People often ask why we started individual mentoring for teens or what made us decide to develop mental health programs for adolescents. The simple truth is this – each member of the Octagon Mentoring team is passionate about helping teens and young adults learn to navigate the obstacles of growing up.
Seeing the principles we teach in our personal development coaching programs take hold and ignite within someone keeps us going day after day. We do what we do because we’ve seen the program work, and we believe in the power and potential of today’s young adults.
Many people dream of a better life but don’t know how to achieve it. At Octagon Mentoring, we’ve made it our mission to teach teens and young adults the skills they need to enter adulthood and thrive.
We act as a life coach for teens as we work one-on-one, in groups, or with families to guide individuals and make sure they feel confident and ready for the road ahead.
Our mental health programs for young adults have the same goal – to give people a new perspective on life and equip them with the strategies and tools they need to succeed.
A native of Utah, Andrew grew up playing in the Wasatch Mountains of Salt Lake City, Utah. He began working with young people in the outdoors in 2002 and has made it his life’s work. He founded Pure Life Adventure, a Therapeutic Gap Semester program in Costa Rica where he has worked with many young adults and their families struggling with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other related issues. He has a Master in Business Administration from Westminster College and he received a certificate in Substance Abuse Counseling from the University of Utah.
Andrew is able to draw from his business and clinical backgrounds along with his personal experience and research to provide a well-rounded approach to help young people. He hosts his own podcast that explores the insight of those committed to living a better life and helping others do the same. His latest outdoor obsession is surfing. With his freetime, he enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 children.
As a coach for Octagon Mentoring, Audrey works to empower young individuals in their quest to create vibrant, independent, and fulfilling lives. She offers specialized support with executive functioning, accountability, relationship building, emotional regulation, life skills development, and managing transitions.
Audrey earned her Bachelor of Arts from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. The summer after graduation, she began to lead biking and hiking trips with an active travel company, and what started out as “one last hurrah” before settling into “the real world” turned into a lifelong passion and career. Audrey developed a deep regard for adventure travel, as well as the wilderness experience, and she believes strongly in the innate connection between outdoor exploration and self-reflection and growth. Before moving to Utah in 2018, Audrey lived and worked all over the world. She spent significant time in Catalonia, Spain, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Patagonia, and Southeast Asia. Once she returned stateside, Audrey began working in mental health. She spent four years with Evoke Therapy Programs and joined the team at Octagon Mentoring in 2021.
In addition to working as a coach, Audrey coordinates and runs Octagon’s family retreats and adventure trips. She plans and executes complex logistics with a focus on communication, conflict resolution, and risk management.
When she is not working with young people and their families, Audrey spends her free time exploring Southern Utah, where she enjoys a multitude of outdoor activities from climbing and canyoneering to bikepacking and boating. In between adventures, Audrey can be found relaxing with a cup of coffee and a stack of books on the front porch of her home outside Zion National Park.
Max spent nine weeks at Pure Life Adventure, our founder Andrew Taylor’s other program, after struggling in his first year of college. Max had a fantastic experience at the adventure therapy program in Costa Rica. After Pure Life, Max moved from Orlando, Florida to Utah. Since living in Utah he has been a guide, certified in yoga teaching through Yoga Alliance, worked at Patagonia, and went to school at the University of Utah. Max graduated from the U in 2019 and accepted a position working for the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute (GPI). Max is still working at GPI as a full-time policy analyst while pursuing his masters in public policy.
Max works as a mentor for Octagon Mentoring because of his own therapeutic experience. He believes in Andrew’s vision and wants to help others find their way through young adulthood. He knows what it is like to struggle, and helping others navigate through their own experiences is a passion of his.
Max is an avid skier, a semi-decent climber, and a below average trail runner. He also thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2018. Max is admittedly a bit of a music and movie snob, but not above enjoying Pitbull or the latest Marvel movie.
