Blackwater's Team
Blackwater's staff is highly educated and trained in the necessary skills to provide our clients the highest level of therapeutic care while ensuring their safety in a wilderness setting.
Medical Director:
George M. Bright, M.D.
Recently designated an expert on ADHD by the American Medical Association, Dr. Bright has devoted a majority of his career towards working with adolescents, young adults and families who struggle with emotional, academic and social challenges. Additionally, Dr. Bright works with individuals who are trying to free themselves from their dependance on alcohol or drugs.
Dr. Bright started Blackwater Outdoor Experiences 30 years ago with the goal of providing young adults and adolescents with a program that would allow individuals to address their challenges or addictions in a wilderness environment under the supervision of trained therapists. Dr. Bright does not consider Blackwater's program to be a cure for individuals, but rather a powerful, positive stepping stone as part of a long term treatment program.
In addition to overseeing Blackwater, Dr. Bright also runs The Adolescent and Family Health Center that provides medical & psychological treatment and addressed the educational, vocational and recreational needs of participants and their families. To learn more about Dr. Bright, please click here.
Lead Field Therapist:
Chelsea Stipe, M.A.
Chelsea is a field therapist for Blackwater Outdoor Experiences, working with youth and young adults struggling with low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, academic challenges and other issues. Chelsea’s clinical interests include treatment of oppositional defiance, mood disorders, and the group therapeutic process. Additionally, Chelsea is interested in experiential education and has developed a love for the changing power of the outdoors. To learn more about Chelsea, please click here.
Field Therapist:
Amy Tice, M.A., Ed., Resident in Counseling
Amy is a Counselor in Residence and Field Therapist for Blackwater Outdoor Experiences. She earned her Master of Arts and Educational Specialist degrees in Community Counseling from James Madison University. Through out her education, Amy worked to integrate her development as a counselor with her interest in wilderness therapy. Amy firmly believes that the wilderness naturally teaches about actions and consequences and stimulates change, while also promoting healing and personal growth. For her Ed.S. project, Amy created a staff-training curriculum for an adventure-based peer-counseling pilot program for college students demonstrating high-risk alcohol-related behaviors.
Amy’s clinical experience includes a practicum experience in the Counseling and Student Development Center at JMU; providing case management, assessment, individual, group, and family mental health and substance abuse counseling and experiential treatment to adolescents in a wilderness therapy program in Alaska; co-facilitating groups in an intensive outpatient treatment program, group therapy on a hospital Mental Health Unit, in the Partial Hospitalization Program, and for the Medically Assisted Recovery Group; and providing intensive individual and family counseling, assessment services and case management and coordination for children and youth at risk of being removed from their home.
Margie L. Crow, L.C.S.W.,
Margie brings to Blackwater Outdoor Experiences (BOE) and Adolescent & Family Health Center (AFHC) a deep understanding of the needs of families and expertise in family counseling from over 15 years of directing community mental health programs. Prior to joining BOE & AFHC, Mrs. Crow was the Clinical Director of Crossroads Community Services Board. While at Crossroads, Margie developed programs and provided mental health services to children, adolescents and families.
Margie is a graduate of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work and completed internships at Long Island Jewish Hospital, Hillside Division of Child/Adolescent Care and St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Stan Tebbe, M.A., L.P.C.,
Stan brings to BOE and AFHC over 30 years of experience in areas of substance abuse, adolescent and family counseling, anger management and corporate teamwork. Prior to joining AFHC, Stan served in the capacities of therapist, consultant and administrator with several community services boards since 1973. Mr. Tebbe designed and implemented public relations programs to coordinate community resources. Additionally, Stan has conducted workshops on various topics from anger management, stress management and assertiveness training for adolescents and adults.
Stan received his B.A. in Psychology from Quincy College in Illinois, his Masters in Clinical Psychology from Illinois State University and completed thirteen graduate hours in substance abuse counseling at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Business Manager:
Jennifer H. Weddle,
MSHA
Jennifer has worked with medical practices throughout Richmond for the past 25 years. She has a her bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of Delaware and her Master’s in Healthcare Administration from the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Jennifer is the office manager for The Adolescent and Family Health Center and serves as the business manager for Blackwater Outdoor Experiences. She can be reached at The Adolescent and Family Health Center office 804-794-8900 or by e-mail at jweddle@brightadolescent.com