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
Riley Anguiano, Therapist at Havenwood Academy
In this episode, therapist Riley Anguiano shares her journey to Havenwood Academy, what a typical day looks like on the clinical team, and the intentional habits she practices to stay grounded outside of work. She opens up about what healing truly looks like, why progress is often seen in small glimmers, and the moments that remind her Havenwood is different. Riley also touches on her personal path toward full licensure and the exciting developments within the team as they evolve and improve systems in Cedar City.
A short, honest, and heartfelt look at the people behind the mission.
Production Team (00:00)
What is your name, role, and what inspired you to join Havenwood Academy?
Riley Anguiano (00:05)
My name is Riley Anguiano. I'm a therapist here at Havenwood and my primary interest in coming to work here is I was living in cold Eastern Idaho before I got this job opportunity, and I love the mission statement behind Havenwood and trying to provide world-class treatment to girls that might not otherwise receive it.
So I kind of just wanted to try something, and also it's a lot warmer down here than up in Eastern Idaho.
Production Team (00:35)
What does a Havenwood day look like? Can you walk us through a day in your life?
Riley Anguiano (00:40)
I think I would say exciting because every single day is not the same, which is kind of nice to be on your toes and always trying new things with the kids.
A day in the life—most days I have family sessions, so the kids and I meet with their parents for a bit and then bring them in for their session with their family. I do individual sessions throughout the day, scattered in there—checking in with the kids, doing some work, focusing on their goals.
Something I like is that the clinical team and any staff who have time during lunch will sit and eat lunch together if our schedules align. Then we do groups throughout the week. Pretty much the same schedule every day, just different kids and different situations to handle.
Production Team (01:34)
What is something intentional that you do behind the scenes that outsiders may not see or recognize?
Riley Anguiano (01:41)
I think something that I do intentionally behind the scenes is I'm a pretty big health nerd right now. I'm very active in the gym, I have a trainer—just things that help me decompress outside of work.
Production Team (01:57)
And what has this experience taught you about healing?
Riley Anguiano (02:01)
I think the biggest thing I've learned about healing while being here at Havenwood is that healing is not linear. There's not a step-by-step guide. It's constantly going to be messy and there's no single path to it. And it's not like once you're healed, you're healed—things come and go, and that's just how it is.
Production Team (02:30)
Share a moment that made you think “this is why Havenwood is different.”
Riley Anguiano (02:35)
For me, I can tell when kids start pointing things out themselves in session without me having to say something. When they say, “Yeah, I told them how I felt instead of screaming in their face,” I think—that’s a moment. That's a step down the path. Small glimmers like that show they're making progress, even when they don't realize it.
Production Team (03:02)
What is one surprising fact about you that people may not know?
Riley Anguiano (03:05)
First one that comes to mind is I did choir for eight or nine years. I still enjoy singing but I'm not in any choir now. It was from elementary school through the end of high school.
Production Team (03:22)
And finally, do you have anything exciting going on? Anything on the horizon? Upcoming projects?
Riley Anguiano (03:27)
For me personally, I'm working toward full licensure, so that's something on the horizon. We have some new people here at Havenwood in Cedar City, and they're working hard to alter systems and tweak things. I think that's exciting for everyone—going down a different path and learning new ways to work together.