With experience in therapeutic programs spanning almost two decades, Kjrstin (KJ) has expertise and understanding working with adolescents, young adults, and parents. Having worked in both wilderness and residential programs, she understands the needs of a struggling child and the overwhelm and strain on the parents in supporting that child.
Kjrstin’s passion for healing families motivated her to earn her Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy, with a specialization in systemic family work. She is specifically trained in working with family systems, and she has extensive experience in helping families work together to overcome familial and individual struggles.
In addition to family relationships, Kjrstin also offers support with mood & anxiety disorders, personality disorders, failure to launch & life transitions, addictions, trauma, ADHD & executive functioning, and self-harm & suicidality.
Kjrstin started joined the Octagon team in 2021. She enjoys being able to work alongside parents while their child receives support from Octagon. In her free time, Kjrstin enjoys mountain biking, rock climbing, rafting, and hanging out with her family.
I am a Psychotherapist that loves to think creatively and learn about different points of view. In my personal life I get to play the parts of brother, son, husband, father, artist, friend, and student. I find joy in exploring the mountains and being with my wife and four kids.
The best part of my job is getting to know people and helping them kindle their own growth and fulfillment.In my career I have had three years of work in an inpatient adolescent treatment center as well as seven years in an outpatient young-adult program where I was able to serve as a Therapist and Clinical Director.
In addition to running my own outpatient mental health practice I enjoy opportunities to collaborate and lead regular coaching groups for parents across the nation. I enjoy working with individuals in various life stages and feel fortunate to have a career that allows me this rewarding opportunity.
Caitlin has over 16 years of experience as a clinician and clinical director working with parents, families, children, and young adults in private programming sectors and private practice outpatient therapy. As a therapist, Caitlin has been sought after for her direct, collaborative, and relational style. She combines psychological counseling skills through a multifaceted approach. Caitlin supports her clients in working through challenges stemming from anxiety, depression, family conflict, attachment issues, and difficulties that can arise with neurodivergent presentations.
Caitlin has extensive experience in guiding adolescents, young adults, and their families through the stages of healthy growth and appropriate boundaries that arise during this transitional phase of life. Caitlin’s approach guides clients to develop insight into their decision making and emotional growth. She seeks to bring out the best in others while challenging them to try something new.
When not working, Caitlin enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dog going on adventures, listening to live music, and playing in the mountains.
Amy is originally from Salt Lake City, but has lived in Chicago for the last twenty years. Armed with a double major in political science and communications from the University of Utah, she’s not only a dedicated professional but also a loving wife and mother to three daughters. Beyond her academic achievements and familial responsibilities, Amy finds joy in various pursuits. Whether it’s showcasing her tennis skills, engaging in lively MahJongg sessions with friends, or embarking on exciting travels, she leads a vibrant and fulfilling life. Spot her either basking on the sandy shores of Lake Michigan or embracing the majestic mountains of her Utah roots.
Kevin grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, attended John Hersey High Schools, and then Harper Community College where he earned his Nursing Assistant certification. Since obtaining his CNA, Kevin has devoted his career to helping others in need, specifically individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He currently works full time at Misericordia, Heart of Mercy on Chicago’s northwest side- an organization that houses, employs, and teaches every day life skills to individuals with disabilities and supports them through a continuum of services including developmental training through structured daily programming. Since starting at Misericordia, Kevin has worked his way up from being a direct caretaker to lead job coach for his building and now a Qualified Intellectual Disability Professional. Kevin brings the same passion that he has for helping individuals with disabilities to his work with Octagon Mentoring. Through octagon’s mentoring program he seeks to help individuals struggling to find their footing take ahold of the reigns and make positive and long lasting changes to create a healthier and more productive life for themselves. Kevin is motivated by how fast Octagon is growing and hopes to help more clients grow into their full potential. In his free time Kevin enjoys riding his bike, skateboarding in the summer, and going to concerts with family and friends.
Sara graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in communication. Over the past 20 years, she has been actively involved in the wellness and health industry. Currently pursuing a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy at National University, Sara works in a clinic, assisting patients with post-concussion syndrome or brain injuries. As a mother to three teenage sons, Sara is especially committed to helping teens and young adults find success and direction.
