Clayton AhQuin Jr. - Executive Director
Clayton Jr. alongside his father Clayton Sr. have developed a way of helping teens
through Love, Honor, and Respect. Clayton Jr. has worked with the State of Utah in creating the "Clear the Air" campaign, which is a no-smoking and no-tobacco project. He has been involved in the development of young men in various programs for the past 18 years. Mr. AhQuin has the ability to connect with the boys in these programs through a great passion of his: music. Teaching the guitar, playing the piano, and giving vocal instruction during his free time with many of the boys is something he looks forward to. Clayton has been married for 18 years to his beautiful wife Julee. He is the very proud father of 5 beautiful children, which to Clayton is where true happiness lies.
Clayton AhQuin Sr. – Patriarch & Mentor
Clay passed away on September 10, 2013. His loving personality and affinity for hard
work complemented his strong belief that there is a time for work and a time for play. Clay had planned many fun activities during his time at Liahona Treatment Center -- hiking, boating, wakeboarding, swimming, sports, sightseeing, etc. -- as well as educational activities such as working out at the gym, visiting local businesses, touring historic sites, and building a rock wall. Clay believed in strengthening the body as well as the mind while life skills lessons are being taught. Clay's true passion came through spending time with his 7 kids (4 boys, 3 girls), 24 grandkids, and the love of his life, Irene... ALOHA!
West Campus
Parker Haslam - Program Director
Parker Haslam is our Program Director. Parker grew up in Salt Lake City and Hurricane,
Utah. He graduated locally from Hurricane High School and loves the community. In 2005, Parker married his perfect wife and began schooling to pursue a degree in criminal justice. He has been working with troubled youth since 2003 and enjoys what he does. He has had to opportunity to serve as a Proctor Parent in his own home and understands the difficulties that troubled teens bring to the home environment. He draws upon many experiences gained while serving two years in a third-world country as a missionary. He acquired excellent problem-solving skills and an ability to speak Spanish as a fluid second language. Parker looks forward to life's challenges and embraces the moral satisfaction that follows any victory over such obstacles.
Ike Jorgensen - Assistant Director
Ike was born and raised in St. George, Utah. He graduated from Snow Canyon High School in 2015 where he enjoyed being involved in their athletic programs. A year later, he began working at Liahona Academy. Ike is an avid golfer and enjoys spending his free time on local courses with his friends. In his 7 years with the program, he has found personal fulfillment in interacting with students and watching them develop into successful young men and the best possible versions of themselves. Because he has family members that have struggled with addiction, Ike believes that it is important for students and their families to know that you can have a successful life after learning how to manage your addiction/behavioral issues. He feels as though one of the many strengths of the program is its emphasis on teaching the importance of family and other personal relationships.
Dawsen Derksen - Office Manager
Dawsen Derksen was born and raised in Heber City, Utah. He graduated from Wasatch High
School in 2019 with a CTE Pathways certification due to his skill with technology. Dawsen has been building computers and studying technology since he was 11! His favorite hobbies include Snowboarding, Mountain Biking and Car Enthusiasm. Not to mention Dawsen was an enrolled student at Liahona Academy from 2016 - 2017 and proudly graduated from the program that changed his life on August 23, 2017. A couple years later he decided to pay it forward and become part of our staff family and help continue the plan for our mission at Liahona Academy. He values growth and success just like he did while he was in the program.
Carolyn Callahan - Case Manager
Carolyn Callahan was born and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado and at 17 moved
to Southern Utah (St. George ) with her family in 1973. She then finished high school, attended Dixie State College, and met her husband. She and her husband have four beautiful daughters and seven grandchildren, who all live in the area so she gets to spend a lot of time with them. Carolyn has worked with youth for 13 years, starting with being a proctor parent for teens in her home. She then went to working in a Youth Residential Facility and has continued to do so for the last 11 years. Carolyn came to Liahona in August of 2010 and we are very pleased to have her as an addition to our success.
