Chief Advancement Officer to his time as a business entrepreneur guiding executive alignment across multiple organizational divisions.
Michael has served in a leadership role on many boards including the Nebraska Independent College Foundation, The Friendship Home fighting against domestic violence, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Lincoln Nebraska’s Children Zoo, and the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation supporting foster children across the state.
Michael holds a secondary education degree from the University of Nebraska.
Brittany McKinney, MA
BOARD SECRETARY
Bio coming soon.
Tazim Salehani, MS
BOARD TREASURER
Bio Coming Soon
Kimberly Bryant, LPC is a Relationship Based Therapeutic Consultant and Psychotherapist with specialties in family, attachment, and trauma healing. Kimberly has been supporting youth and families in various professional capacities since 2008 and is the Founder of Roots Healing Family Services based out of Boulder, CO. She holds a Master’s Degree in Transpersonal Counseling Psychology from Naropa University and continues her clinical training in effective, progressive therapy modalities alongside ongoing research and relations with therapeutic programs and schools.
Kimberly Bryant, MA, LPC
I truly love the work I do. Nothing is more rewarding than being trusted as an advisor when a family is in crisis, and then witnessing the positive growth once a plan is in place. I get the opportunity to blend my clinical expertise with heart-felt empathy as a mother who has experienced this journey firsthand.”
As a therapist, Talley worked with children, teens and young adults after earning her Master’s degree in 2005. As rewarding as that was, navigating her son’s intense struggle with mental health challenges signified a pivot point, turning her work to help other families in crisis. She founded Journey to Better in 2018.
Talley holds a MA in Psychology (MFT), and a graduate Conflict Resolution and Mediation Certification. She hosts fundraising events for Sky’s the Limit Fund, and participates actively on several committees for the Therapeutic Consulting Association, joining as a Board Member in April 2023. Talley is also a member of IECA, NATSAP and YATA. She spends her free time with her family and two dogs, and loves to dance.
Talley Webb
Rachel Gutow-Ellis
Rachel Gutow-Ellis is the principal consultant of Newcastle Educational Consultants, LLC, based in Houston, Texas. Rachel has experience working with children, adolescents, and adults. As an educational consultant, she helps clients and their families navigate the complex process of finding appropriate schools, treatment options, and creative solutions for various learning differences, developmental delays, and mental health concerns. She also provides parent coaching and guidance as families maneuver through this world.
In addition to her work as an educational consultant, Rachel Gutow-Ellis is an experienced parent with deep knowledge in navigating the complexities of Autism Spectrum Disorder. She attended the University of Arizona and has been a community leader for over 30 years. She is an active member of several professional organizations and utilizes her experience and compassion to help families find a sustainable path forward.
Jolene began her career at SUWS, a wilderness program in Idaho, in 1998. Jolene was born and raised in Idaho, a child of the desert herself, a belief of wilderness therapy as treatment was born. Jolene has worked at a couple of different wilderness programs and with an educational consulting office before recently settling in at Brightstone Transitions. Brightstone Transitions is a transitional living support in Gainesville GA. Brightstone is also the umbrella company for Wisdom Ranch in Idaho and Point School in Puerto Rico. Brightstone Transitions offers support to a neurodiverse population of all genders. Wisdom Ranch and Point School Puerto Rico are hybrid gap year experiences for those that identify as male.
Jolene enjoys spending time with her family; her husband and two teenage daughters. Together they enjoy camping and hiking and most any outdoor activity. Her family loves traveling, but are always happy to arrive back to the wide open spaces of Southern Idaho.