Austen grew up as the son of two military parents, which ignited his passion to see the world and seek out adventure. After graduating from Virginia Tech in 2016, he spent 4 months a year roadtripping until 2020, when he moved to Utah. It was here, he discovered wilderness and adventure therapy. As someone who had experienced struggles during his high school and college years, the chance to provide help and hope to others immediately peaked his interest. He worked as a wilderness and adventure therapy guide for 3+ years before discovering Octagon. Working with adolescents and young adults is the most rewarding work he has ever done. He is excited to bring his experience to Octagon to help clients step into the lives they want to lead.
Paige is originally from Texas and has been in Salt Lake City for the past three years. She is passionate about working in mental health and believes that so much of our pain can be healed through relationships with others. As someone who has gone through her own journey of recovery, she wants to be someone who walks with others as they come back home to themselves.
She has a degree in Spanish and Social Work and worked as a case manager for women on the streets for 6 years in Texas. During her time in Utah, she has worked at a residential treatment program for adolescents that combines residential therapy with outdoor adventures. She works in this field because she believes in the healing power of community, therapy and the outdoors.
She enjoys mountain biking, skiing and adventuring outside with her partner and friends. She is getting her graduate degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Adventure Therapy.
As a dietitian, Tena’s priority has been focusing on how each person can feel seen and have their needs met. The clients’ own goals are at the center of their work from the very first session. Having started his work as a dietitian at treatment facilities involving high levels of care, Tena has experience with a wide variety of diagnoses. He has a deep understanding of the complexity of eating and the spectrum of how much a daily act can impact someone’s life – from the most severe cases to outpatient services. His experience allows him to create effective interventions for folks from all walks of life using their personal experiences to guide those interventions.
In addition to working with folks that have struggled with acute eating disorders, Tena has a passion for providing education about food, how it impacts our body, how to become more attuned to our body, and all things cooking. We are all unique individuals, which means we all have our unique view of food and health. Tena works with a profound respect for individual choice and a deep belief that we are all wanting to be the best version of ourselves. The ultimate goal is to instill self assurance that the individual can and will make food and health decisions that align with their values.
In his free time Tena enjoys reading, snuggles with his dog, cooking with his wife, seeing live music, playing soccer and listening to podcasts.
Bart brings a great deal of passion to Octagon through his role as a mentor. He possesses a dynamic balance of personal and professional experiences, which allow him to effectively connect with his clients in creative ways. He has a patient and compassionate approach. He believes that we are all in our process, regardless of age and circumstances, and that everyone has the opportunity to promote growth in themselves, as well as others. His goal is to help promote self-actualization in his clients through focusing on their psychological and social needs while using the SMART goals to set them up for success in reaching their goals.
In his younger adult years, Bart was introduced to wilderness therapy as a client. He defines the experience as the catalyst which put him on his path to finding his truth and a deeper passion to explore the vast possibilities of life. Since that experience, Bart has found fulfilling employment at three different wilderness therapy programs. This includes Pure Life in Costa Rica, under the leadership of Andrew Taylor. Furthermore, Bart found great purpose in working for a crisis intervention service for nearly ten years. Subsequently, he took a leap into entrepreneurship to form a business helping individuals find resources to promote wellness in their lives. He possesses a strong desire for continued self-exploration, and aiding others on their path as well.
Bart took an interest in psychology and sociology at the University of Utah. He is currently enrolled in the Masters of Social Work program, pursuing a LCSW. Ultimately, he has his sights on forming private practice. He really enjoys working one on one with individuals to help them foster a sense of exploration and self-empowerment.
One of his greatest passions is his love for nature. Along with the sense of connection and excitement it brings. He has been on countless backing trips, including the completion of the Appalachian trail. He enjoys snowboarding, mountain biking, dirt biking, golf, health and fitness, and any reason to sit around a fire.