East Campus
Angel Orpinela – Program Director
Angel was born in Orange County, California. Later, his family moved to Utah for better opportunities. He grew up in negative areas and his family wanted him to focus his energy on good things like soccer and other sports, to stay busy and out of trouble. Through the sport that he loves (soccer), he got a scholarship that took him to a college in Kansas. He took classes in business and psychology. While he was out there he met his wife, who also had the scholarship to play soccer. She moved back home to play at Dixie State University. So Angel at that point knew she was the one for him and he moved to St. George to pursue her and started working at a residential treatment facility. In 2015 he transferred to Liahona and has been working for them since. He has two beautiful children, a girl and a boy that are 13 months apart and have a lot of energy. Angel loves spending time with his family, coaching his kids, playing sports, shooting, and anything outdoors! He is extremely passionate about helping the youth, as he has had many mentors in his life that helped guide him. He hopes to be just that for those that are struggling and could use a rock in their life!
Taylor Berry – Assistant Director
Born in Nuku’Alofa, Tonga, I came to the states at eight months old and was adopted by my wonderful parents. I'm the second youngest out of 5 in my family. Most of my childhood was spent in Rigby, Idaho until I was 12. In 2006 my family decided to move to St. George, Utah in which I spent all my teenage years here. I attended and graduated from Dixie Highschool. After graduating I served a 2 year church mission and was blessed with the opportunity to go back to Tonga where I was born and serve the people there, as well as learn more about my culture and study the language. After my mission I went up north and attended Weber State University for a year and played football while attending as a walk on. After a year up there I was blessed with the opportunity to earn a scholarship at Dixie State University and pursue playing football as well as getting school paid for while studying Psychology. I met my beautiful wife Reegan while attending Dixie State and we were married in March of 2018. My wife and I are blessed with our only son Nakai, but hope to have more children in the near future. I love to do anything that involves being with my family whether it's traveling, camping, or just playing board games. As a hobby, I currently coach the running backs for a local highschool team here in St. George with my father who is the head coach of the team. I’ve worked at Liahona for 6 years now and love working with these teenage boys while watching them transition into the young men and leaders they’re supposed to be. Not only do I stand by our motto “You do good, you get good” I also believe that if you make the right choices, good things will eventually happen. You just have to be patient and stay diligent.
Johnathan Degraw – Assistant Director
Johnathan, John for short mostly grew up in Northern Utah
his family though when he was young were always on the move with some of his childhood spent in Sunnyvale, California. They finally settled where they would move to Southern Utah when he was close to graduating high school. John found his roots in Hurricane, Utah and is married and has 2 children. A 15-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son. Together they enjoy the beauty Southern Utah has to offer. He began working with troubled youth in 2007 with Liahona Academy as a line staff. He has been working specifically with young men now for 15 years. John loves being part of these young men’s journey to growth and success and enjoys the challenges that arise daily.
Beverly Carayas – Case Manager
Beverly Carayas was born and raised in Henderson, NV but later
relocated with her family to Kanab, UT. After graduating high school, Beverly attended Dixie State College, Clark County Community College, and UNLV. Beverly has enjoyed working different occupations from managing apartments to operating convenience stores. Beverly has 2 daughters attending Dixie State University and a son who lives in Georgia. She also has a beautiful grandson that she adores and loves to spoil. Beverly has worked in residential treatment facilities for the past 20 years. In her own words, “It is very satisfying to see the angry, hurt child come into the program and leave a happy confident young man!” Beverly joined the Liahona family in 2015.
Medical Staff
Stephen A. Welsh, MD - Attending Physician
Dr. Stephen Andrew Welsh is a Board Certified Family physician who has been practicing at Intermountain Hurricane Valley Clinic since 2013. He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Utah State University and received his medical training at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Dr. Welsh completed his residency in Family Medicine at the Utah Valley Family Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Welsh loves Southern Utah where he enjoys raising his 6 children, serving in the community, and engaging in many of the outdoor activities it has to offer.
