Salt Lake City, Utah
Kristi Ragsdale, Executive Director
801-449-0089
Kristi@evacarlston.com
evacarlston.com

Eva Carlston Academy serves adolescent girls between the ages of 12-18 affected by issues like depression, anxiety, ADHD, learning issues, emerging personality disorders, and self-harm. They also work with addictions, eating disorders, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, trauma, and low self-esteem. Treatment includes issues arising from adoption and attachment issues, as well as emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. The medical staff can safely accommodate those with a variety of medical issues, including diabetes and special dietary restrictions.

Kristi Ragsdale, MPA, is the Executive Director. She received her Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Utah, has extensive experience working with families and youth, and has served in a variety of positions within residential treatment. Sue Johansen-Hoffman, LCSW, is the Clinical Director. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree from Utah State University in Family and Human Studies, a Master’s degree from the University of Utah, and has worked for seventeen years in child welfare supporting families in crisis, holding a variety of positions including Outreach Worker, Program Director and Executive Director of a child abuse shelter in Northern Utah. Shelly Burruss, BS, is Program Director. She has a bachelor’s degree in social work and criminal justice, has worked in residential treatment for over five years, and has extensive experience in program management and working with the Family Teaching model.

Eva Carlston runs the program in three houses in urban Salt Lake City, the intention to give girls an intimate sense of home as well as access to the cultural resources and opportunities of a large city. In this family-style setting, girls learn a strength-based approach to skill-building, problem-solving and emotional regulation, social-skills development, and preparation for independent living. Eva Carlston Academy’s academic program is accredited through AdvancED and offers fully transferable credits and transcripts. Students who complete high school at Eva Carlston Academy receive a diploma from the State of Utah. Teachers are certified and use a combination of didactic, Socratic, group, and interactive-online instruction. Specific clinical therapy uses the Teaching-Family Model, Individual Therapy, Family Therapy, Recreational Therapy, Group Therapy, Art as Therapy, Addictions & Substance Abuse, Addictions Group, and Substance Abuse Group.

This information came from the Eva Carlston Academy website in 2014.