Before pursuing her passion for helping people move forward in their life journey, Danielle Andrews began her career in the business sector, gathering over a decade of experience. During this time, she worked in the Chicago suburb’s corporate landscape specializing in effective mediation strategies, labor and employee relations, leadership development, collective bargaining, and employment law. As she climbed the corporate ladder, Danielle realized that her role became less about relationships and working with people and more about blueprint conflict resolution and policy. She decided to go back to school to add on to her bachelor’s in psychology. In 2010, she received her masters in counseling (LCMHC) from Naropa University in Boulder, CO, with a concentration in wilderness therapy. Her studies brought her to Western North Carolina, where she became a primary therapist for a young adult recovery program specializing in addiction, trauma, and PTSD. From here, Danielle accepted a position to develop an aftercare program for Solstice East graduates and their families, one of the first programs of its kind. In 2015, Danielle joined Solstice East full time as its first Aftercare Specialist. Since then, she has helped hundreds of families on their path to transitioning home.
Danielle has astutely combined her experience in conflict resolution, systemic change management, and counseling, among other areas of knowledge, into enthusiastically working with adolescents and their families. In 2020, Danielle became the Director of Transitional Services for Solstice East and its sister program Journey Home East. Beyond her expertise in post-treatment aftercare, Danielle also specializes in addiction, anxiety and depression, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), borderline personality disorder, and attachment issues. She is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Brainspotting, Somatic Psychotherapy, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). She is Certified as a Family Trauma Professional (CFTP).
When she’s not providing support for students at Solstice East and Journey Home East, Danielle can be found enjoying outdoor activities like mountain biking, snowboarding, and tennis, or visiting with friends and family. She is an avid learner and continues to seek fulfillment through personal growth and education. One of her favorite pastimes is sipping tea on her front porch in the company of her rescue dogs.
Bri graduated in 2009 from the University of North Carolina Wilmington with a Bachelors degree in Psychology. Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, Bri moved to Asheville after a year of backpacking internationally. Bri intended to stay in Asheville only temporarily but quickly fell in love with the mountains and her Solstice family. Bri started with Solstice as a Mentor and then Team Manager before moving into the Residential Director role. She feels both pride and gratitude to be a part of the growth and healing she’s seen in students and their families during her time at Solstice. In her free time, Bri is often getting as much of the outdoors as possible. She enjoys hiking, canoeing, biking, and running.
Kaitlyn will graduate from Lenoir-Rhyne University with my Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling the Summer of 2019. As a practicum student, she has worked in a day treatment program and outpatient services with youth. She counseled a diverse caseload of children and families using trauma-informed psychotherapy while integrating expressive therapy modalities including art, movement, and play. She had previously done a clinical internship at Solstice East and has specialized training in Brainspotting therapy. She worked with residents on issues of attachment, trauma, family systems, and issues related to identity and relationships. She has also worked at Solstice for three years as a Senior Lead Mentor. Kaitlyn said, “I am grateful to be apart of the sacred work that happens at Solstice, and I am looking forward to becoming apart of the Journey Home family and do the work alongside you all to guide these incredible humans to be ever braver, bolder, and brighter.” When she is not working, Kaitlyn enjoys the simple and small joys — mornings with her husband, a good cappuccino, thrift store finds, a home cooked meal, driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway. She is also an avid explorer and enjoys finding new places to adventure.
Mary Bolgan received her bachelor’s degree in Public Health (minor in psychology) from the University of South Carolina in 2017. Mary was also a member of USC’s varsity swim team her freshman year. Following her “retirement” from swimming, she took an interest in distance running, and most recently found a passion for weight lifting and functional fitness. This led to her becoming a certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine this past February while she was working at Gold’s Gym here in Asheville. Mary has always had a passion for the mental health field, and started working at Solstice East in March. Working at Solstice has inspired Mary to go back to school this fall, and she will be pursuing her Masters in Social work through LSU online. Mary is so excited to combine her love of fitness and mental health by becoming the fitness coordinator at journey home. Being an active member of the Asheville recovery community herself, Mary is passionate about helping others incorporate fitness into their recovery, as rediscovering her love of fitness has been a key part in her own recovery. When she is not working, Mary enjoys working out, hiking, or doing absolutely nothing while cuddling with her hound dog, Luna.