Professional Summary
Degree: University Of Utah School Of Medicine - Salt Lake City, UT in Doctor of Medicine, 2010 Training: Residency: Utah Valley Family Medicine - Provo, UT in Family Practice, 2010-2013 Board Certifications: American Academy of Family Practice Professional Memberships: American Academy of Family Physicians Utah Medical Association Washington County Medical SocietyJason T. Wright, NP
Jason was born and raised in Kanab Utah where he graduated from Kanab High School. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to the New England states. He graduated with an associate degree from Snow College and earned a Bachelor’s degree from Southern Utah University in Biology and Physical Education. He then went to work destroying chemical weapons as a government contractor in Tooele, Utah. He knew that the medical field was what he really wanted to do so he went back to Weber State University in 2003 and graduated with honors with a nursing degree. He spent 10 years working as a nurse in the Emergency Room. He again went back to school and earned a master’s degree in Nursing from The University of South Alabama. He spent five years working as a Nurse Practitioner in Spokane Washington, then moved back home to Southern Utah to work for IHC at the Hurricane Valley Clinic. He and his wife have 3 children that keep them very busy. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, hunting, fishing, and football.
Jake Roberts, APRN – Psychiatric Care Provider
Jacob “Jake” Roberts is a Board Certified Family Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse
Practitioner PMHNP-BC. He has worked in the psychiatric medical field for over 12 years. While he earned his Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Degree at the University of Utah, he worked in the behavioral health unit at the IHC Hospital in St. George, Utah, and the LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. He has worked in multiple levels of behavioral health treatment settings including inpatient, outpatient, wilderness, and a number of residential programs. He has grown to love treating the adolescent and young adult population and customizes every treatment plan to their unique situation. His theory on medication management is to use the least amount of medication possible to stabilize the individual. This in turn allows the patient to develop appropriate coping skills and to not always have to rely on medication to solve the problem at hand. He is also licensed in the State of Nevada where he serves the underprivileged population in Southern Nevada. While he’s not treating patients, he spends his time as an elementary and middle school Lacrosse coach, mountain biking, spends time with his granddaughter, and also enjoys RVing with his family.
David Thibault, APRN - Psychiatric Care Provider
I'm a passionate nurse with experience in residential treatment with adolescents and extensive work as an RN at St. George Regional Hospital. I've had the privilege of working in various units, including Surgical, COVID, and Observation, while also serving as a Charge Nurse. My educational journey led me to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing at Duke University, specializing as a Family Nurse Practitioner in Pediatric Behavioral and Mental Health. Currently, I'm pursuing a doctorate degree at Duke, focusing on researching the impact of sleep and sleep hygiene practices on adolescent depression. I'm an active member of the Beta Epsilon Chapter of The Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and have a deep commitment to excellence in my profession. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wonderful family, including my wife, two beautiful girls, and energetic dogs. As a devoted Duke Blue Devils fan, I enthusiastically support their football, basketball, and lacrosse teams.
In my practice, I have a strong affinity for working with children and adolescents, helping them overcome challenges related to depression, ADHD, anxiety, and other disorders. I believe in taking a holistic approach that considers not only medication but also their day-to-day needs and physiological factors impacting their well-being.
Brenton Cieslinski – Supervising RN
Brenton Cieslinski received an Associate of Science Degree and graduated from Dixie State University’s Nursing program. Along with the Liahona Treatment Center, he also works in the Emergency Department at Dixie Regional Medical Center where he has obtained BLS and ACLS certifications. He and his wife of 9 years have have two sons and have resided in St. George since they were married. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, outdoor recreation, basketball, tennis, hunting, and fishing.
Aaron Lawley - RN
Aaron Lawley grew up in Moab, UT and received a Bachelor’s of Nursing
degree at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, UT. Aaron has been a licensed RN since January of 2016. After serving a two-year volunteer charity mission in Chile, he met and married his wife Katie. They’ve been married for 9 years. Aaron is fluent in Spanish and loves working with and helping the patients that are admitted into Liahona Academy. In addition to his RN work at Liahona Academy, Aaron works at the IHC InstaCare facility in Cedar City, Utah. Aaron enjoys spending time with family, being outdoors, working on and running RC cars and working out.
Ammon Haymond – RN
Ammon has lived in the St George area ever since he got home from serving a two-year mission in the Philippines and loves it here. Ammon became an EMT in high school and decided he wanted to pursue a career in the medical field. He received his nursing degree from Utah Tech University. He has worked in RTCs for over 6 years and loves the mental health field of nursing. He and his wife have a beautiful baby girl and two German shepherds. If there is one thing in this life Ammon wishes he could avoid, it would be airplanes-unless he had the money to always fly first class. During his time away from school and work, Ammon loves taking his family hiking, watching and playing sports, buying the latest Air Jordan’s, and traveling.
