TIMOTHY A. BROCKMAN — Program Director

Tim Brockman founded Odyssey Wilderness Programs by combining his passions for coastal backpacking and sailing with a clinical model of change. Tim uses his knowledge and experience of wilderness therapy to train, mentor and model how to use the dynamic learning environments of the coast and ocean effectively with students. His specialty is working with oppositional defiant adolescents and broken families who need additional resources and strategies to re-connect with themselves and each other, and how to identify and utilize their strengths. Tim’s experience in the field as an instructor, therapist and educator provide the Odyssey program with a high level of support and accountability. Tim not only has experience in an office and management setting, but has gained much of his expertise by spending over 400 days leading groups of struggling teenagers in the Idaho desert and the pristine coast of Washington. In his “free” time, Tim enjoys building wooden boats, running, finding moments of solitude and of course, sailing.

SARAH J. BROCKMAN — Admissions Director

Born and raised in Bellingham, WA, Sarah Brockman deeply appreciates the environment of the Pacific Northwest as an ideal platform for learning, growth and change to take place. Sarah began her wilderness therapy career as a field instructor and believes her intimate knowledge of what students experience on trail adds to her ability to communicate the Odyssey program to parents. Sarah recognizes that enrolling your child in a wilderness program is one of the biggest and most important decisions you will make. The greatest joy she receives from her job is when parents believe their child can change, decide to take the step, and feel a renewed sense of hope when they apply for the program. Although available by phone 24-7, when Sarah is not working in Odyssey’s office, she is probably cooking in her kitchen, pulling weeds in the garden, or enjoying some other simple aspect of life. Sarah also has a lifelong interest in the arts and enjoys painting and making fine jewelry to sell in local markets and galleries.

DR. EVAN B. FREEDMAN, M.A., P.H.D. — Consulting Psychologist

Dr. Evan B. Freedman, a Licensed Psychologist, received his Ph.D. and M.A. in Clinical Psychology as well as his Master’s in Theological Studies. Dr. Freedman joins Odyssey after working with children, families and adults for over fifteen years. A former Outward Bound instructor who has led and supervised therapeutic wilderness programs Dr. Freedman enjoys consulting with Odyssey's Treatment Team and overseeing treatment plans as they are developed and implemented for each student. When requested, Dr. Freedman also provides psychological and psychoeducational evaluations for students mid-session. The on-site clinical interviews, written reports of testing results, and consultation with parents and professionals included in Dr. Freedman's evaluations help to refine both immediate treatment goals and future recommendations for students and their families.

In his clinical practice, Dr. Freedman specializes in autism spectrum disorders, neurodevelopmental and learning disabilities, ADHD and more severe child and adolescent psychopathology. Dr. Freedman performs psychological evaluations for children and adults in a variety of clinical and legal settings, as well as serves as an expert witness. He has also been Clinical Director for two mental health agencies, is actively involved in writing and speaking on a variety of topics related to child and adolescent mental health, and presently is the director of his own group psychotherapy practice, Freedman and Associates.

JESSI E. BROWN, M.S., L.M.H.C., L.P.C. — Therapist

Jessi is a licensed therapist in Washington and Colorado. She holds three university degrees (an Associate’s in Outdoor Recreation Leadership, a Bachelor’s in Psychology, and a Master’s in Counseling Psychology) and comes to Odyssey with eight years of experience counseling adolescents, adults, families, couples, and children. She has worked as a therapist in a variety of settings, including wilderness, public schools, residential programs, hospitals, and community mental health centers. Jessi has spent the past six years developing and directing therapeutic programs for at-risk youth and their families. She is passionate about experiential education and service learning. Jessi enjoys teaching young people the value of the natural world, while using the outdoors as a vehicle for positive change and a tool for understanding the elements and intricacies of interpersonal relationships. In her spare time, she likes hiking and camping with her dogs, backcountry Nordic skiing, and sea kayaking.

DR. NATE E. REISS, P.H.D. — Field Therapist

Dr. Nate Reiss, a Licensed Psychologist, holds his Ph.D. and M.A. in Clinical Psychology and has joined Odyssey after years of professional experience working with children, adolescents and families in in-patient hospitals, community mental health agencies and university counseling centers. He has a special interest in working with chemical dependency and substance abuse and has run treatment groups for teenagers in the court diversion program as well as dual disorder groups for adults.

Dr. Reiss is a native of Boulder, Colorado where he grew up hiking, skiing, and backpacking the Rocky Mountains. He is energized by the outdoors and finds that it is a uniquely effective environment for working with young adults who are struggling to make good choices. Nate is a former professional road cyclist and finds that wilderness therapy blends well with his background in sport and performance psychology and with his love of natural settings. For “fun” he enjoys running, triathlon, sailing, surf-ski kayaking, fly-fishing and skiing/snowboarding.