The Aspiro Group is proud to announce the appointment of David Hillstead, Ph.D., LMFT, as Director of Clinical Services and Carl Smoot, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, as Associate Clinical Director!
Aspiro provides dynamic and clinically advanced outdoor behavioral health services for adolescent and young adult males and females. Our pioneering adventure programming provides unmatched opportunities for building empowerment, self-efficacy, relationships, adaptive skills, goals, motivation, and enhanced self-determination.
David Hillstead, Ph.D., LMFT - Clinical Director
David brings more than 14 years of wilderness therapy experience to this new role as Director of Clinical Services. He will assure the highest quality of clinical service delivery and make sure our team is providing unmatched consultation, communication and follow up with parents and referring professionals.
"In addition to being one of the finest human beings I have the privilege to know, Dr. David Hillstead is without a doubt the most experienced and skilled clinical interventionist I have ever known." said Gordon L. Day, Ph.D., Aspiro Executive Director. "His ability to understand his students and parents, gain their confidence, intervene and communicate with laser like precision is uncanny. He has long been expanding the clinical acumen of our program and our approach. Our entire team loves and respects David and we couldn't hope for a better clinical leader to move Aspiro into the future!
Says David, "I am honored and grateful to transition into the role of Clinical Director at Aspiro. Honored because Aspiro continues to provide cutting edge interventions that consistently use unique and revolutionary adventure itineraries and grateful because the Aspiro team of clinicians has always treated me with compassion and respect. This is a rare team, highly motivated and incredibly supportive."
Carl Smoot, Ph.D. - Associate Clinical Director
Dr. Smoot brings more than 15 years of professional clinical work to his role as Associate Clinical Director. He will continue to provide services as a primary therapist as well as program evaluation, assessment, research, and clinical consultations.
Dr. Day stated, "Anyone who knows Carl knows he is a gifted psychologist and evaluator. His work in assessing program effectiveness, expanding our assessment options, and clinical consultations on complex cases has been invaluable. Carl's ability to assess students and families and create clear, effective goals and criteria for success is so important to our treatment outcomes at Aspiro. We have seen very complex clinical cases succeed beyond the most optimistic expectations due to Carl's clinical leadership. I am so proud to have him in such an important role at Aspiro. Beyond his professional gifts, Carl is a warm, genuine human being and a good friend. He cracks me up and can still catch fish!"
We could not be more excited for the direction Aspiro is going, and look forward to many, many more years of continued success!
Regards,
Josh Watson, LCSW
Director of Marketing and Admissions
Aspiro Groupfamily of programs are based on a Wilderness Adventure Therapy (WAT) model. The Aspiro family of programs are a hybrid between traditional wilderness therapy, and adventure programs such as Outward Bound or NOLS.