Mental Health Clinicians
Brian Parker, MS, LMFT - Clinical Director of Therapy
Brian Parker MS, LMFT, AAMFT Supervisor Candidate is a licensed marriage and family
therapist with the state of Utah. Mr. Parker received his Bachelor's Degree in psychology from Southern Utah University, and his Master's degree in counseling/marriage and family therapy at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is a member of Psi Chi, a National Honor Society in Psychology, and a Clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Brian Parker has worked as a therapist for adolescents in a residential treatment setting since January of 2000. He was born and raised in Alberta, Canada and became a citizen of the US several years ago. He and his wife have four children. He enjoys the outdoors, sports and spending time with his family. Brian continues to maintain a small private practice in St. George which he started in 2003, helping individuals and families with a variety of issues. He specializes in working with individuals and their families in addressing issues with defiant attitudes/ behaviors, depression, and improving family dynamics. Brian's clinical experience has enabled him to work effectively with adolescents and their families towards successful resolutions and positive outcomes.
Lawrence Bradley, LMFT - Therapist
Larry Bradley is a Marriage and Family Therapist and has been practicing in St. George for
the past 14 years, both in private practice and in youth residential care. He has written two books based in the recent research of Epigenetics and its application to mental health care. Larry completed his undergraduate work at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) in Psychology and holds a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Hope International University (HIU).
Larry’s focus in helping people overcome issues is unique and is informed by the most recent research in the fields of Epigenetics. The source of almost any human struggle, Larry says, is due to cellularly stored learning and memory. At the most basic level, we develop and store at the cellular level beliefs about how we see our self. These beliefs are biological entities that influence all aspects of our lives. They are largely programmed in us due to our ongoing perceptions of our life experience. Depending upon what we come to believe about our self will continue to shape ongoing experience. Larry’s work is specific in helping people dismiss any distortions found in unhealthy personal belief and then to develop a very healthy and truthful view of themselves.
Larry has successfully launched six children himself and now is in that perfect season of life to enjoy being an empty nester and a devoted grandfather.
Jared Jensen, LMFT - Therapist
Jared Jensen has been working clinically with adolescents for the past 11 + years. He started working with the adolescent population in the arena of wilderness therapy. This allowed Jared to combine two of his passions. A deep love and connection to nature and desire to help adolescents who are struggling in navigating life’s challenges. Jared’s desire to work with adolescents initially came from some of his own challenges he went through as a teenager, then grew further when becoming a father and seeing the complicated modern world kids grow up in, along with understanding parenting is a difficult task. After working in wilderness therapy, Jared continued working with adolescents both male and female in residential treatment programs and is now happy to be part of Liahona Academy joining them in 2023. Jared earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Utah(Go Utes!) in 2003, and applied his education in sales and marketing opportunities with pharmaceutical companies across the United States. In 2009 while living and working in Virginia, Jared with his wife's support decided to make a big career switch, eventually earning a graduate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Argosy University/The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Jared has been married to his wife Keri for 29 years and considers himself lucky to be able to share in her rich Maori culture. Together they were blessed with 4 amazing children. Jared is passionate about the outdoors and enjoys watching baseball, football, and rugby. A proud alum of the University of Utah and a devout supporter of their football program. He loves live music and attending performances of his favorite artists/bands when he has the opportunity.
Michael Goodman, MFT - Therapist
Michael Goodman was born and raised in St. George. He graduated from Snow Canyon High School and completed the Airframe and Powerplant program at Dixie College before serving a two-year mission for his church in Adelaide, Australia. After returning from his mission, Michael graduated from Utah State University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering with an Aerospace emphasis. After graduation, he married his sweetheart and they moved to Wyoming and he spent seven years working as a field engineer, travelling to various states and countries as a specialist in cutting-edge horizontal well logging technologies. As the time demands of life in the oilfield started conflicting with the priority of his wife and three young children, Michael decided to return to St. George and started a small woodworking business with his father and his brother. Several years later, He decided to follow his passion for teaching and counseling and become a Marriage and Family Therapist. He recently completed his clinical work and will be graduating with a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northcentral University. Michael is a member of the Delta Kappa Honors Society for Marriage and Family Therapy, and has been working with Liahona Academy since 2019 as a teacher and a shift supervisor. Michael and his beautiful wife Raquel are happy to be raising their four beautiful children in his hometown of St. George.
