Colin Walsh, LCMHCA
Program Director
Colin has spent over 12 years working with adolescents in a variety of therapeutic settings and programs. After graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in Fine Art, he moved to England and taught art to teens in the British prison system while also helping run a local youth-group. While he was in England, he also owned a small cafe and spent time exploring as much of Europe as he could, on his bike.
After moving back to the United States, he spent six years working for a wilderness therapy program in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate NY. What he thought would be a six-month job turned into a career once he realized the amazing opportunity wilderness provides for youth and their families. Helping young people and their families to transform pain and struggle into strengths, accomplishments, and connections became a passion for him. His career in wilderness therapy has encompassed many roles including: Field Instructor, Field Team Management, and finally shifted fully into the role of Family Program Coordinator.
Colin and his wife moved their family to the Big Island of Hawaii when the opportunity to help run the family component of a Horticultural Therapy program presented itself. Colin has also worked as a primary therapist in an adult addiction rehabilitation facility and had the privilege of launching a therapeutic boarding school for boys with substance abuse and mental health struggles.
Colin is excited to be at SUWS because it provides the opportunity to utilize his passion for teaching and having fun while using the natural world as his classroom. While you used to find him in his workshop making furniture, mountain biking, and climbing the local spots, he now spends his free time with his three sons, wife, and therapy dog “Scout”. He may be found hiking the trails of NC or watching his oldest play soccer! He plans to have his woodworking workshop back in gear soon.
