Havenwood Academy Podcast
Hosted by Josh Gardner - CFO of Havenwood Academy - this show takes you behind the scenes of Havenwood Academy, a world-class residential treatment center in Cedar City, Utah.
Each episode shares real stories from our dedicated care providers - the people on the front lines helping young women heal from complex trauma, rebuild trust, and reclaim hope. You’ll hear the challenges, breakthroughs, and deeply human moments that make this work life-changing.
If you care about mental health, trauma-informed care, and the power of community, this is your inside look at how resilience is built and lives are transformed.
Havenwood Academy Podcast
Kristi Peterson, Clinical Director at Havenwood Academy
In this episode, Josh Gardner sits down with Kristi Peterson, Clinical Director at Havenwood Academy, to talk about her journey into residential treatment, why she came back after a brief break, and what makes Havenwood’s clinical model so unique. Kristi shares insights on trauma-informed care, attachment-focused treatment, and the importance of relational approaches in working with adolescents.
They also discuss Havenwood’s impressive 82% program completion rate, the role of advanced therapeutic modalities like EMDR, neurofeedback, and DBT, and how Kristi and her team foster resilience in some of the most acute cases. This conversation is a deep dive into what it takes to create lasting impact in residential treatment—and the passion that drives Havenwood forward.
Josh (00:00)
Christy. Welcome to the HavenRib podcast.
Kristi Peterson (00:01)
Thank you, thanks for having me.
Josh (00:04)
So, Christy, maybe just introduce yourself, tell us your name and your role here at Havenwood.
Kristi Peterson (00:09)
Okay. I'm Kristi Peterson and I am the clinical director here at Havenwood.
Josh (00:14)
How did you get into your profession?
Kristi Peterson (00:17)
That’s a great question. I think from a young age, I really knew I wanted to go into some aspect of this world… [continues]
Josh (01:18)
So you ended up taking a little break a couple of years ago from residential and came right back. So what puts you right back?
Kristi Peterson (01:19)
Yeah… I think I was born for the crisis part of residential treatment… [continues]
Josh (02:20)
You joined Havenwood a year and a half ago. What was different about Havenwood that made you interested in joining our company?
Kristi Peterson (02:23)
I spent the majority of my career in private residential treatment… What attracted me to Havenwood was the chance to bring the same quality of care to kids who don’t normally have access… [continues]
Josh (04:46)
We’ve been able to increase our program completion rate up to 82%. What do you think is contributing to that success, especially with such an acute population?
Kristi Peterson (05:18)
I think it’s the vision of Havenwood and the focus on attachment issues… using EMDR, brain spotting, neurofeedback… and creating a safe place to heal… [continues]
Josh (06:56)
We’re hiring for a therapist right now at Havenwood. If you were speaking to a potential applicant, what would you tell them about this role and what makes our clinical team unique?
Kristi Peterson (06:57)
Our clinical team is just fun—we love working together and with the kids. We’re collaborative, growth-minded, and passionate about our craft… [continues]
Josh (09:55)
When you’re speaking with a parent who feels hesitant to place their child in treatment, what do you say?
Kristi Peterson (10:00)
I always try to honor the humbleness of asking for help to raise your own child. We reassure them that our goal is reunification and that we are an extension of their family… [continues]
Josh (12:42)
You’re a big fan of psychological testing. Tell us about your process.
Kristi Peterson (12:46)
When I review testing, I’m looking at IQ, processing speed, trauma history, family dynamics… It helps me match kids with the right therapist and treatment path… [continues]
Josh (15:43)
What’s a story where testing has informed or changed your clinical approach?
Kristi Peterson (15:55)
We had a student initially treated for PTSD, but new testing revealed a personality disorder. We shifted treatment toward DBT—and the results were transformative… [continues]
Josh (18:37)
You’ve mentioned DBT. Tell us more about its role in trauma treatment and how you use it at Havenwood.
Kristi Peterson (18:40)
I fell in love with DBT after seeing its impact on self-harm. It gives kids tools in mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness—helping them take suicide off the table… [continues]
Josh (21:32)
Tell us about how Havenwood uses Bruce Perry’s 6 Rs.
Kristi Peterson (21:35)
The 6 Rs—relational, repetitive, respect, relevant, rhythmic, and rewarding—are woven into our program design, from play therapy to daily routines… [continues]
Josh (23:12)
What role do experiential therapies like equine, rec therapy, and neurofeedback play in treatment?
Kristi Peterson (23:23)
Equine builds attachment and safety, rec therapy challenges kids in growth experiences, and neurofeedback helps rewire the brain with concrete results… [continues]
Josh (26:32)
What do you want your legacy and impact at Havenwood to be?
Kristi Peterson (26:42)
I want to be remembered as someone who cared deeply, made decisions with the kids’ best interests in mind, and helped build a program that transforms crisis into capability… [continues]