Garth Lasater MSW, CSW - Therapist
Garth Lasater brings to Liahona Academy over 25 years of working in residential treatment programs here in Southern Utah. He specializes in assisting male adolescent’s and their families in trauma-informed treatment, anxiety and depression, substance abuse related disorders, oppositional defiance and other family system challenges. He uses a variety of sophisticated treatment modalities; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and the use of Polyvagal Theory. He has also received training and certification in Attachment & Trauma Focused Therapy (ATFT). He has extensive clinical experience providing individual, group, and family therapy, teaching dyadic life-skills and educating the family to maintain sustained recovery.
Garth received his Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Brigham Young University and his Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. He is the proud recipient of the Eli Lilly ( a pharmaceutical company) for his work in clinical depression treatment and has extensive training in specialized addictions such as pornography and those that involve substance use. Garth has experience in the utilization of the 12-Step Model, and training in the Seven Challenges curriculum.
Prior to his moving to Southern Utah 25 plus years ago and becoming intimately involved in the residential treatment experience with adolescents his experience has included the following; being the Outpatient Director for the Utah Alcoholism Foundation’s Central Utah Treatment Center, where he also worked with those that were in their inpatient unit, he also worked with the Utah State Division of Family Services where he was active in being an advocate for those children who had no voice in their trauma experience.
Garth has been married to his beautiful and supportive wife Amy for over thirty-four years and we are the proud parents of three children and by February of 2023 ten grandchildren (twin boys due the end of October, 2022) who are the love of our lives. When Garth is not with his wife or with his children and grandchildren you can find him watching sports, hanging with his dog Ozzie and just relaxing at home. We do travel here and there a little.
I am truly excited to be part of such a dynamic team here at Liahona Academy and look forward to meeting each and every one of you.
Academics
Dr. Roy Hoyt - Academic Director
Dr. Hoyt’s educational experience spans 38 years as teacher and administrator. He started his teaching career in Burley, Idaho as an American Government teacher and coach. He moved to Hurricane, Utah to be a high school assistant principal at Hurricane High School in the Washington School District. During his 25 years in the Washington School District, he was a high school assistant principal, middle school principal, and high school principal. He was also the Superintendent of Big Horn County School District #4 in Wyoming from 2014 to 2016. Roy was an Adjunct Professor for Dixie State University in St. George, Utah, where he taught Educational Psychology and Human Exceptionalities. Roy completed his Bachelor of Science at the University of Utah, Master’s Degree at the College of Idaho, and Educational Doctorate at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. He has been a Lead Evaluator for school accreditation visits for many years to public, charter, digital, and residential treatment schools. He recently worked as field consultant for AdvancED. Dr. Hoyt enjoys spending his extra time in Central American, rafting rivers in the west, and riding his bicycles on local roads and trails. He sees working at Liahona Academy as a wonderful opportunity to contribute his skills as an educator and work with great many people.
Marsha Postert - Assistant Academic Director
Marsha grew up in Hurricane. She comes from a large family. She is the 7th child of 12 siblings. She graduated from Hurricane High School in 1986. She worked for 2 ½ years at a youth treatment facility for girls. She moved away for a time and missed the small town and all it offers, so she moved back. She attended Dixie College, then decided on a career in finance. She was a Construction Loan Specialist for 12 years. After leaving the finance industry, she chose to do foster care for 7 years. She also worked for Washington County School District as a paraprofessional in the Special Education department. She came to work at Liahona in 2014 as a teacher before taking the position of Assist Academic Director. She is married with 3 boys. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, baking, and reading. She feels that by working at Liahona she is contributing to a larger purpose. She is proud to be part of the personal development and growth of the young men who attend Liahona. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.
