Heather Menzie, MA
Adolescent Clinical Therapist & Family Quest Coordinator
Heather grew up in Westford, Massachusetts. In 2000, she graduated with a BA in English from the College of William and Mary and ventured out west to become a wilderness guide in 2001. Heather guided for Arkansas River Tours for seven years, leading trips for families, youth groups, and organizations focused on team-building and deepening communication skills. Heather has led several specialized trips for people that are blind, have brain injuries, and are terminally ill. In Boulder, Colorado, Heather spent two summers leading trips for the Women’s Wilderness Institute, a non-profit company focused on strengthening the courage, leadership, and confidence qualities of girls and women through individual and community-based challenges.
Heather spent three years working as a teacher at Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado and Andover High School in Massachusetts. She worked with people with developmental disabilities, mood disorders, emotional and behavioral issues, traumas, and substance abuse and dependence. During this time, Heather integrated yoga, hiking, and "just sitting by the lake" to the daily school schedule.
In 2003, Heather became a field guide for Wilderness Quest, a wilderness therapy program in southeast Utah. She taught wilderness survival skills and facilitated therapeutic groups to help students achieve changes in substance use/abuse and personal responsibility. She has found wilderness to be a resource for the students she has worked with.
Inspired by walking alongside her students, Heather chose to further her education. In 2008, Heather completed her graduate degree from Naropa University in Transpersonal Psychology, emphasizing in Wilderness Therapy. In 2007, Heather worked as the clinical intern for Open Sky.
Heather is presently a therapist at Open Sky, working primarily with females in the adolescent and adult groups. Integrating body-centered psychotherapy and experiential psychotherapy, Heather supports her students in healing from past traumas, anxiety, and depression through mind/body-based practices. Heather encourages her students to empower themselves through learning and practicing stress management skills and assertive communication tools.
Heather also coordinates and facilitates family quests, which are customized therapeutic wilderness trips for families. Heather works closely with the clinical and wellness teams, the student, and family members in creating and executing a therapeutic wilderness adventure for the family in need. Heather has led siblings, single families, and groups of families on quests. Adventure components such as river rafting/canoeing, backpacking, climbing, or equine therapy are additional components to the family quest. Heather’s creativity and ability to implement the family quest component, compliment Open Sky’s focus on family therapy. Heather has found Open Sky to be congruent with her values in its holistic approach to develop wellness and strengthen relationships. Her heart is open to offering her experience and to holding sacred and safe space for students and their families.
