Director of Admissions and Co-Founder

Angela Garner is the Director of Admissions and a co-founder at Cache Valley Recovery. Originally from Box Elder County, Angela began her healthcare career in 2000 as a Certified Nursing Assistant. She went on to graduate from Weber State University with a Bachelors of Nursing while raising her family. She works closely with the executive team on daily operations at Cache Valley Recovery.

Angela has worked with a variety of populations.  These include people with disabilities, hospice patients, and all aspects of acute care. But she always finds herself wanting to give people options beyond what society provides. While working at a rural hospital Emergency Department, she discovered the need for resources. Given her love for healthcare, and a desire to help others, she has made it her mission to give people struggling with addiction opportunities to rebuild their lives.  She wanted to create an effective way that people can learn new skills, grow their talents, and experience the many lessons nature has to offer. 

Angela enjoys being in the sunshine and spending time with her husband and seven children.

Board Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Ashley Smith began her nursing career working in addiction medicine at a small, rural methadone clinic. Since that time, she has logged over ten years of experience in various areas of psychiatric patient care. She also has held numerous administrative positions. 

Ashley earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Weber State University. She also earned a Master of Science degree from the Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program at the University of South Alabama.

Ashley is an active member of several professional organizations including the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses, and the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

Executive Director and Co-Founder

Ben Garner is the Executive Director and owner of Cache Valley Recovery.  He was born and raised in Montana and continues to have a great passion for the outdoors. Ben is a well rounded person that has always loved people and genuinely is interested in their lives.

Upon moving to Cache Valley Ben started as a healthcare provider in the community assisting clients with rehabilitation, he gained a real love and empathy for others suffering with various illnesses and internal struggles. He later returned to his roots in tree work and has been a  dedicated business owner for over 25 years. He makes sure to treat the customers the way he would like to be treated. His attention to detail has helped him grow a successful family operation into a thriving business. He has a variety of experience in many industries and organizations but always enjoys the people he meets, and the visits they have.

Ben enjoys seeing what hardworking can produce and spending time with his wife and 7 children. He appreciates the sites and sounds of nature and all the creations that make life exciting and meaningful.

Clinical Director

John has been a licensed marriage and family therapist for more than twenty years. He received his Ph.D. in Family and Child Sciences, with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from Florida State University. He was an award-winning teacher at FSU and also earned a scholarship for his research on the influence of multigenerational families on adolescent and young adult identity development.

After completing his education, John returned to his home state of Nevada. During the next few years, he gained valuable experience serving those struggling with addiction, anxiety, depression, grief, broken relationships, and other challenges. He also served for six years as a member of the Nevada Commission on Mental Health and Developmental Services and Southern Nevada Mental Health Advisory Board. John and his family moved to Utah in 2006. He has lived in Cache Valley since 2015.

John has received training in Emotionally Focused Therapy for Couples (EFT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). He uses principles from both to help his clients establish and maintain healthy attachment bonds with those close to them and among their lives (thoughts, feelings, impulses, and actions) much more effectively. In both his professional and personal life, John has witnessed the healing influence of family relationships on individuals and has also seen how even one insightful and inspired individual can become a powerful agent for change in their marriages and families. John also considers his clients to be among his greatest teachers.

John also enjoys spending time with his family and friends, and he enjoys getting out into the natural world, traveling, reading great books, and sharing his message about recovery and resilience with others.

Therapist

Aaron is a licensed marriage and family therapist. He received his degree at Argosy University in Draper Utah. In his time as a therapist, he has worked with adults and youth suffering with substance abuse, behavioral problems, relationship problems, social skill problems, autism spectrum disorder, sexual addiction, pornography addiction, sexual abuse, trauma, depression, suicidal ideation, self-harm, anxiety, bipolar disorder, hallucinations, delusions, and academic problems.

When he's not in the therapy office, he enjoys going on walks with his wife and little baby girl. He's also an adventurist who enjoys skiing, rock climbing, canyoneering, camping, hiking, and sailing.